diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 41f7869..0752541 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,39 @@ grouped by date and milestone rather than semantic version. The content tracks
 the [readingbat-core](https://github.com/readingbat/readingbat-core) platform, so
 many entries reflect dependency and toolchain upgrades.
 
+## [1.2.0] - 2026-10-13
+
+Dependency upkeep, and the memory fix that the new Kotlin scripting runtime made
+necessary. No challenge content changed.
+
+### Changed
+- Bumped `version` in `gradle.properties` to `1.2.0`.
+
+- Upgraded dependencies: readingbat-core `3.4.0` → `3.5.0`, Kotlin `2.4.10` → `2.4.21`,
+  common-utils `3.2.2` → `5.1.1`, and the Gradle versions plugin `0.64.0` → `0.66.0`.
+  Ktor (`3.6.0`), Kotest (`6.2.5`), kotlinter (`5.7.0`), detekt (`2.0.0-alpha.6`), and the
+  JVM toolchain (**25**) are unchanged.
+
+- Upgraded the Gradle wrapper `9.7.1` → `9.8.1`, which also regenerates `gradlew.bat`.
+
+- `gradle.properties` turns the Gradle configuration cache on, and gives the Gradle and
+  Kotlin daemons a 6 GB heap with `-XX:+HeapDumpOnOutOfMemoryError`.
+
+- `make versions` now prints only the dependencies with newer versions, any that
+  could not be checked, and a pending Gradle upgrade, via a custom `outputFormatter`
+  on `dependencyUpdates` in `build.gradle.kts`. The new `make versions-all` target
+  passes `--output-formatter=plain` for the plugin's full report, which also lists
+  every dependency already up to date.
+
+- Held the runtime Kotlin scripting jars (`kotlin-scripting-*`, `kotlin-compiler-embeddable`,
+  `kotlin-daemon-embeddable`, `kotlin-script-runtime`) at `2.4.10` through a new
+  `kotlin-scripting` catalog version, applied by `configureScripting()` to the runtime and
+  test classpaths only; the project itself builds with Kotlin `2.4.21`. From Kotlin
+  `2.4.20` on, the JSR-223 engine never disposes a script state's compiler environment, so
+  each state keeps about 27 MB reachable. readingbat-core `3.5.0`, which brings in the
+  `2.4.21` scripting jars, resets its pooled engine after every Kotlin challenge, so
+  `ContentTests` ran out of heap partway through the Kotlin sweep, even with a 2 GB heap.
+
 ## [1.1.0] - 2026-09-21
 
 Test-reliability and dependency upkeep. No challenge content changed.
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 8a2c201..756cf40 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ This is a **ReadingBat content repository** — it defines Java and Kotlin progr
 ## Conventions
 
 Record notable changes in `CHANGELOG.md` under an `[Unreleased]` heading; it becomes the
-next version's section at release time. Releases are tagged without a `v` prefix (`1.1.0`),
+next version's section at release time. Releases are tagged without a `v` prefix (`1.2.0`),
 and the version lives in `gradle.properties`.
 
