Embodiments include a system for release cycle optimization; the system includes a processor configured to perform a method. The method includes accessing, by a processor, historical data relating to a plurality of software version each having a plurality of attributes; selecting a subset of attributes from the plurality of attributes; receiving a set of data values for each of the subset of attributes from the plurality of attributes; performing one or more simulations of a software development cycle utilizing the set of data values; and obtaining a set of results from the one or more simulations comprising a plurality of predicted field defects values corresponding to each of the set of data values.