diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index c0c509f003e..82779c42434 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -10,14 +10,14 @@ jobs:
         jdk: ['8']
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Set up JDK ${{ matrix.jdk }}
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v2
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
-          distribution: temurin
+          distribution: liberica
           java-version: ${{ matrix.jdk }}
       - name: Cache local Ivy repository
-        uses: actions/cache@v2
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
           path: ~/.ivy/cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-ivy-${{ hashFiles('**/ivy.xml') }}
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ jobs:
         run: ./build.sh test -Dtest.haltonerror=true -Dtest.haltonfailure=true
       - name: Archive build logs
         if: always()
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: ${{ runner.os }}-jdk${{ matrix.jdk }}-build-logs
           retention-days: 5
diff --git a/build/scripts/junit.xml b/build/scripts/junit.xml
index 67c977efebf..8a0325b5130 100644
--- a/build/scripts/junit.xml
+++ b/build/scripts/junit.xml
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@
         depends="test-prepare, test-local, test-extensions, test-jetty, test-concurrent, test-remote, test-recovery, test-wrapup, test-ant"
             description="Run jUnit tests"/>
 
+    <!-- Hide the progress bar of RecoveryManager.java when running the tests -->
+    <property name="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="true"/>
+
     <!-- jetty.port and jetty.port.ssl with defaults. /ljo -->
     <property name="jetty.port" value="8080" />
     <property name="jetty.port.ssl" value="8443" />
@@ -157,6 +160,7 @@
             <jvmarg line="${gc.log.file.prefix}${junit.reports.dat}/test-local_gc.log" />
 
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="java.util.logging.manager" value="org.apache.logging.log4j.jul.LogManager"/>
             <!-- local database, so should not be needed. /ljo -->
             <sysproperty key="jetty.port" value="${jetty.port}" />
@@ -261,6 +265,7 @@
             <jvmarg line="${gc.log.file.prefix}${junit.reports.dat}/test-jetty_gc.log" />
 
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="java.util.logging.manager" value="org.apache.logging.log4j.jul.LogManager"/>
             <!-- fixme! - jetty.port.jetty /ljo -->
             <sysproperty key="jetty.port" value="${jetty.port}" />
@@ -299,6 +304,7 @@
             <jvmarg line="${gc.log.file.prefix}${junit.reports.dat}/test-concurrent_gc.log" />
 
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="java.util.logging.manager" value="org.apache.logging.log4j.jul.LogManager"/>
             <!-- local database, so should not be needed. /ljo -->
             <sysproperty key="jetty.port" value="${jetty.port}" />
@@ -328,6 +334,7 @@
             <jvmarg line="${gc.log.file.prefix}${junit.reports.dat}/test-recovery_gc.log" />
 
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="java.util.logging.manager" value="org.apache.logging.log4j.jul.LogManager"/>
             <!-- local database, so should not be needed. /ljo -->
             <sysproperty key="jetty.port" value="${jetty.port}" />
@@ -388,6 +395,7 @@
             <jvmarg line="${gc.log.file.prefix}${junit.reports.dat}/test-remote_gc.log" />
 
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="java.util.logging.manager" value="org.apache.logging.log4j.jul.LogManager"/>
             <!-- fixme! - jetty.port.standalone /ljo -->
             <sysproperty key="jetty.port" value="${jetty.port.standalone}" />
@@ -424,6 +432,7 @@
             <jvmarg line="${gc.log.file.prefix}${junit.reports.dat}/test-ant_gc.log" />
 
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="java.util.logging.manager" value="org.apache.logging.log4j.jul.LogManager"/>
             <!-- local database, so should not be needed. /ljo -->
             <sysproperty key="jetty.port" value="${jetty.port}" />
@@ -453,6 +462,7 @@
             <jvmarg line="${gc.log.file.prefix}${junit.reports.dat}/extra-tests_gc.log" />
 