 `.gitattributes` governs line endings: stored blobs are LF, `gradlew` stays LF, and
@@ -21,6 +21,23 @@ and the version lives in `gradle.properties`.
 ./gradlew test -Dkotest.filter.tests="<name>"  # Filter Kotest cases by name
 ```
 
+`gradle.properties` turns the configuration cache on, so build logic has to be
+configuration-cache safe. `dependencyUpdates` is marked incompatible, and the `make versions`
+targets pass `--no-configuration-cache` for it.
+
+## Dependencies
+
+Every version lives in `gradle/libs.versions.toml`. One is deliberately out of step:
+`kotlin-scripting` holds the runtime Kotlin scripting jars (`kotlin-scripting-*`,
+`kotlin-compiler-embeddable`, `kotlin-daemon-embeddable`, `kotlin-script-runtime`) at 2.4.10
+while `kotlin` moves on, and `configureScripting()` in `build.gradle.kts` applies it to
+`runtimeClasspath` and `testRuntimeClasspath` only. From Kotlin 2.4.20 the JSR-223 engine
+never disposes a script state's compiler environment (about 27 MB each), and readingbat-core
+starts a state for every Kotlin challenge, so without the pin `ContentTests` runs out of heap
+in the Kotlin sweep. Leave it in place when upgrading Kotlin. Remove it only after a Kotlin
+release fixes the engine or readingbat-core pins the jars itself, and confirm with
+`make clean tests`.
+
 ## Testing
 
 `src/test/kotlin/ContentTests.kt` sweeps every challenge through a Ktor test host, one
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index fcba971..c0525f3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 .PHONY: default help clean build lint format detekt detekt-baseline tests uberjar uber \
-        cc run versions upgrade-wrapper
+        cc run versions versions-all upgrade-wrapper
 
 GRADLE_VERSION := $(shell sed -n 's/^gradle-wrapper = "\(.*\)"/\1/p' gradle/libs.versions.toml)
 
@@ -42,9 +42,17 @@ cc: ## Continuous compilation (watches for changes)
 run: ## Start the content server locally (port 8080)
 	./gradlew run
 
-versions: ## Check for dependency updates
+# dependencyUpdates is marked incompatible with the configuration cache (build.gradle.kts),
+# which gradle.properties turns on, so --no-configuration-cache skips the cache for these
+# runs rather than building an entry only to discard it. build.gradle.kts gives the task a
+# formatter that lists only what is behind; versions-all names the plugin's own plain
+# report, which also lists everything up to date.
+versions: ## List the dependencies with newer versions, and any that could not be checked
 	./gradlew dependencyUpdates --no-configuration-cache --no-parallel
 
+versions-all: ## The plugin's full dependency report, up-to-date dependencies included
+	./gradlew dependencyUpdates --no-configuration-cache --no-parallel --output-formatter=plain
+
 upgrade-wrapper: _require-gradle-version ## Upgrade the Gradle wrapper to the catalog version
 	# Gradle's documented upgrade procedure: the first run rewrites
 	# gradle-wrapper.properties using the *old* wrapper jar; the second run
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 28400a3..ad6f1ff 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ make cc             # Continuous compilation (watches for changes)
 make run            # Start the content server locally (port 8080)
 make uberjar        # Build fat jar at build/libs/server.jar
 make uber           # Build the uberjar and run it
-make versions       # Check for dependency updates
+make versions       # List dependencies with newer versions
+make versions-all   # Full dependency report, up-to-date dependencies included
 ```
 
 When running locally, challenge files are loaded directly from disk (via
@@ -102,7 +103,11 @@ gradle/libs.versions.toml          # Centralized dependency & toolchain versions
 ## Tech Stack
 
 - Kotlin / JVM, Gradle (Kotlin DSL) with a version catalog
-- [readingbat-core](https://github.com/readingbat/readingbat-core) — the platform library (from JitPack)
+- [readingbat-core](https://github.com/readingbat/readingbat-core) — the platform library (from Maven Central)
+- Kotlin's JSR-223 scripting runtime, which computes the Kotlin challenges' answers, is held at
+  2.4.10 by the `kotlin-scripting` catalog version while the project builds with a newer Kotlin.
+  From 2.4.20 the engine never releases a script's compiler environment (about 27 MB each), and
+  the challenge sweep runs out of heap; see `configureScripting()` in `build.gradle.kts`.
 - Ktor test host + Kotest — challenge validation
 - detekt + kotlinter — static analysis and formatting
 
diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
index 7c44cb1..df4f389 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -8,6 +8,40 @@ changes, see [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md).
 
 ---
 
+## v1.2.0 (October 2026)
+
+A dependency release that turned into a memory investigation. Moving to readingbat-core
+3.5.0 and Kotlin 2.4.21 made `ContentTests` fail partway through the Kotlin sweep with
+`OutOfMemoryError`, and a larger test heap did not help: with 2 GB, full collections
+freed almost nothing, and the heap stayed full.
+
+The cause is a regression in Kotlin's JSR-223 script engine, which readingbat-core uses
+to compute each Kotlin challenge's answers. From Kotlin 2.4.20 the engine is built on the
+K2 REPL, and every new script state builds a complete compiler environment (a project,
+FIR sessions, and an index of the whole classpath) that is never disposed, so each one
+stays reachable for the life of the JVM, about 27 MB apiece here. readingbat-core resets
+its pooled engine after every challenge, which starts a new state, so the sweep piled up
+an environment per Kotlin challenge. The 2.4.10 engine released the same states, and
+creating a fresh engine per script leaks just as badly on 2.4.21, so this is Kotlin's,
+not the pooling's.
+
+The fix keeps the runtime scripting jars on 2.4.10 while everything else moves forward.
+A new `kotlin-scripting` catalog version is applied by `configureScripting()` to the
+runtime and test classpaths only, so the project still compiles with Kotlin 2.4.21 and
+challenge code is compiled by the 2.4.10 engine. With the pin in place the full suite
+passes in about 30 seconds. The pin is temporary: it can go once a Kotlin release disposes
+the state, or once readingbat-core carries the same pin itself.
+
+Two build changes ship alongside. `make versions` now lists only what is behind (plus
+anything it could not check and a pending Gradle upgrade), and `make versions-all` keeps
+the versions plugin's full report. `gradle.properties` turns the Gradle configuration
+cache on and gives the Gradle and Kotlin daemons a 6 GB heap with heap dumps on
+`OutOfMemoryError`.
+
+Dependencies: readingbat-core 3.5.0, Kotlin 2.4.21 (scripting runtime held at 2.4.10),
+common-utils 5.1.1, the versions plugin 0.66.0, and the Gradle wrapper 9.8.1. No
+challenge content changed in this release.
+
 ## v1.1.0 (September 2026)
 
