diff --git a/.github/workflows/determine-release-type.yml b/.github/workflows/determine-release-type.yml
index 0e5f534..5615189 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/determine-release-type.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/determine-release-type.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
       release_type: ${{ steps.get-type.outputs.release_type }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/security-scan.yml b/.github/workflows/security-scan.yml
index 3bf8d7d..7a03d45 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/security-scan.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/security-scan.yml
@@ -55,13 +55,13 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Setup Java
-        uses: actions/setup-java@be666c2fcd27ec809703dec50e508c2fdc7f6654 # v5
+        uses: actions/setup-java@ad2b38190b15e4d6bdf0c97fb4fca8412226d287 # v5.3.0
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: 21
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sedr-library-build.yml b/.github/workflows/sedr-library-build.yml
index 234a651..a70c998 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sedr-library-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sedr-library-build.yml
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Setup Java
-        uses: actions/setup-java@be666c2fcd27ec809703dec50e508c2fdc7f6654 # v5
+        uses: actions/setup-java@ad2b38190b15e4d6bdf0c97fb4fca8412226d287 # v5.3.0
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: 21
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sedr-library-release.yml b/.github/workflows/sedr-library-release.yml
index bd1a844..b3d8f8b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sedr-library-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sedr-library-release.yml
@@ -61,13 +61,13 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Setup Java
-        uses: actions/setup-java@be666c2fcd27ec809703dec50e508c2fdc7f6654 # v5
+        uses: actions/setup-java@ad2b38190b15e4d6bdf0c97fb4fca8412226d287 # v5.3.0
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: 21
@@ -138,13 +138,13 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Setup Java
-        uses: actions/setup-java@be666c2fcd27ec809703dec50e508c2fdc7f6654 # v5
+        uses: actions/setup-java@ad2b38190b15e4d6bdf0c97fb4fca8412226d287 # v5.3.0
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: 21
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           ref: main
diff --git a/.github/workflows/semantic-version-apply.yml b/.github/workflows/semantic-version-apply.yml
index 080dd34..7150ec5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/semantic-version-apply.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/semantic-version-apply.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           ref: ${{ github.ref_name }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/semantic-version-calculate.yml b/.github/workflows/semantic-version-calculate.yml
index fefdc84..8f46648 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/semantic-version-calculate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/semantic-version-calculate.yml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
       next_version: ${{ steps.calculate_semantic_version.outputs.next_version }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           ref: ${{ github.ref_name }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/spring-rules-build.yml b/.github/workflows/spring-rules-build.yml
index 7c3fd98..dc3a591 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/spring-rules-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/spring-rules-build.yml
@@ -40,13 +40,13 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Setup Java
-        uses: actions/setup-java@be666c2fcd27ec809703dec50e508c2fdc7f6654 # v5
+        uses: actions/setup-java@ad2b38190b15e4d6bdf0c97fb4fca8412226d287 # v5.3.0
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: 21
diff --git a/.github/workflows/spring-rules-release.yml b/.github/workflows/spring-rules-release.yml
index 672ab2a..98b8596 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/spring-rules-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/spring-rules-release.yml
@@ -50,13 +50,13 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Setup Java
-        uses: actions/setup-java@be666c2fcd27ec809703dec50e508c2fdc7f6654 # v5
+        uses: actions/setup-java@ad2b38190b15e4d6bdf0c97fb4fca8412226d287 # v5.3.0
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: 21
@@ -108,13 +108,13 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           ref: ${{ github.ref_name }}
 
       - name: Setup Java
-        uses: actions/setup-java@be666c2fcd27ec809703dec50e508c2fdc7f6654 # v5
+        uses: actions/setup-java@ad2b38190b15e4d6bdf0c97fb4fca8412226d287 # v5.3.0
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: 21
diff --git a/.github/workflows/spring-rules-security-scan.yml b/.github/workflows/spring-rules-security-scan.yml
index d4c49f6..ea3861d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/spring-rules-security-scan.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/spring-rules-security-scan.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
       version: ${{ steps.read-version.outputs.version }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6.0.3
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
           fetch-depth: 1
           persist-credentials: false
diff --git a/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index b382eb3..4228e76 100644
--- a/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ architecture-validator-iff = { id = "com.arc-e-tect.architecture-validator", ver
 [versions]
 
 architecture-validator-iff = "0.4.7"
-architecture-validator-hexagonal-spring-rules-iff = "0.4.0"
+architecture-validator-hexagonal-spring-rules-iff = "0.4.2"
 spring-context-iff = "7.0.8"
 