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="java.util.logging.manager" value="org.apache.logging.log4j.jul.LogManager"/>
             <!-- fixme! - jetty.port.jetty /ljo -->
             <sysproperty key="jetty.port" value="${jetty.port}" />
@@ -522,6 +532,7 @@
         </copy>
         <java classname="org.exist.xquery.xqts.XQTS_To_junit">
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="exist.jmxagent" value="" />
             <!-- fixme! - jetty.port.jetty /ljo -->
             <sysproperty key="jetty.port" value="${jetty.port}" />
@@ -551,6 +562,7 @@
         <echo message="--------------"/>
         <junit haltonfailure="${junit.haltonfailure}" haltonerror="${junit.haltonerror}" printsummary="on" showoutput="${junit.output}" fork="yes" maxmemory="${junit.forked.VM.maxmemory.external}">
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="java.util.logging.manager" value="org.apache.logging.log4j.jul.LogManager"/>
             <!-- fixme! - jetty.port.jetty /ljo -->
             <sysproperty key="jetty.port" value="${jetty.port}" />
@@ -591,6 +603,7 @@
         </delete>
         <java classname="org.exist.xquery.xqts.QT3TS_To_junit">
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="exist.jmxagent" value="" />
             <classpath refid="classpath.core"/>
             <classpath refid="classpath.aspectj"/>
@@ -608,6 +621,7 @@
         <echo message="--------------"/>
         <junit haltonfailure="${junit.haltonfailure}" haltonerror="${junit.haltonerror}" printsummary="on" showoutput="${junit.output}" fork="yes" maxmemory="${junit.forked.VM.maxmemory.external}">
             <sysproperty key="exist.home" value="${basedir}" />
+            <sysproperty key="exist.recovery.progressbar.hide" value="${exist.recovery.progressbar.hide}"/>
             <sysproperty key="java.util.logging.manager" value="org.apache.logging.log4j.jul.LogManager"/>
 
             <classpath refid="classpath.core"/>
diff --git a/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/plugin/PluginsManagerImpl.java b/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/plugin/PluginsManagerImpl.java
index 2aa06560139..f4fdeb1768c 100644
--- a/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/plugin/PluginsManagerImpl.java
+++ b/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/plugin/PluginsManagerImpl.java
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ public void addPlugin(final String className) {
                 // NOTE: must set interrupted flag
                 Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
             }
-            LOG.error(e);
+            LOG.warn(e);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/storage/recovery/RecoveryManager.java b/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/storage/recovery/RecoveryManager.java
index b7d78f9f538..7798a537a16 100644
--- a/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/storage/recovery/RecoveryManager.java
+++ b/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/storage/recovery/RecoveryManager.java
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@
 import com.evolvedbinary.j8fu.function.SupplierE;
 import org.exist.util.sanity.SanityCheck;
 
+import javax.annotation.Nullable;
+
 /**
  * Database recovery. This class is used once during startup to check
  * if the database is in a consistent state. If not, the class attempts to recover
@@ -59,11 +61,13 @@ public class RecoveryManager {
     private final DBBroker broker;
     private final JournalRecoveryAccessor journalRecovery;
     private final boolean restartOnError;
+    private final boolean hideProgressBar;
 
