StationPlaylist add-on 26.04, add-on development plan for the rest of the year

[joseph....@gmail.com]

Hello all,

StationPlaylist add-on 26.04 is now available.

Changelog:

• In Creator's playlist editor, resolved a regression from add-on version 26.01 where NVDA was sluggish when moving through date and hour combo boxes for multi-day playlists.

 

A few updates on SPL add-on development, specifically what is in store for the rest of the year:

• NVDA version requirement: as of time of this post, NVDA 2026.1 beta 7 is being tested by beta testers with no firm date on 2026.1 stable version release. This matters to SPL add-on folks because NVDA 2026.1 stable version release will initiate end of support countdown for 32-bit NVDA and Studio suite 6.0 and 6.01. First, a few days after NVDA 2026.1 stable version is published, we (Chris Duffley and I) will release a stable add-on release requiring the latest 32-bit NVDA version in existence by then (likely 2025.3.3 unless a security issue is found). I do ask everyone to update to NVDA 2025.3.3 as soon as possible. Then, shortly after NVDA 2026.2 stable version is released, SPL add-on will move onto requiring NVDA 2026.1.
• Studio 6.0x support: as we do every few years, the oldest supported Studio release will be dropped from the NVDA add-on, and for this year, it will be 6.0x (6.0 and 6.01). If you are using SPL suite 6.0 or 6.01, please upgrade to at least Studio 6.11, or if you can, to 6.20. A future add-on release will require SPL suite 6.10 or later.
• LTS26: just like last year, there will be a long-term support version of SPL add-on, tentatively codenamed “LTS26”. LTS releases support oldest supported Studio and/or based on older technologies and is supported for at least several months; this is in contrast with stable releases which receives support until the next stable version is released (weeks). This year’s LTS release is special: LTS26 will be the last release series to support both 32-bit NVDA and SPL suite 6.0/6.01. Further, if you are on Windows 10 (hopefully either 22H2 ESU or LTSC), LTS26 will be the last releases to support Windows 10 releases (for sure), with future add-on releases moving to support Windows 11 (unless extended by Microsoft, consumer extended security updates for Windows 10 Version 22H2 will end in October 2026 with enterprise ESU’s lasting until October 2028); for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC users, you should be using 2021 LTSC (supported until January 2027) or move to Windows 11.
• LTS26 delivery: previously, when we had LTS releases, stable add-on releases were delivered via the add-on store and other facilities while LTS users were asked to visit GitHub to download add-on updates. This may change for LTS26: I am testing the ability of the NV Access add-on store to present different stable releases based on NVDA versions. This means people using NVDA 2025.3.x will be directed to download LTS26 updates while 2026.1 and later users will receive higher numbered releases in the stable channel. This means the first LTS26 release will be published during NVDA 2026.2 beta/release candidate cycle, with release branches diverging after that.

 

To summarize, here is the tentative release plan for upcoming NVDA SPL add-on updates:

1. SPL add-on 26.04: released
2. A version requiring latest 32-bit NVDA: to be released a few days after NVDA 2026.1 stable version is released by NV Access
3. LTS26 base release: during NVDA 2026.2 beta/release candidate testing cycle (when you see NVDA 2026.2 beta 1 announcement, you will know that LTS26 base release is imminent)
4. NVDA 2026.1 requirement: to be enforced after NVDA 2026.2 stable version is published (will take effect early in the dev/beta add-on release channels)
5. SPL suite 6.10 requirement: at the same time or shortly after NVDA 2026.1 requirement is put in place (again earlier for dev and beta channels)
6. Last LTS26 release: no earlier than January 2027

Thanks.

Cheers,

Joseph

[Joseph Lee]

Hi all,

StationPlaylist add-on 26.04.2 (hotfix) is now available. This version resolves the following:

* In local Studio 6.10 and later, pressing Control+Alt+End will perform Studio command (play last parts of the focused track) instead of announcing the last column.

This workaround is temporary - I plan to come up with a way to let broadcasters choose the behavior of add-on keyboard commands conflicting with Studio native commands this northern summer.

Note on versioning: I reserved 26.04.1 to test the ability of the NV Access add-on store to show latest available add-on releases based on NVDA version you are running. While version 26.04.1 (test incoming) will be "compatible" with NVDA 2025.1 and 2025.2, I still recommend people to upgrade to 2025.3.3 sooner than later.

Cheers,

Joseph