 [libraries]
diff --git a/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties b/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
index df6a6ad..eb84db6 100644
--- a/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
+++ b/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 distributionBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 distributionPath=wrapper/dists
-distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-9.5.1-bin.zip
+distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-9.6.0-bin.zip
 networkTimeout=10000
 retries=0
 retryBackOffMs=500
diff --git a/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/versions.properties b/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/versions.properties
index afb78dc..a07c552 100644
--- a/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/versions.properties
+++ b/examples/architecture-validator/single-module-spring/versions.properties
@@ -8,11 +8,3 @@
 #### suppress inspection "UnusedProperty" for whole file
 ####
 #### NOTE: Some versions are filtered by the rejectVersionIf predicate. See the settings.gradle.kts file.
-
-#### Generated by `./gradlew refreshVersions` version 0.60.6
-####
-#### Don't manually edit or split the comments that start with four hashtags (####),
-#### they will be overwritten by refreshVersions.
-####
-#### suppress inspection "SpellCheckingInspection" for whole file
-#### suppress inspection "UnusedProperty" for whole file
diff --git a/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index c6c3bd9..8fb1768 100644
--- a/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 [versions]
 
-sedr-library = "0.3.4"
+sedr-library = "0.4.2"
 junit-jupiter = "6.1.0"
 
 [libraries]
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ junit-jupiter = "6.1.0"
 sedr-library = { module = "com.arc-e-tect.sedr.utils:sedr-library", version.ref = "sedr-library" }
 junit-jupiter-engine = { module = "org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter-engine", version.ref = "junit-jupiter" }
 junit-platform-launcher = { module = "org.junit.platform:junit-platform-launcher" }
+
diff --git a/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar b/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar
index d997cfc..b1b8ef5 100644
Binary files a/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar and b/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar differ
diff --git a/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties b/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
index 1a70468..eb84db6 100644
--- a/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
+++ b/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 distributionBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 distributionPath=wrapper/dists
-distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-9.5.0-bin.zip
+distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-9.6.0-bin.zip
 networkTimeout=10000
+retries=0
+retryBackOffMs=500
 validateDistributionUrl=true
 zipStoreBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 zipStorePath=wrapper/dists
diff --git a/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradlew b/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradlew
index 739907d..b9bb139 100755
--- a/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradlew
+++ b/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradlew
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 #       Darwin, MinGW, and NonStop.
 #
 #   (3) This script is generated from the Groovy template
-#       https://github.com/gradle/gradle/blob/2d6327017519d23b96af35865dc997fcb544fb40/platforms/jvm/plugins-application/src/main/resources/org/gradle/api/internal/plugins/unixStartScript.txt
+#       https://github.com/gradle/gradle/blob/3d91ce3b8caaf77ad09f381f43615b715b53f72c/platforms/jvm/plugins-application/src/main/resources/org/gradle/api/internal/plugins/unixStartScript.txt
 #       within the Gradle project.
 #
 #       You can find Gradle at https://github.com/gradle/gradle/.
diff --git a/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradlew.bat b/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradlew.bat
index c4bdd3a..24c62d5 100644
--- a/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradlew.bat
+++ b/examples/sedr-library/jacoco-marker/gradlew.bat
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@
 @rem
 @rem ##########################################################################
 
-@rem Set local scope for the variables with windows NT shell
-if "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" setlocal
+@rem Set local scope for the variables, and ensure extensions are enabled
+setlocal EnableExtensions
 
 set DIRNAME=%~dp0
 if "%DIRNAME%"=="" set DIRNAME=.
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ echo. 1>&2
 echo Please set the JAVA_HOME variable in your environment to match the 1>&2
 echo location of your Java installation. 1>&2
 