     public RecoveryManager(final DBBroker broker, final JournalManager journalManager, final boolean restartOnError) {
         this.broker = broker;
         this.journalRecovery = journalManager.getRecoveryAccessor(this);
         this.restartOnError = restartOnError;
+        this.hideProgressBar = Boolean.getBoolean("exist.recovery.progressbar.hide");
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -121,10 +125,10 @@ public boolean recover() throws LogException {
 	    			Lsn lastLsn = Lsn.LSN_INVALID;
 	                Loggable next;
 	                try {
-						final ProgressBar progress = new ProgressBar("Scanning journal ", FileUtils.sizeQuietly(last));
+						final long lastSize = FileUtils.sizeQuietly(last);
+            @Nullable final ProgressBar scanProgressBar = hideProgressBar ? null : new ProgressBar("Scanning journal ", lastSize);
 	        			while ((next = reader.nextEntry()) != null) {
 //	                        LOG.debug(next.dump());
-							progress.set(next.getLsn().getOffset());
 							if (next.getLogType() == LogEntryTypes.TXN_START) {
 				                // new transaction starts: add it to the transactions table
 				                txnsStarted.put(next.getTransactionId(), next);
@@ -136,7 +140,15 @@ public boolean recover() throws LogException {
 	        					lastCheckpoint = (Checkpoint) next;
 				            }
 	        				lastLsn = next.getLsn();
+
+                  if (scanProgressBar != null) {
+                      scanProgressBar.set(next.getLsn().getOffset());
+                  }
 	        			}
+
+                if (scanProgressBar != null) {
+                    scanProgressBar.set(lastSize);  // 100%
+                }
 	                } catch (final LogException e) {
 	                    if (LOG.isDebugEnabled()) {
                             LOG.debug("Caught exception while reading log", e);
@@ -147,7 +159,7 @@ public boolean recover() throws LogException {
 	    			// if the last checkpoint record is not the last record in the file
 	    			// we need a recovery.
 	    			if ((lastCheckpoint == null || !lastCheckpoint.getLsn().equals(lastLsn)) &&
-	    					txnsStarted.size() > 0) {
+                !txnsStarted.isEmpty()) {
 	    				LOG.info("Dirty transactions: " + txnsStarted.size());
 	    				// starting recovery: reposition the log reader to the last checkpoint
 						if (lastCheckpoint == null)
@@ -251,10 +263,11 @@ private void doRecovery(final int txnCount, final Path last, final JournalReader
             // ------- REDO ---------
             if (LOG.isInfoEnabled())
                 {LOG.info("First pass: redoing " + txnCount + " transactions...");}
-            final ProgressBar progress = new ProgressBar("Redo ", FileUtils.sizeQuietly(last));
             Loggable next = null;
             int redoCnt = 0;
             try {
+                final long lastSize = FileUtils.sizeQuietly(last);
+                @Nullable final ProgressBar redoProgressBar = hideProgressBar ? null : new ProgressBar("Redo ", lastSize);
                 while ((next = reader.nextEntry()) != null) {
                     SanityCheck.ASSERT(next.getLogType() != LogEntryTypes.CHECKPOINT,
                             "Found a checkpoint during recovery run! This should not ever happen.");
@@ -272,9 +285,19 @@ private void doRecovery(final int txnCount, final Path last, final JournalReader
         //            LOG.debug("Redo: " + next.dump());
                     // redo the log entry
                     next.redo();
-                    progress.set(next.getLsn().getOffset());
-                    if (next.getLsn().equals(lastLsn))
-                        {break;} // last readable entry reached. Stop here.
+
+                    if (redoProgressBar != null) {
+                        redoProgressBar.set(next.getLsn().getOffset());
+                    }
+
+                    if (next.getLsn().equals(lastLsn)) {
+                        // last readable entry reached. Stop here.
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                if (redoProgressBar != null) {
+                    redoProgressBar.set(lastSize);  // 100% done
                 }
             } catch (final Exception e) {
                 LOG.error("Exception caught while redoing transactions. Aborting recovery to avoid possible damage. " +
@@ -291,16 +314,19 @@ private void doRecovery(final int txnCount, final Path last, final JournalReader
                 {LOG.info("Second pass: undoing dirty transactions. Uncommitted transactions: " +
                         runningTxns.size());}
             // see if there are uncommitted transactions pending
-            if (runningTxns.size() > 0) {
+            if (!runningTxns.isEmpty()) {
                 // do a reverse scan of the log, undoing all uncommitted transactions
                 try {
+                    final long lastSize = FileUtils.sizeQuietly(last);
+                    @Nullable final ProgressBar undoProgressBar = hideProgressBar ? null : new ProgressBar("Undo ", lastSize);
                     while((next = reader.previousEntry()) != null) {
                         if (next.getLogType() == LogEntryTypes.TXN_START) {
                             if (runningTxns.get(next.getTransactionId()) != null) {
                                 runningTxns.remove(next.getTransactionId());
-                                if (runningTxns.size() == 0)
+                                if (runningTxns.isEmpty()) {
                                     // all dirty transactions undone
-                                    {break;}
+                                    break;
+                                }
                             }
                         } else if (next.getLogType() == LogEntryTypes.TXN_COMMIT) {
                             // ignore already committed transaction
@@ -314,6 +340,14 @@ private void doRecovery(final int txnCount, final Path last, final JournalReader
     //					LOG.debug("Undo: " + next.dump());
                             next.undo();
                         }
+
+                        if (undoProgressBar != null) {
+                            undoProgressBar.set(lastSize - next.getLsn().getOffset());
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    if (undoProgressBar != null) {
+                        undoProgressBar.set(lastSize);   // 100% done
                     }
                 } catch (final Exception e) {
                     LOG.warn("Exception caught while undoing dirty transactions. Remaining transactions " +