Rc 1.7.7

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.md

@@ -33,19 +33,16 @@ Steps to reproduce the behaviour:
 
 A clear and concise description of what you expected to happen.
 
-**Desktop (please complete the following information):**
+**System Information (please complete the following information):**
 
-- The operating system you're using [e.g. Windows 11, MacOS Ventura, Ubuntu Kinetic]
-- The version of Python you're using (e.g. Python 3.11.1)
+- The operating system you're using [e.g. Windows 11, MacOS 27.0, Ubuntu 26.04]
+- The version of Python and Tkinter you're using (e.g. Python 3.14.7, Tkinter 9.0.4)
 - The type of serial connection [e.g. USB, UART1]
-
-**GNSS/GPS Device (please complete the following information as best you can):**
-
 - Device Model/Generation: [e.g. u-blox ZED-F9P]
 - Firmware Version: [e.g. HPG 1.32]
 - Protocol: [e.g. 32.00]
 
-This information is typically output by the device at startup via a series of NMEA TXT messages. It can also be found by polling the device with a UBX MON-VER message. If you're using the PyGPSClient GUI, a screenshot of the UBXConfig window should suffice.
+**FYI** Click on ![clipboard icon](https://github.com/semuconsulting/PyGPSClient/blob/main/src/pygpsclient/resources/iconmonstr-clipboard-13-24.png?raw=true) in the About dialog (Menu..Help..About) to copy the current system information and package versions to the clipboard e.g. for inclusion in bug reports or discussion queries.
 
 **Additional context**
 

.github/workflows/checkpr.yml

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
+        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14", "3.15.0-rc.2"]
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ jobs:
         run: pip install --group deploy
       - name: Install code dependencies
         run: pip install .
+      - name: Install dill 0.4.2.dev for Python 3.15
+        run: pip install --force-reinstall git+https://github.com/uqfoundation/dill.git
       - name: Lint with pylint
         run: pylint -E src
       - name: Scan security vulnerabilities with bandit

.github/workflows/main.yml

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
+        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14", "3.15.0-rc.2"]
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ jobs:
         run: pip install --group deploy
       - name: Install code dependencies
         run: pip install .
+      - name: Install dill 0.4.2.dev for Python 3.15
+        run: pip install --force-reinstall git+https://github.com/uqfoundation/dill.git
       - name: Lint with pylint
         run: pylint -E src
       - name: Security vulnerability analysis with bandit

.vscode/settings.json

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     "python.analysis.addHoverSummaries": false,
     "python-envs.defaultEnvManager": "ms-python.python:venv",
     "python.venvPath": "${userHome}/pygpsclient/bin/python3",
-    "python.systemPath": "/usr/local/bin/python3.14",
+    "python.systemPath": "/usr/local/bin/python3.15t", // free-threading version
     "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "${userHome}/pygpsclient/bin/python3",
     //"python.defaultInterpreterPath": "C:/Users/steve/pygpsclient/Scripts/python.exe",
     "python.testing.unittestEnabled": false,

.vscode/tasks.json

@@ -75,6 +75,19 @@
             ],
             "problemMatcher": [],
         },
+        {
+            "label": "Install dill 0.4.2.dev for Python 3.15",
+            "type": "shell",
+            "command": "${config:python.defaultInterpreterPath}",
+            "args": [
+                "-m",
+                "pip",
+                "install",
+                "--force-reinstall",
+                "git+https://github.com/uqfoundation/dill.git",
+            ],
+            "problemMatcher": [],
+        },
         {
             "label": "Clean",
             "type": "shell",
@@ -167,6 +180,7 @@
                 //"Create Venv",
                 "Install Deploy Dependencies",
                 "Install Optional Dependencies",
+                "Install dill 0.4.2.dev for Python 3.15",
                 "Clean",
                 "Sort Imports",
                 "Format",

INSTALLATION.md

@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ Normally installs without any additional steps.
 
 ⁵ The version of Python supplied with some older Apple MacOS platforms includes a [deprecated version of tkinter](https://www.python.org/download/mac/tcltk/) (8.5). Use an official [Python for MacOS](https://www.python.org/downloads/macos) installation package instead. 
 
-⁶ The version of tkinter supplied with the very latest official versions of [Python for MacOS](https://www.python.org/downloads/macos) (`>= 3.14.5`), and with Homebrew formula `python-tk >= 3.12`, include a new version of tkinter (9.0). There appear to be some performance and compatibility issues with this version on MacOS Sonoma and Tahoe which may render the PyGPSClient UI somewhat sluggish or unresponsive. Until this is resolved, MacOS users are recommended to use official Python <= 3.14.4 or Homebrew formula `python-tk = 3.11`.
+⁶ The version of tkinter supplied with the very latest official versions of [Python for MacOS](https://www.python.org/downloads/macos) (`>= 3.14.5`), and with Homebrew formula `python-tk >= 3.12`, include a new version of tkinter (9.0). There have been reports of compatibility issues with tkinter 9.0 with certain platform configurations which *may* render the PyGPSClient UI somewhat sluggish or unresponsive. If you experience any issues, consider using an official Python <= 3.14.4 or Homebrew formula `python-tk = 3.11`.
 
 If you wish to install Python using [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) to take advantage of certain non-default configurations (*e.g. support for sqlite3 extensions*), use the `python-tk` formula rather than `python`, e.g.