Add an option to use system notifications for NVDA add-on updates

[pianist211]

Description:
Currently, the NVDA update notification settings for add-ons provide only two options: Notify and Disable. If I choose Notify, NVDA will display an update notification window each time it starts when add-on updates are available. This can be very disruptive, as it interrupts my workflow and requires immediate interaction. I have to close this update notification window every time when I don’t need to update, which becomes quite inconvenient.
I would like to have an additional option that uses the operating system’s native notification system (e.g., Windows notifications) instead of showing the NVDA pop-up dialog. Ideally, these Windows notifications would be interactive: when the user clicks on one, NVDA would then open the add-on update window. System notifications are generally less intrusive, can be addressed at a more convenient time, and will not block other actions in progress.
Proposed Solution:
• Add a third option in the add-on update notification settings, such as "Use System Notifications."
• When this option is selected, NVDA would send add-on update alerts through the OS’s notification center, allowing the user to review and act on updates without interrupting their current tasks.
• Interactivity could be supported so that clicking the notification would open the add-on update window if the user wants to proceed.
Expected Benefit:
This feature would improve the user experience by providing a more seamless, less disruptive notification method for add-on updates. Users could continue their work without being forced to deal with a pop-up window immediately upon startup, and have the option to act on the notification when it’s convenient.
System and Software Versions:
• NVDA version: 2024.4.1 (latest)
• Operating System: Windows 11 24H2 (AMD64) build 26100.2454
Additional Information:
Giving users more flexibility in how they receive notifications helps accommodate different workflows and preferences. Integrating with system notifications is a more modern approach and aligns with how many other applications handle updates.

[SaschaCowley]

Also proposed in #17162 (comment).

[CyrilleB79]

Adding to 2025.1 milestone for tracking by NV Access since #3208 was part of 2025.1 milestone and has been closed in favor of this one.

[josephsl]

Hi,

I get a feeling that this was inspired by Add-on Updater...

The major difficulty with toast notification approach (as this is the method used in Windows 8.1 and above) is implementing actionable/interactive toasts - that was the reason for implementing toast notification for add-on updates in Add-on Updater. Specifically, I tried using wxWidgets facilities to implement actionable toasts but to no avail. As a result, Add-on Updater will notify you about add-on updates, informing you to open NVDA menu to actually review updates.

Thanks.

[CyrilleB79]

Even if the notification is not actionable, as in add-on updater, that's already an alternative to the dialog pop-up that may interest some people, myself included, who do not want to be interrupted by an update notification message box or dialog.

[seanbudd]

This is not planned for 2025.1