This package contains a basic template structure for NVDA add-on development, building, distribution and localization. For details about NVDA add-on development please see the NVDA Developer Guide. The NVDA addon development/discussion list is here

Copyright (C) 2012-2014 nvda addon team contributors.

This package is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later. Please see the file COPYING.txt for further details.

This template provides the following features you can use to help NVDA add-on development:

• Automatic add-on package creation, with naming and version loaded from a centralized build variables file (buildVars.py).
• Manifest file creation using a template (manifest.ini.tpl). Build variables are replaced on this template.
• Compilation of gettext mo files before distribution, when needed.

• To generate a gettext pot file, please run scons pot. A addon-name.pot file will be created with all gettext messages for your add-on. You need to check the buildVars.i18nSources variable to comply with your requirements.

• Automatic generation of manifest localization files directly from gettext po files. Please make sure buildVars.py is included in i18nFiles.
• Automatic generation of HTML documents from markdown (.md) files, to manage documentation in different languages.

You need the following software to use this code for your NVDA add-ons development:

• a Python distribution (2.7 or greater is recommended). Check the Python Website for Windows Installers.
• Scons - Website - version 2.1.0 or greater. Install it using easy_install or grab an windows installer from the website.
• GNU Gettext tools, if you want to have localization support for your add-on - Recommended. Any Linux distro or cygwin have those installed. You can find windows builds here.
• Markdown-2.0.1 or greater, if you want to convert documentation files to HTML documents. You can Download Markdown-2.0.1 installer for Windows or get it using easy_install markdown.

• Create an empty folder to hold the files for your add-on.
• Create an addon folder inside this new folder. Inside *addon folder, create needed folders for the add-on modules (e.g. appModules, synthDrivers, etc.). An add-on may have one or more module folders.
• Copy the buildVars.py file, the manifest.ini.tpl file, the manifest-translated.ini.tpl, SCONSTRUCT, site_scons, .gitignore and .gitattributes files to the created folder.
• In the buildVars.py file, change variable addon_info with your add-on's information (name, summary, description, version, author and url).
• Put your code in the usual folders for NVDA extension, under the addon folder. For instance: globalPlugins, synthDrivers, etc.
• Gettext translations must be placed into addon\locale<lang>/LC_MESSAGES\nvda.po.

• Copy the readme.md file for your add-on to the first created folder, where you copied buildVars.py. You can also copy style.css to improve the presentation of HTML documents.
• Documentation files (named readme.md) must be placed into addon\doc<lang>/.

• Open a command line, change to the folder that has the SCONSTRUCT file (usually the root of your add-on development folder) and run the scons command. The created add-on, if there were no errors, is placed in the current directory.
• You can further customize variables in the buildVars.py file.

Note that this template only provides a basic add-on structure and build infrastructure. You may need to adapt it for your specific needs.

If you have any issues please use the NVDA addon list mentioned above.