diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 9062726..028c887 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 # libpath - Changes <!-- omit in toc -->
 
 
+## 0.3.0-beta3 - 27th October 2026
+
+* Defined `HAS_xTests` and `HAS_XTESTS` when **xTests** is detected;
+
+
 ## 0.3.0-beta2 - 20th October 2026
 
 * Aligned the **run_all_examples.sh**, **run_all_scratch_tests.sh** / **.cmd**, and **run_all_unit_tests.sh** helper scripts with **misc-dev-scripts** gold tip **0754c23**, excluding **CMakeFiles** and `*.d` / `*.o` / `*.obj` from discovery and adding scratch `--skip-interactive`;
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 63797a2..872d0c1 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -155,6 +155,12 @@ if(BUILD_TESTING)
 
 		include_directories(${STLSOFT_INCLUDE_DIR})
 	endif()
+
+	if(DEFINED STLSOFT_INCLUDE_DIR OR DEFINED STLSoft_FOUND)
+
+		add_compile_definitions(HAS_STLSOFT)
+		add_compile_definitions(HAS_STLSoft)
+	endif()
 endif(BUILD_TESTING)
 
 
@@ -163,11 +169,16 @@ endif(BUILD_TESTING)
 
 if(BUILD_TESTING)
 
-	set(xTests_REQUIRED_VERSION_ 0.26)
+	set(xTests_REQUIRED_VERSION_ 0.28)
 
 	find_package(xTests ${xTests_REQUIRED_VERSION_} REQUIRED)
 
 	message("-- CMake package xTests found (version ${xTests_VERSION}; ${xTests_REQUIRED_VERSION_} requested)")
+
+	add_compile_definitions(
+		HAS_xTests
+		HAS_XTESTS
+	)
 endif(BUILD_TESTING)
 
 
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 2a0f3e3..19ce8e0 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 | Date                | News Item                           | Details                         |
 | ------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
+| 27th October 2026   | Release of [libpath 0.3.0-beta3](https://github.com/synesissoftware/libpath/releases/tag/0.3.0-beta3) | `HAS_xTests` / `HAS_XTESTS` when **xTests** is detected |
 | 20th October 2026   | Release of [**libpath** 0.3.0-beta2](https://github.com/synesissoftware/libpath/releases/tag/0.3.0-beta2) | Gold tip helpers                |
 | 14th October 2026   | Release of [**libpath** 0.3.0-beta1](https://github.com/synesissoftware/libpath/releases/tag/0.3.0-beta1) | Gold helpers; modular CI; `LIBPATH_VER_RELSTATUS` |
 | 15th March 2025     | Release of [**libpath** 0.3.0-alpha1](https://github.com/synesissoftware/libpath/releases/tag/0.3.0-alpha1) | Changed API                     |
diff --git a/include/libpath/common/version.h b/include/libpath/common/version.h
index c8ee68a..4814b7f 100644
--- a/include/libpath/common/version.h
+++ b/include/libpath/common/version.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * Purpose: Portability discrimination for libpath library.
  *
  * Created: 9th November 2012
- * Updated: 20th October 2026
+ * Updated: 27th October 2026
  *
  * Home:    https://github.com/synesissoftware/libpath
  *
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
 #define LIBPATH_VER_MAJOR               0
 #define LIBPATH_VER_MINOR               3
 #define LIBPATH_VER_PATCH               0
-#define LIBPATH_VER_RELSTATUS           0x82
+#define LIBPATH_VER_RELSTATUS           0x83
 
 #define LIBPATH_VER \
     (0\
diff --git a/test/scratch/versions/CMakeLists.txt b/test/scratch/versions/CMakeLists.txt
index 316c4d2..1aef27b 100644
--- a/test/scratch/versions/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/scratch/versions/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,9 @@
-# SIS:AUTO_GENERATED: Remove this line if you edit the file, otherwise it will be overwritten
 define_example_program(test.scratch.versions main.cpp)
+
+if(TARGET xTests::core)
+
+	target_link_libraries(test.scratch.versions
+		PRIVATE
+			xTests::core
+	)
+endif()
diff --git a/test/scratch/versions/main.cpp b/test/scratch/versions/main.cpp
index 81073e7..8bc5a2c 100644
--- a/test/scratch/versions/main.cpp
+++ b/test/scratch/versions/main.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 
 #include <libpath/common/version.h>
 
+#ifdef HAS_STLSoft
+# include <stlsoft/stlsoft.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAS_xTests
+# include <xtests/xtests.h>
+#endif
+
 #include <iomanip>
 #include <iostream>
 
@@ -45,11 +53,41 @@ version(
 
 int main(int /*argc*/, char* /*argv*/[])
 {
+    int efferents_count = 0;
+
     {
         unsigned const libver = LIBPATH_VER;
 
         version(std::cout, "", "libpath", "LIBPATH_VER", libver);
     }
 
+#ifdef HAS_STLSoft
+
+    if (0 == efferents_count++)
+    {
+        std::cout << "\n" << "efferent dependencies:" << std::endl;
+    }
+
+    {
+        unsigned const libver = _STLSOFT_VER;
+
+        version(std::cout, "\t", "STLSoft", "_STLSOFT_VER", libver);
+    }
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAS_xTests
+
+    if (0 == efferents_count++)
+    {
+        std::cout << "\n" << "efferent dependencies:" << std::endl;
+    }
+
+    {
+        unsigned const libver = _XTESTS_VER;
+
+        version(std::cout, "\t", "xTests", "_XTESTS_VER", libver);
+    }
+#endif
+
     return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }