Use a version catalog to sync module dependency versions

[jakaarl]

Backend and related modules depend on libraries which need to be kept in sync. We should define the common versions in a catalog, publish it and consume it in each module. See: https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/platforms.html#sec:sharing-catalogs

[pveeckhout]

Personally I am much more inclined to use a platform rather than a catalog.

the platform is more heavyweight, but it also works on transitive dependencies, but I feel it might serve our case better

https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/platforms.html#sub:platforms-vs-catalog

we can both use a catalog and declare a platform which itself uses the catalog: