Announcing lighty.io 22.1.0

We’re excited to share the release of lighty.io 22.1.0, along with its key sub-projects:

• lighty‑netconf‑simulator 22.1.0
• lighty‑yang‑validator 22.1.0

These updates reflect the ongoing efforts of PANTHEON.tech to provide a robust, modern platform for NETCONF/YANG tooling and SDN integration. Below you’ll find an overview of what’s new, why it matters, and how you can get started.

What’s new in lighty.io 22.1.0

The main lighty.io release notes (22.1.0) show several important improvements and dependency updates:

Key highlights

• Compatibility: This release is compatible with OpenDaylight (ODL) Titanium (2025.03) SR1. (GitHub)
• Updated base image and dependencies:
  • Alpine bumped to 3.22.0. (GitHub)
  • grpc-netty bumped (1.74.0 → 1.75.0). (GitHub)
  • Jetty bumped to 9.4.58.v20250814. (GitHub)
  • Logback bumped to 1.3.15. (GitHub)
  • Commons-lang3 bumped to 3.19.0. (GitHub)
  • Other internal improvements: removal of “operational state from PUT” semantics; conversion of client.key to RSA format; improved GitHub Actions user input processing. (GitHub)
• Dependency sync: The odlparent has been synced to version 14.1.3. (GitHub)

Why it matters

• By aligning with OpenDaylight Titanium SR1, users of lighty.io gain access to the latest SDN controller features, bug-fixes, and ecosystem updates.
• Up-to-date runtime dependencies (Alpine, Jetty, Logback, etc.) reduce risk (security/maintenance) and improve performance.
• Modernizing key server and client libraries means easier integration, better stability, and a stronger foundation for future functionality.
• The small but meaningful API change (“remove operational state from PUT”) could impact users updating from earlier versions, so awareness is key.

NETCONF Simulator & YANG Validator

The lighty ecosystem includes important supporting tools. With 22.1.0 released across the board, they stay in lock-step with the core.

lighty-netconf-simulator 22.1.0

• Maintains compatibility with lighty.io 22.1.0 and ODL Titanium (2025.03) SR1.
• Key changes: bump of xmlunit to 2.10.3; removal of redundant scripts; update of Maven Surefire/Failsafe plugins; bump to 22.1.0-SNAPSHOT for development pipeline.
• For developers simulating NETCONF devices or testing YANG models against a simulated server, this provides a modern, aligned simulation platform that mirrors the core lighty.io stack.

lighty-yang-validator 22.1.0

• Also compatible with lighty.io 22.1.0 and ODL Titanium (2025.03) SR1.
• Key changes: bump of org.json to version 20250517; bump to 22.1.0-SNAPSHOT; core changes minimal but version alignment maintained.
• Why you care: If you validate YANG modules, schemas, or generate code/validation artefacts, this tool is now aligned with the latest core stack and ensures you’re operating on an up-to-date foundation.

A note on backwards compatibility: lighty.io 21.x

For reference and those maintaining older versions: the previous major version, lighty.io 21.3.0, maintained compatibility with ODL Scandium (2024.09) SR2.

If you’re on 21.x and your SDN platform is based on ODL Scandium, you’re covered – but the jump to 22.1.0 provides alignment with the next ODL release and the dependency modernization.

Migration & adoption tips

To get the most out of the new release, here are some recommended steps:

1. Check your existing version: If you’re on 21.x, plan for upgrade. If already on 22.x, the jump to 22.1.0 is a minor upgrade but worth doing for dependency improvements.
2. Review API/behaviour changes: Especially note the “remove operational state from PUT request” change and client.key RSA format conversion. These might require adjustments in custom integrations.
3. Align your sub-tools: If you use the simulator or validator, upgrade those to 22.1.0 at the same time so your toolchain stays consistent.
4. Test against your ODL controller version: If you’re running ODL Titanium (2025.03 SR1), you’re in ideal alignment. If still on Scandium or earlier, ensure compatibility.
5. Update your CI/CD images/dependencies: Since the base image, logging, Netty, Jetty, etc have been updated, rebuild your artifacts and ensure no transitive dependency issues.

Why this release matters to you

The field of SDN, NETCONF/YANG and network automation is evolving rapidly. The lighty.io ecosystem stands out for a few reasons:

• Modern Stack: With updated base libraries, container images, and alignment with the next ODL generation, lighty.io keeps pace with industry-grade performance and security.
• End-to-end Tooling: From core controller integration (lighty.io) to simulation (lighty-netconf-simulator) to validation (lighty-yang-validator), the ecosystem provides a full toolchain for network developers and operators.
• Open Source Ecosystem Leadership: Provided by PANTHEON.tech, a strong contributor in the SDN/YANG space, users get community-backed software with enterprise-grade quality.
• Future-proofing: By aligning now with ODL Titanium, users are better positioned for future controller upgrades, new modules, and network automation use-cases.

What’s next & how You Can Engage

How you can help / get involved:

• Try out the release on a staging environment – give feedback, file issues if you hit bugs
• Contribute examples of using lighty.io + simulator + validator together
• Share real-world use-cases (NETCONF device integration, YANG modeling) – this helps the ecosystem grow and mature

The lighty.io 22.1.0 release (with it’s aligned 22.1.0 sub-projects) is a strong, modern update that positions you well for current and future SDN/NETCONF/YANG work. With updated dependencies, OpenDaylight Titanium compatibility, and full toolchain support, this is a release worth upgrading to.

If you’re using lighty.io in production, make a plan to upgrade. If you’re just evaluating it – this is a good time to adopt the latest version and build with confidence.