  We describe the 2023 release of the spectral synthesis code Cloudy. Since the
previous major release, migrations of our online services motivated us to adopt
git as our version control system. This change alone led us to adopt an annual
release scheme, accompanied by a short release paper, the present being the
inaugural. Significant changes to our atomic and molecular data have improved
the accuracy of Cloudy predictions: we have upgraded our instance of the
Chianti database from version 7 to 10; our H- and He-like collisional rates to
improved theoretical values; our molecular data to the most recent LAMDA
database, and several chemical reaction rates to their most recent UDfA and
KiDA values. Finally, we describe our progress on upgrading Cloudy's
capabilities to meet the requirements of the X-ray microcalorimeters aboard the
upcoming XRISM and Athena missions, and outline future development that will
make Cloudy of use to the X-ray community.
