Mastodawn

Pratik Patel Feb 23

I’m excited to announce the first public release of Terminal Access for NVDA: an add-on focused on improving the NVDA experience when working in terminal/console applications. Inspired by TDSR and Speakup, there's quite a bit of functionality here. I welcome contributions. Issues and PRs welcome. Lots of testing needed.

Open issues on the Github repo at: https://github.com/PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA

Get it here: https://github.com/PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/latest

#accessibility #NVDASR

GitHub - PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA: This NVDA add-on enables functionality similar to TDSR in NVDA.

This NVDA add-on enables functionality similar to TDSR in NVDA. - PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA

GitHub

Pratik Patel Feb 23

I've bumped up the version number for Terminal Access to v1.0.45 with a fix for global keys issue. If you haven't updated it or got to the v1.0.43 release, you can update it here. I've also submited the add-on to the NVDA store. Hopefully, new updates will show up there once approved.

https://github.com/PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/download/v1.0.45/terminalAccess-1.0.45.nvda-addon

Pratik Patel Feb 24

Terminal Access for NVDA 1.0.46 released with better cacheing support and a new configurable output buffer with nvda+alt+n. It automatically speaks newly appended terminal output as it arrives. Coalesces rapid output within a configurable window (default 200 ms). Speaks a concise summary: e.g. "47 new lines". Window monitoring is more efficient and reliable. Settings now give you four new options to control the output buffer.

https://github.com/PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/download/v1.0.46/terminalAccess-1.0.46.nvda-addon

#NVDASR #accessibility

I'm working on updating Terminal Access to support less complicated set of keyboard commands. Since I'm limiting the commands to terminal windows, things should be less confusing.

Pratik Patel Feb 24

Terminal Access for NVDA 1.0.47 released.

• Simplified keyboard shortcuts: All terminal-scoped commands now use simpler 2-modifier combinations instead of 3-modifier combinations. User docs will provide details.
• Dropped Alt modifier entirely (key unchanged) for most commands
• Dropped Alt, key changed (to avoid NVDA global conflicts)
• 3-key → 2-key (dropped Alt from Shift combinations)
• Fixed announcement of "blank" after pressing enter
• Cleanup code

https://github.com/PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/latest

Release Release 1.0.47 · PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA

Release version 1.0.47

GitHub

Pratik Patel Feb 26

Terminal Access 1.0.51 released with even more simplified shortcuts such as for adding and reading bookmarks, more terminals supported including additional TUI profiles such as for apps like Claude Cli, code improvements for better performance, attempts at crushing persistent bugs like reading "blank" after pressing enter, and more. Read the documentation.

I'll make updates based on feedback since I believe I'm done with features for now.

https://github.com/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/latest

#NVDASR #accessibility

@ppatel meep, that link is missing your username :)

@ppatel also minor bug report: it looks like typing out a command and pressing enter with default settings entirely blanks out the braille display. I also get a "blank" right before commandline output, that might be related

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@zersiax Urgh. Thank you for reporting those. I'll take care of it.

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@zersiax I think it's that "blank" announcement fix that probably caused the Braille display issue. I reverted the change and bumped up the version. Let me know if you encounter that problem or something else. I should have tested with my display first. It's working now, but I want to be sure.

https://github.com/pratikp1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/latest

@ZBennoui @ppatel LOL, 404

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@Bri @ZBennoui I should have copied and pasted instead of typing it out.

https://github.com/PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases

Releases · PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA

This NVDA add-on enables functionality similar to TDSR in NVDA. - PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA

GitHub

@ZBennoui @ppatel The link doesn't seem to be working, gives a page not found.

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@arfy @ZBennoui Yes. My mistake. Here's the link.

https://github.com/PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/latest

Release Release 1.0.51 · PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA

Release version 1.0.51

GitHub

Tech Singer Feb 27

@ppatel Thanks for this. If I may ask, is the repeating of letters expected? When I hit, for example, c, it says "c c space". This happens both in cmd and powershell.