-goto fail
+"%COMSPEC%" /c exit 1
 
 :findJavaFromJavaHome
 set JAVA_HOME=%JAVA_HOME:"=%
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ echo. 1>&2
 echo Please set the JAVA_HOME variable in your environment to match the 1>&2
 echo location of your Java installation. 1>&2
 
-goto fail
+"%COMSPEC%" /c exit 1
 
 :execute
 @rem Setup the command line
@@ -73,21 +73,10 @@ goto fail
 
 
 @rem Execute Gradle
-"%JAVA_EXE%" %DEFAULT_JVM_OPTS% %JAVA_OPTS% %GRADLE_OPTS% "-Dorg.gradle.appname=%APP_BASE_NAME%" -jar "%APP_HOME%\gradle\wrapper\gradle-wrapper.jar" %*
+@rem endlocal doesn't take effect until after the line is parsed and variables are expanded
+@rem which allows us to clear the local environment before executing the java command
+endlocal & "%JAVA_EXE%" %DEFAULT_JVM_OPTS% %JAVA_OPTS% %GRADLE_OPTS% "-Dorg.gradle.appname=%APP_BASE_NAME%" -jar "%APP_HOME%\gradle\wrapper\gradle-wrapper.jar" %* & call :exitWithErrorLevel
 
-:end
-@rem End local scope for the variables with windows NT shell
-if %ERRORLEVEL% equ 0 goto mainEnd
-
-:fail
-rem Set variable GRADLE_EXIT_CONSOLE if you need the _script_ return code instead of
-rem the _cmd.exe /c_ return code!
-set EXIT_CODE=%ERRORLEVEL%
-if %EXIT_CODE% equ 0 set EXIT_CODE=1
-if not ""=="%GRADLE_EXIT_CONSOLE%" exit %EXIT_CODE%
-exit /b %EXIT_CODE%
-
-:mainEnd
-if "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" endlocal
-
-:omega
+:exitWithErrorLevel
+@rem Use "%COMSPEC%" /c exit to allow operators to work properly in scripts
+"%COMSPEC%" /c exit %ERRORLEVEL%
diff --git a/sedr-library/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties b/sedr-library/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
index df6a6ad..eb84db6 100644
--- a/sedr-library/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
+++ b/sedr-library/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 distributionBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 distributionPath=wrapper/dists
-distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-9.5.1-bin.zip
+distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-9.6.0-bin.zip
 networkTimeout=10000
 retries=0
 retryBackOffMs=500
diff --git a/sedr-library/package-lock.json b/sedr-library/package-lock.json
index cacd7f9..b5b23bb 100644
--- a/sedr-library/package-lock.json
+++ b/sedr-library/package-lock.json
@@ -54,9 +54,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@actions/http-client/node_modules/undici": {
-      "version": "6.26.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/undici/-/undici-6.26.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-4yqz8a3n5HmGTlsbADNtr/dJlhkh/55Rq798G6ibiULcXbDtaLpTl1pvdqcbFfeoj3iSi52lePFM7h9H21cw/A==",
+      "version": "6.27.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/undici/-/undici-6.27.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-YmfV3YnEDzXRC5lZ2jWtWWHKGUm1zIt8AhesR1tens+HTNv+YZlN/dp6G727LOvMJ8xjP9Be7Y2Sdr96LDm+pg==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "engines": {
@@ -5736,9 +5736,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/undici": {
-      "version": "7.27.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/undici/-/undici-7.27.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-uZsKNuzQxDMUY6M3pIMvy5tvlGmtq8XJ2oLAkfRKGNu+1VQAIvLy2xIVG5ATZl5wDXl/tddByAWCizRbOme+TA==",
+      "version": "7.28.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/undici/-/undici-7.28.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-cRZYrTDwWznlnRiPjggAGxZXanty6M8RV1ff8Wm4LWXBp7/IG8v5DnOm74DtUBp9OONpK75YlPnIjQqX0dBDtA==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "engines": {