Cycle Labs Launches Plugin Architecture to Make Cycle Fully Extensible
Raleigh, NC (March 3, 2026): Cycle Labs, a leader in enterprise test automation for complex supply chain and ERP environments, announced the plugin architecture feature for the Cycle Test Automation Platform as part of the Cycle 2.26 release, empowering teams to build, deploy, and manage their own custom CycleScript steps.
Testing rarely fits into a neat box. Every team has unique workflows, edge cases, calculations, integrations, and business rules that standard automation steps can’t always cover. With the new plugin architecture, teams can now create their own steps using a Java-based SDK and integrate them seamlessly into Cycle.
Plugins operate independently from the core Cycle engine, allowing teams to extend functionality without modifying the base platform. Once packaged and deployed, custom steps appear directly in the Step Guide and can be used in feature files just like native steps.
“For us, the goal was simple,” said Paul Turchinetz, Lead Software Developer for Plugins at Cycle Labs. “We wanted teams to be able to model their application the way it actually behaves. If you need a custom calculation, a proprietary integration, or a cleaner way to represent a workflow, you shouldn’t have to wait for a full platform release. With plugins, you can build that capability yourself and plug it directly into Cycle.”
For example, instead of writing multiple steps to log into an application (click username, type password, click login), teams can create a single custom step such as:
Given I log in as user
This simplifies feature files, improves readability, and better represents real business behavior.
The plugin architecture includes:
- A Java SDK for step development
- YML-based step definitions
- Maven packaging for deployment
- Integration with the Cycle VS Code Extension
- Support for output variables and parameterized steps
Because plugins are deployed independently, teams can deliver new automation capabilities and hotfixes without requiring a full Cycle application upgrade.
“Our goal is that your creativity is the limit,” Turchinetz added. “Cycle provides the engine. You decide what gets plugged into it.”
Developers can get started using the publicly available sample project and detailed guidance in the user manual.
For full release details, refer to the official release notes or contact our Customer Care team (help@cyclelabs.io) for further assistance.
About Cycle Labs
Cycle Labs helps enterprises deploy change without increasing risk. The company builds test automation software for complex supply chain and ERP environments, so teams can move faster, validate continuously, and challenge the assumption that stability requires slowdown. Cycle Labs is the creator of the application-agnostic, end-to-end Cycle® Continuous Test Automation Platform, supporting WMS, ERP, TMS, and retail systems. With Cycle, organizations accelerate innovation while protecting the systems they rely on most. Learn more at cyclelabs.io.
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Jodi Coverly
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