 A test-reliability release, prompted by a CI failure on a pull request that contained no
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 3d1ba48..4ffcd7d 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ tasks.named("build") {
 }
 
 configureKotlin()
+configureScripting()
 configureDetekt()
 configureKotlinter()
 configureKtor()
@@ -61,6 +62,28 @@ fun Project.configureKotlin() {
   }
 }
 
+fun Project.configureScripting() {
+  // Kotlin 2.4.20 and later leave each JSR-223 script state's compiler environment
+  // reachable (about 27 MB apiece) once the engine moves to a new one. readingbat-core
+  // resets its pooled engines after every Kotlin challenge it evaluates, so the
+  // ContentTests sweep exhausts any test heap. readingbat-core brings in the scripting
+  // jars at its own Kotlin version; this holds them at one that releases the state. Only
+  // the runtime classpaths are pinned: the compiler that builds this project is untouched.
+  val scriptingVersion = libs.versions.kotlin.scripting.get()
+  val compilerModules = setOf("kotlin-compiler-embeddable", "kotlin-daemon-embeddable", "kotlin-script-runtime")
+
+  configurations.matching { it.name in setOf("runtimeClasspath", "testRuntimeClasspath") }.configureEach {
+    resolutionStrategy.eachDependency {
+      if (requested.group == "org.jetbrains.kotlin" &&
+        (requested.name.startsWith("kotlin-scripting-") || requested.name in compilerModules)
+      ) {
+        useVersion(scriptingVersion)
+        because("Kotlin 2.4.20+ scripting retains every script state's compiler environment")
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 fun Project.configureDetekt() {
   detekt {
     source.setFrom("src/main/kotlin", "src/test/kotlin")
@@ -124,5 +147,23 @@ fun Project.configureVersions() {
     rejectVersionIf {
       isNonStable(candidate.version) && !isNonStable(currentVersion)
     }
+
+    // Prints only what is behind, and what could not be checked. The plugin's own
+    // report, which `make versions-all` asks for with --output-formatter=plain, first
+    // lists every dependency that is already up to date.
+    outputFormatter {
+      val behind = outdated.dependencies.sortedBy { "${it.group}:${it.name}" }
+      if (behind.isEmpty()) println("All dependencies are up to date")
+      behind.forEach { d ->
+        val latest = with(d.available) { release ?: milestone ?: integration }
+        println(" - ${d.group}:${d.name} ${d.version} -> $latest")
+      }
+      unresolved.dependencies.sortedBy { "${it.group}:${it.name}" }.forEach {
+        println(" ? ${it.group}:${it.name}:${it.version} could not be checked")
+      }
+      if (gradle.current.isUpdateAvailable) {
+        println(" - Gradle ${gradle.running.version} -> ${gradle.current.version}")
+      }
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index ef1db44..dba8557 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 group=com.readingbat
-version=1.1.0
+version=1.2.0
 
 kotlin.code.style=official
-org.gradle.caching=true
-org.gradle.configuration-cache=false
 org.gradle.daemon=true
+org.gradle.caching=true
+org.gradle.configuration-cache=true
+org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx6g -Dkotlin.daemon.jvm.options=-Xmx6g -XX:+HeapDumpOnOutOfMemoryError -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8
diff --git a/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index faccb44..c8e8281 100644
--- a/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 [versions]
 detekt = "2.0.0-alpha.6"
-gradle-wrapper = "9.7.1"
+gradle-wrapper = "9.8.1"
 jvm = "25"
 kotest = "6.2.5"
-kotlin = "2.4.10"
+kotlin = "2.4.21"
+# The Kotlin scripting jars challenges run on; held back from kotlin (see configureScripting)
+kotlin-scripting = "2.4.10"
 kotlinter = "5.7.0"
 ktor = "3.6.0"
 logging = "8.0.4"
-readingbat = "3.4.0"
-utils = "3.2.2"
-versions = "0.64.0"
+readingbat = "3.5.0"
+utils = "5.1.1"
+versions = "0.66.0"
 
