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Cycle 2.26.0

Released 2026-03-03.

New features​

Step Plugin Architecture Updates​

Cycle 2.26 introduces a simplified Step Plugin architecture to make it easier for test automation engineers to create their own CycleScript steps.

  • Introduced a simplified plugin lifecycle model to streamline plugin initialization, loading, and execution.
  • Converted the WebDriver Step Plugin to the new architecture.
  • Enabled step plugins to call steps in other plugins.
  • Updated the plugin directory structure and plugin loading behavior.
  • Replaced the OpenAPI-based step specs with a much simpler steps.yml format.

Step Plugin SDK and Developer Tooling​

New developer tooling simplifies plugin creation and management.

  • Released a Java Step Plugin SDK for plugin development to Maven Central.
  • Published example Step Plugin projects to serve as reference implementations.
  • Introduced VS Code extension commands to create new plugin projects with boilerplate code.

Changes​

  • Implemented platform performance improvements to support larger execution environments.
  • Implemented Report Dashboard performance optimizations.
  • Updated high-impact copyright notices and refreshed EULA-related linking and attribution where applicable.
  • Updated User Manual documentation for the simplified Step Plugin architecture.

Bug fixes​

Step Guide Plugin Visibility​

The Step Guide did not display steps provided by installed plugins, which limited discoverability of available functionality. All plugin-provided steps are now surfaced properly within the Step Guide.

  • Corrected Step Guide filtering logic to include plugin-provided steps.
  • Ensured plugin-loaded steps are indexed and displayed consistently across environments.
  • Rewrote the Step Guide as a standalone local component to improve performance and reliability.
  • Improved OpenAPI-driven step handling and execution workflows.
  • Enhanced overall step discovery and plugin development usability.