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@techsinger Do you have NVDA's key echo switched on? If so, then I recommend going to Terminal Access settings and switching key echo off. I had to build in its own key echo to support profiles for specific apps inside the terminal.

Tech Singer Feb 27

@ppatel thanks so much, that works. It still says space after every character, though. Thanks again for telling me how to remove the double speaking.

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@techsinger Let me double check. You're using key echo setting from NVDA. Correct? I'll try to fix this. It shouldn't be giving you space after typing each character. I think I know what's going on.

Tech Singer Feb 27

@ppatel Thanks for looking into it. My typing echo is on "always". This is 2025.3. The key echo in terminal settings is unchecked.

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@techsinger Thank you. This helps me track down the issue. I'll hope to have something back to you by tomorrow.

Tech Singer Feb 27

@ppatel Thanks again. BTW, weird thing. If I turn character echo to "off", it doesn't speak the characters, but does still say space every time I hit a key. Again, I appreciate your work on this.

bscross32 Feb 27

@ppatel The link doesn't work.

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@bscross32 I posted a correction in the thread. But here's the latest.

https://github.com/pratikp1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/latest

Release Release 1.0.52 · PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA

Release version 1.0.52

GitHub

bscross32 Feb 27

@ppatel Ah thanks 😀

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@bscross32 You can also get it from the add-on store now. For now, it shows up as a beta since NVDA 2026.1 hasn't been officially released. I'll make sure to submit the latest updates there.

Pratik Patel Feb 27

Terminal Access 1.0.51 released with even more simplified shortcuts such as for adding and reading bookmarks, more terminals supported including additional TUI profiles such as for apps like Claude Cli, code improvements for better performance, attempts at crushing persistent bugs like reading "blank" after pressing enter, and more. Read the documentation.

I'll make updates based on feedback since I believe I'm done with features for now.

https://github.com/PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/latest

#NVDASR #accessibility

Release Release 1.0.51 · PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA

Release version 1.0.51

GitHub

Pratik Patel Feb 27

Terminal Access will now show up in the official #NVDA add-on store. For now, it shows up in the beta channel since 2026.1 hasn't been officially released. Updates will show up there as well.

Pratik Patel Mar 1

Terminal Access for NVDA 1.0.53 released with several changes.

Better Braille Support including cursor tracking showing the whole line instead of character at a time, add-on specific scripts actually showing content on the display and not just speaking it, and more.

The duplicate key echo issue reported by a few of you should be fixed.

As usual, please let me know if things aren't working as they should or if you want more features.

https://github.com/pratikp1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/latest

#accessibility #NVDA

Release Release 1.0.53 · PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA

Release version 1.0.53

GitHub

Pratik Patel Mar 3

Terminal Access 1.1.0 released with Win 10 Consolhost fixes including "space" announcement with key echo off, 6 separate Win 10 UIA-specific fixes as well as the addition of layered commands to make terminal review even faster. Launch layered commands by pressing nvda+' and escape to exit the mode.

As usual, let me know how things are working, good, bad, or the ugly.

https://github.com/PratikP1/Terminal-Access-for-NVDA/releases/download/v1.1.0/terminalAccess-1.1.0.nvda-addon

#NVDA #accessibility

Kaveinthran (no longer here)Mar 3

@ppatel Beautiful, do you think you can include a layer command review using tab and shift tab so people can know what other commands that are available and they can press enter on any command to execute the function. This follows Doug Lee'S jaws script convensions.

Pratik Patel Mar 3

@kaveinthran I'll have to think about how to implement something like this. Can you tell me a little more about how this works? I haven't used Doug's scripts in a long time.

Kaveinthran (no longer here)Mar 3

@ppatel A discoverability pattern he highlights is: press the Command key and then Tab through available commands to learn what that script set supports.
You can refer here. https://www.dlee.org/code_common.htm

Common Script Elements

Kaveinthran (no longer here)Mar 3

@ppatel Also @alexchapman made discord #nvda add-on inspired by Doug Lee's work. Not sure if help layer is also integrated.