 [libraries]
 core-utils = { module = "com.pambrose.common-utils:core-utils", version.ref = "utils" }
diff --git a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar
index eddabd2..9fa7f28 100644
Binary files a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar and b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar differ
diff --git a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
index ad7845b..2e7bb9f 100644
--- a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
+++ b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 distributionBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 distributionPath=wrapper/dists
-distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-9.7.1-bin.zip
+distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-9.8.1-bin.zip
 networkTimeout=10000
 retries=0
 retryBackOffMs=500
diff --git a/gradlew.bat b/gradlew.bat
index a51ec4f..3185a43 100644
--- a/gradlew.bat
+++ b/gradlew.bat
@@ -26,6 +26,33 @@
 @rem Set local scope for the variables, and ensure extensions are enabled
 setlocal EnableExtensions
 
+@rem Catch executions from older scripts and ensure they exit cleanly.
+@rem This can be removed once we can be reasonably confident that few people
+@rem will be migrating directly to this new wrapper.
+goto afterSafetyNet
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
+goto exitWithErrorLevel
+:afterSafetyNet
+
 set DIRNAME=%~dp0
 if "%DIRNAME%"=="" set DIRNAME=.
 @rem This is normally unused
@@ -45,13 +72,14 @@ set JAVA_EXE=java.exe
 %JAVA_EXE% -version >NUL 2>&1
 if %ERRORLEVEL% equ 0 goto execute
 
-echo. 1>&2
-echo ERROR: JAVA_HOME is not set and no 'java' command could be found in your PATH. 1>&2
-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
+1>&2 echo.
+1>&2 echo ERROR: JAVA_HOME is not set and no 'java' command could be found in your PATH.
+1>&2 echo.
+1>&2 echo Please set the JAVA_HOME variable in your environment to match the
+1>&2 echo location of your Java installation.
 
 "%COMSPEC%" /c exit 1
+goto exitWithErrorLevel
 
 :findJavaFromJavaHome
 set JAVA_HOME=%JAVA_HOME:"=%
@@ -59,13 +87,14 @@ set JAVA_EXE=%JAVA_HOME%/bin/java.exe
 
 if exist "%JAVA_EXE%" goto execute
 
-echo. 1>&2
-echo ERROR: JAVA_HOME is set to an invalid directory: %JAVA_HOME% 1>&2
-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
+1>&2 echo.
+1>&2 echo ERROR: JAVA_HOME is set to an invalid directory: %JAVA_HOME%
+1>&2 echo.
+1>&2 echo Please set the JAVA_HOME variable in your environment to match the
+1>&2 echo location of your Java installation.
 
 "%COMSPEC%" /c exit 1
+goto exitWithErrorLevel
 
 :execute
 @rem Setup the command line
@@ -75,8 +104,9 @@ echo location of your Java installation. 1>&2
 @rem Execute gradlew
 @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
+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 & goto exitWithErrorLevel
 
+@rem This label must not be changed. We rely on old scripts being able to jump to this point.
 :exitWithErrorLevel
 @rem Use "%COMSPEC%" /c exit to allow operators to work properly in scripts
 "%COMSPEC%" /c exit %ERRORLEVEL%
diff --git a/llms.txt b/llms.txt
index 3ede593..7261e71 100644
--- a/llms.txt
+++ b/llms.txt
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ Each challenge is a standalone source file. The `main()` function prints expecte
 ## Tech Stack
 
 - Kotlin / JVM, Gradle (Kotlin DSL) with a version catalog. The JVM toolchain version is centralized in `gradle/libs.versions.toml` under the `jvm` key.
-- readingbat-core (platform library, from JitPack)
+- readingbat-core (platform library, from Maven Central)
+- Kotlin's JSR-223 scripting runtime is pinned to 2.4.10 (`kotlin-scripting` in the version catalog, applied by `configureScripting()` to the runtime and test classpaths only) while the project builds with a newer Kotlin. From 2.4.20 the engine never disposes a script state's compiler environment (~27 MB each), and readingbat-core starts a state per Kotlin challenge, so the test sweep runs out of heap without the pin.
+- The Gradle configuration cache is on (`gradle.properties`); `dependencyUpdates` opts out, so the `make versions` targets pass `--no-configuration-cache`.
 - Kotest + Ktor test host (testing)
 - detekt + kotlinter (static analysis and formatting, enforced in CI)
 
@@ -35,7 +37,8 @@ Run `make help` for the authoritative target list.
 - `make run` — start the content server on http://localhost:8080
 - `make uberjar` — build fat jar at `build/libs/server.jar`
 - `make uber` — build uberjar and run it
-- `make versions` — check for dependency updates
+- `make versions` — list only the dependencies (and Gradle) with newer versions, plus any that could not be checked
+- `make versions-all` — the versions plugin's full plain report, up-to-date dependencies included
 - `./gradlew test -Dkotest.filter.tests="<name>"` — filter Kotest cases by name
 
 ## Testing