diff --git a/packages/main/src/InternetService.ts b/packages/main/src/InternetService.ts
index 10c52af..875f128 100644
--- a/packages/main/src/InternetService.ts
+++ b/packages/main/src/InternetService.ts
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ export const InternetService = {
     ipcMain.handle('InternetService.openExternalURL', InternetService.openExternalURL );
     ipcMain.handle('InternetService.getTemplates', InternetService.getTemplates );
     ipcMain.handle('InternetService.callSwateAPI', InternetService.callSwateAPI );
+    ipcMain.handle('InternetService.getWebPageAsJson', InternetService.getWebPageAsJson );
     ipcMain.handle('InternetService.getArcitectVersions', InternetService.getArcitectVersions );
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/main/src/LocalFileSystemService.ts b/packages/main/src/LocalFileSystemService.ts
index b94c8f1..ca9d532 100644
--- a/packages/main/src/LocalFileSystemService.ts
+++ b/packages/main/src/LocalFileSystemService.ts
@@ -93,8 +93,12 @@ export const LocalFileSystemService = {
       path = parameters[0];
       options = parameters[1];
     }
-    path = path_to_system(path)
-    return FS.readFileSync(path,options);
+    path = path_to_system(path);
+    try {
+      return FS.readFileSync(path,options);
+    } catch (err) {
+      return null;
+    }
   },
 
   readImage: async (e,path)=>{
diff --git a/packages/renderer/src/App.vue b/packages/renderer/src/App.vue
index 52be550..94fcaa6 100644
--- a/packages/renderer/src/App.vue
+++ b/packages/renderer/src/App.vue
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import GitCommitView from './views/GitCommitView.vue';
 import GitSyncView from './views/GitSyncView.vue';
 import GitHistoryView from './views/GitHistoryView.vue';
 import SwateView from './views/SwateView.vue';
+import ValidationView from './views/ValidationView.vue';
 
 import DataHubView from './views/DataHubView.vue';
 
@@ -157,14 +158,17 @@ const test = async ()=>{
           <ToolbarButton text='Explorer' icon='folder_open' requiresARC @clicked='ArcControlService.openArcInExplorer()'></ToolbarButton>
           <q-separator />
 
-          <ToolbarButton text='Commit' icon='verified' requiresARC requiresUser @clicked='AppProperties.state=AppProperties.STATES.GIT_COMMIT'></ToolbarButton>
+          <ToolbarButton text='Commit' icon='rule' requiresARC requiresUser @clicked='AppProperties.state=AppProperties.STATES.GIT_COMMIT'></ToolbarButton>
           <ToolbarButton text='DataHUB Sync' icon='published_with_changes' requiresARC requiresUser @clicked='AppProperties.state=AppProperties.STATES.GIT_SYNC'></ToolbarButton>
           <ToolbarButton text='History' icon='history' requiresARC requiresUser @clicked='AppProperties.state=AppProperties.STATES.GIT_HISTORY'></ToolbarButton>
           <q-separator />
 
+          <ToolbarButton text='Validation' icon='verified' requiresARC @clicked='AppProperties.state=AppProperties.STATES.VALIDATION'></ToolbarButton>
+          <q-separator />
+
           <q-item class="col-grow"></q-item>
           <ToolbarButton text='Toggle Help' icon='help' @clicked='iProps.showHelp=!iProps.showHelp;'></ToolbarButton>
-          <ToolbarButton :text="iProps.toolbarMinimized ? '' : 'Minimize Sidebar'" :icon="iProps.toolbarMinimized ? 'chevron_right' : 'chevron_left'" @clicked='iProps.toolbarMinimized=!iProps.toolbarMinimized;'></ToolbarButton>
+          <ToolbarButton :text="iProps.toolbarMinimized ? '' : 'Toggle Sidebar'" :icon="iProps.toolbarMinimized ? 'chevron_right' : 'chevron_left'" @clicked='iProps.toolbarMinimized=!iProps.toolbarMinimized;'></ToolbarButton>
           <q-separator />
 
           <q-item v-ripple clickable dense @click='downloadArcitect'>
@@ -235,6 +239,7 @@ const test = async ()=>{
               <GitSyncView v-else-if='AppProperties.state===AppProperties.STATES.GIT_SYNC' />
               <GitHistoryView v-else-if='AppProperties.state===AppProperties.STATES.GIT_HISTORY' />
               <SwateView v-else-if='AppProperties.state===AppProperties.STATES.EDIT_SWATE'></SwateView>
+              <ValidationView v-else-if='AppProperties.state===AppProperties.STATES.VALIDATION'></ValidationView>
               <HomeView v-else></HomeView>
             </template>
           </q-splitter>
diff --git a/packages/renderer/src/AppProperties.ts b/packages/renderer/src/AppProperties.ts
index 3804b01..e40b380 100644
--- a/packages/renderer/src/AppProperties.ts
+++ b/packages/renderer/src/AppProperties.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ const AppProperties: {
 