Noel Romey Mar 1

@ppatel Sorry I was replying to someone else's message. I got the addon from your github link, how quickly does that flow to the store or do you have to manually update it.

Pratik Patel Mar 1

@ner Right now, I have to manually update it. It's kind of a pain. I'm checking to see if I can create a workflow that automatically submits to the store when there's a new release.

Noel Romey Mar 1

@ppatel I'm finding that I'm still using object nav when I scroll through terminals. I do like that you can do selections with your addon, you can do symbol trimming etc., but for scrolling I still use object nav. Do I suck or something :).

Pratik Patel Mar 1

@ner Nah. It's a matter of habit. I just found that it wasn't efficient for me to keep on using object nav. I started to work on the add-on because I found my time on the terminal to be less efficient than it needed to be.

@ppatel what is this addon doing? I'm using a lot of terminal so.

Pratik Patel Mar 1

@patricus In short, it provides lots of different methods to navigate and access the terminal that goes beyond what's provided in NVDA, not to mention better performance.

@ppatel yay!
usefull stuff!
I will install it ASAP.
side note: an other notification bleep, gotosocial sends me notifications. it works.

@ppatel did you just... stole orca's shortcuts? shh, noone will notice, except me, or not? 😉

Pratik Patel Mar 1

@patricus Nope. I don't use Orca enough to be familiar with it.

@ppatel aha ok.
but it reminds me of orca hahahahaha

Pratik Patel Mar 1

@patricus There are only so many ways and so many keyboard commands we can use. Some of the advanced functionality was inspired by Speakup. I suspect Orca took some of that on as well.

@ppatel y know I were joking? right? everyone clones orca/espeakup anyway. tdsr does too.

Pratik Patel Mar 1

@patricus Might as well. Why mess with something good that was already built?

@ppatel ya, and also copying is tdsr'ish which makes it easier for me personally haha

Pratik Patel Mar 1

@patricus I added a couple of twists to that feature. Got permission from Tyler to do that. So far, that and the bookmarks features are my favorites that I keep on using.

Noel Romey Feb 27

@ppatel What does it do?

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@ner In short, it gives better access to terminal screens.

Noel Romey Feb 27

@ppatel I got the addon and have been testing it. It seems to edit my current typing echo, in other words for all profiles, it turns typing echo on rather than off. I see some gestures but none that seem to edit and edit profiles doesn't seem to bre supported yet.

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@ner 1. Do you have typing echo on for your everyday use in terminal without this add-on? 2. Can you give me more details on what you're trying to do with profiles and what's not working? Love to try and fix issues. I'm just not sure about what you mean.

Noel Romey Feb 27

@ppatel Normally, typing echo is off for all terminal or console, really everywhere in NVDA. When your addon is enabled, it always seems to keyboard echo. With the Claude code profile, did you solve cursor tracking while backspacing? If so, that isn't functional either.

Pratik Patel Feb 27

@ner Just double checking. Did you turn key echo setting off in Terminal Access settings? If you did, does it still echo keys in terminals? And, can you tell me exactly what you mean by "back tracking?"

Noel Romey Feb 28

@ppatel Ok, turning keyboard echo off for cursor tracking did help. Backspace, as is normal, with Claude. They definitely do some weird things with the cursor. I generally use object nav to view the scrollback. Your guide viewed from github views in raw. I will try to open it via the hotkey. Viewing from the addon enabled in Chrome directly opens just fine in Chrome.

Pratik Patel Feb 28

@ner Ya. I'll definitely have to play with Claude's profile. Someone requested that I add layered commands so that it's easier to review and do things. It might make things easier.

Pratik Patel Feb 28

@ner Ya. The user guide is the same on Github as launched from the add-on.