During January 2026, this developer upgraded the HAL Explorer dependency from version 1.2.3 to 2.1.0 within the spring-projects/spring-data-rest repository, focusing on enhancing API exploration and HAL support for users. The work involved careful dependency management using Maven and Java, ensuring backward compatibility for existing REST clients while introducing new features and improved navigation. The upgrade was implemented through modifications to the pom.xml file, with attention to minimizing disruption and maintaining release readiness. No bug fixes were reported during this period, and the primary contribution centered on delivering a seamless transition to the updated HAL Explorer for end users.