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+---
+'@backstage/backend-app-api': minor
+---
+
+Introduced backend startup result tracking and error handling. The `Backend.start()` method now returns a `BackendStartupResult` with detailed success/failure status and timing information for all plugins and modules. When startup fails, a `BackendStartupError` is thrown that includes the complete startup results, making it easier to diagnose which plugins or modules failed.
+
+This also improves the default error message when backend startup fails, and of course makes it possible to craft your own custom error reporting based on the startup results.