Feature Request :: Check items by voice.

[anthraxn8b]

Hi!
I created a checklist with Java/Android that could fulfill this task - but I am not into C++ :-)
IMHO it would be a great feature and is not a big deal.

With VOSK you can define a list of expected words which makes it extremely reliable.
You could use the second path in the clist (separated by "|") (but better use an additional list of accepted words per checklist item)).

ChatGPT is optimistic ...

Goal: Add speech recognition (e.g., when the user says "check", it checks the current checklist item).

Requirements:

• Modify the C++ code of xchecklist.
• Integrate a speech recognition library (e.g., Vosk, a lightweight offline STT engine).
• Hook the recognition trigger into the checklist advancement logic.

Steps to Modify xchecklist:

1. Set up voice recognition (e.g., Vosk)
   Vosk is a good choice because it's:

• Offline-capable.
• Has C/C++ bindings.
• Lightweight enough for plugins.

Install Vosk:

• Download Vosk C++ API: https://github.com/alphacep/vosk-api
• Download a small English model (e.g., vosk-model-small-en-us-0.15)

Add to xchecklist:

• Integrate Vosk via its API.
• Create a thread that listens for microphone input and looks for the word "check".

2. Modify xchecklist Source
   Find the core logic where a checklist item is marked as complete.

Create a method like VoiceTriggerCheck(). Inside it, call the same function used when a user manually checks an item. Call this method from the Vosk callback whenever "check" is recognized.

3. Implement the Voice Thread (example):

#include "vosk_api.h"
#include <thread>
#include <atomic>

std::atomic<bool> keep_listening(true);

void voice_listener_thread() {
    Model *model = new Model("model");
    KaldiRecognizer *recognizer = new KaldiRecognizer(model, 16000.0);

    PaStream *stream;
    Pa_Initialize();
    Pa_OpenDefaultStream(&stream, 1, 0, paInt16, 16000, 4096, nullptr, nullptr);
    Pa_StartStream(stream);

    short buffer[4096];
    while (keep_listening) {
        Pa_ReadStream(stream, buffer, 4096);
        if (recognizer->AcceptWaveform((char*)buffer, sizeof(buffer))) {
            std::string result = recognizer->Result();
            if (result.find("check") != std::string::npos) {
                MarkCurrentItemAsChecked(); // <-- you define this
            }
        }
    }

    Pa_StopStream(stream);
    Pa_CloseStream(stream);
    delete recognizer;
    delete model;
}

You’ll need to link against:

• Vosk
• PortAudio

4. Launch the thread in plugin startup

std::thread(voice_listener_thread).detach();

Notes:

• Add menu setting to enable/disable voice input.
• Handle threading and plugin shutdown safely.
• Debounce voice trigger (only one check per result).

Testing & Build:

1. Compile the plugin with Vosk and PortAudio.
2. Place the .xpl file in the appropriate X-Plane plugin folder.
3. Test in X-Plane by saying “check” during checklist use.