     EDIT_MARKDOWN: 600,
     EDIT_IMAGE: 601,
+
+    VALIDATION: 700,
   },
   STATES_I: {},
   state: 0,
diff --git a/packages/renderer/src/views/ValidationView.vue b/packages/renderer/src/views/ValidationView.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea85611
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/renderer/src/views/ValidationView.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,304 @@
+<script lang="ts" setup>
+
+import { reactive, watch, onMounted, onUnmounted} from 'vue';
+
+import ViewItem from '../components/ViewItem.vue';
+import a_select from '../components/a_select.vue';
+import a_btn from '../components/a_btn.vue';
+import a_checkbox from '../components/a_checkbox.vue';
+import AppProperties from '../AppProperties.ts';
+import ArcControlService from '../ArcControlService.ts';
+
+const iProps = reactive({
+  core_pairs: [],
+  core_names: [],
+  core_versions: {},
+
+  package_pairs: [], // [ [name,version] ]
+  package_versions: {}, // name -> [versions]
+  package_names: [],
+});
+
+const init = async ()=>{
+
+  iProps.core_names = ['arc_specification'];
+  iProps.core_versions = {'arc_specification': ['2.0.0-draft']};
+
+  const raw_packages = await window.ipc.invoke(
+    'InternetService.getWebPageAsJson',
+    {
+      host: 'avpr.nfdi4plants.org',
+      port: 443,
+      path: '/api/v1/packages',
+      method: 'GET',
+      headers: {
+        'accept':       'application/json',
+        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        'user-agent':   'node.js'
+      }
+    }
+  );
+  const package_versions = {};
+  for(let p of raw_packages){
+    if(p.Name==='test') continue;
+    if(!package_versions.hasOwnProperty(p.Name))
+      package_versions[p.Name] = []
+    package_versions[p.Name].push([p.MajorVersion,p.MinorVersion,p.PatchVersion,p.PreReleaseVersionSuffix,p.BuildMetadataVersionSuffix]);
+  }
+  for(let name in package_versions){
+    package_versions[name].sort((a,b)=> a[0]===b[0] ? (a[1]===b[1] ? b[2]-a[2] : b[1]-a[1]) : b[0]-a[0]);
+    package_versions[name] = package_versions[name].map(a=>a.slice(0,3).join('.') + (a[3]?`-${a[3]}`:'') + (a[4]?`+${a[4]}`:''));
+  }
+
+  iProps.package_names = Object.keys(package_versions);
+  iProps.package_versions = package_versions;
+
+  const yaml = await window.ipc.invoke(
+    'LocalFileSystemService.readFile',
+    ArcControlService.props.arc_root + '/.arc/validation_packages.yml'
+  );
+
+  parse(yaml);
+};
+
+const removePair = i => {
+  iProps.package_pairs.splice(i,1);
+};
+
+const save = async ()=>{
+  // arc_specification: 2.0.0-draft
+  // validation_packages:
+  //   - name: package1
+  //     version: 1.0.0
+  //   - name: package2
+  //     version: 2.0.0
+  //   - name: package3
+  let yml = '';
+
+  let yml_core = '';
+  for(let pair of iProps.core_pairs){
+    if(!pair[0] || !pair[1] || !pair[2]) continue;
+      yml_core += `${pair[0]}: ${pair[1]}\n`;
+  }
+  if(yml_core.length>0)
+    yml += yml_core;
+
+  let yml_packages = '';
+  for(let pair of iProps.package_pairs){
+    if(!pair[0] || !pair[1] || !pair[2]) continue;
+    yml_packages += `  - name: ${pair[0]}\n`;
+    yml_packages += `    version: ${pair[1]}\n`;
+  }
+  if(yml_packages.length>0)
+    yml += `validation_packages:\n${yml_packages}`;
+
+  await window.ipc.invoke(
+    'LocalFileSystemService.writeFile',
+    [
+      ArcControlService.props.arc_root + '/.arc/validation_packages.yml',
+      yml
+    ]
+  );
+};
+
+const parse = async yml=>{
+  if(!yml){
+
+    iProps.core_pairs = [[iProps.core_names[0],iProps.core_versions[iProps.core_names[0]],true,iProps.core_names,iProps.core_versions[iProps.core_names[0]]]];
+    iProps.package_pairs = [['','',true,iProps.package_names,[]]];
+    return;
+  }
+  iProps.package_pairs = [];
+
+  const lines = yml.split('\n');
+  const n = lines.length;
+
+  for(let i=0; i<n; i++){
+    const line = lines[i];
+    const words = line.split(':');
+    if(line.startsWith('  - name:') && i<n-1 && lines[i+1].startsWith('    version:')){
+      const name = words[1].trim();
+      const version = lines[i+1].split(':')[1].trim();
+      iProps.package_pairs.push([
+        name,
+        version,
+        true,
+        iProps.package_names,
+        name in iProps.package_versions ? iProps.package_versions[name] : []
+      ]);
+      i++;
+    } else if(words[0]==='validation_packages') {
+    } else if(words.length>1) {
+      const name = words[0].trim();
+      const version = words[1].trim();
+      iProps.core_pairs.push([
+        name,
+        version,
+        true,
+        iProps.core_names,
+        name in iProps.core_versions ? iProps.core_versions[name] : []
+      ]);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if(iProps.package_pairs.length<1)
+    iProps.package_pairs = [['','',true,iProps.package_names,[]]];
+
+  for(let name of iProps.core_names){
+    let found = false;
+    for(let p of iProps.core_pairs)
+      if(p[0]===name)
+        found = true;
+    if(!found)
+      iProps.core_pairs.push([
+        name,
+        iProps.core_versions[name][0],
+        true, // use
+        iProps.core_names, // name suggestions
+        iProps.core_versions[name] // version suggestions
+      ]);
+  }
+};
+
+const filter = (source, target, target_idx, val, update, abort)=>{
+
+  update(() => {
+    const needle = val.toLocaleLowerCase();
+    target[target_idx] = source.filter(v => v.toLocaleLowerCase().indexOf(needle) > -1);
+  });
+}
+
+const setName = (pair,source,v)=>{
+  pair[0] = v;
+  pair[1] = v in source ? source[v][0] : '';
+};
+
+onMounted(init);
+
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <q-list>
+    <ViewItem
+      icon="verified"
+      label="Validation"
+      caption="Validate ARC against Specifications"
+      group='mgroup'
+      defaultOpened
+    >
+      <q-card flat>
+
+        <q-card-section>
+          <table class='key_value_table'>
+            <tr v-for='(pair,i) in iProps.core_pairs'>
+              <td>
+                <a_checkbox v-model='pair[2]' />
+              </td>
+              <td>
+                <a_select
+                  v-model='pair[0]'
+                  :options='pair[3]'
+                  use-input
+                  hide-selected
+                  fill-input
+                  input-debounce="0"
+                  @filter="(val, update, abort)=>filter(iProps.core_names, pair, 3, val, update, abort)"
+                  @input-value="v=>setName(pair,iProps.core_versions,v)"
+                />
+              </td>
+              <td>
+                <a_select
+                  v-model='pair[1]'
+                  :options='pair[4]'
+                  use-input
+                  hide-selected
+                  fill-input
+                  input-debounce="0"
+                  @filter="(val, update, abort)=>filter(pair[0] in iProps.core_versions ? iProps.core_versions[pair[0]] : [], pair, 4, val, update, abort)"
+                  @input-value="v=>pair[1]=v"
+                />
+              </td>
+            </tr>
+            <tr>
+              <td colspan="3" style="padding-top:2em">&nbsp;</td>
+            </tr>
+            <tr>
+              <td class='thh' colspan="3">Custom Validation Packages</td>
+            </tr>
+            <tr>
+              <td style="width:3em;">&nbsp;</td>
+              <th>Name</th>
+              <th>Version</th>
+            </tr>
+            <tr v-for='(pair,i) in iProps.package_pairs'>
+              <td>
+                <q-btn icon='do_not_disturb_on' color='grey-6' flat dense @click='()=>removePair(i)' />
+              </td>
+              <td>
+                <a_select
+                  v-model='pair[0]'
+                  :options='pair[3]'
+                  use-input
+                  hide-selected
+                  fill-input
+                  input-debounce="0"
+                  @filter="(val, update, abort)=>filter(iProps.package_names, pair, 3, val, update, abort)"
+                  @input-value="v=>setName(pair,iProps.package_versions,v)"
+                />
+              </td>
+              <td>
+                <a_select
+                  v-model='pair[1]'
+                  :options='pair[4]'
+                  use-input
+                  hide-selected
+                  fill-input
+                  input-debounce="0"
+                  @filter="(val, update, abort)=>filter(pair[0] in iProps.package_versions ? iProps.package_versions[pair[0]] : [], pair, 4, val, update, abort)"
+                  @input-value="v=>pair[1]=v"
+                />
+              </td>
+            </tr>
+            <tr>
+              <td>
+                <q-btn icon='add_circle' color='grey-6' flat dense @click='()=>iProps.package_pairs.push(["","",true,iProps.package_names,[]])' />
+              </td>
+              <td></td>
+              <td></td>
+            </tr>
+            <tr>
+              <th></th>
+              <th colspan="2">
+                <a_btn label="Save" icon='verified' @click='save' />
+              </th>
+            </tr>
+          </table>
+        </q-card-section>
+
+        <q-card-actions align='center' style="padding:0 2.1em 1em 2.1em;">
+        </q-card-actions>
+      </q-card>
+    </ViewItem>
+  </q-list>
+</template>
+
+<style>
+
+  .key_value_table {
+    width: 100%;
+  }
+
+  .key_value_table th {
+    text-align: center;
+    font-weight: normal;
+  }
+
+  .key_value_table td {
+    text-align: center;
+  }
+
+  .key_value_table .thh{
+    font-weight: bold;
+    font-size: 1.1em;
+  }
+</style>