bug fixes and dependency updates

.github/workflows/build_appimage_bundle.yml

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Check out repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Set up Python 3.13
         uses: actions/setup-python@v6

.github/workflows/build_docker_image.yml

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Build image and upload artifact
     steps:
       - name: Checkout Code
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v4
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ jobs:
       contents: read
     steps:
       - name: Checkout Repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Set up QEMU
         uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v4

.github/workflows/build_nsis_bundle.yml

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Check out repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Set up Python 3.13
         uses: actions/setup-python@v6

.github/workflows/build_server.yml

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code for ${{ matrix.platform.name }}
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
         with:
           repository: DJ2LS/FreeDATA
 

.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml

@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
     - name: Checkout repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      uses: actions/checkout@v7
       with:
         ref: ${{ github.head_ref }}
 

.github/workflows/gui_tests.yml

@@ -18,12 +18,13 @@ jobs:
         include:
           #- node-version: "16" # EOL
           #- node-version: "18" # EOL
-          - node-version: "20"
+          #- node-version: "20" # EOL (2026-04-30), also incompatible with @babel/core 8 (requires ^22.18.0 || >=24.11.0)
           - node-version: "22"
           - node-version: "24"
+          - node-version: "26"
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
       - name: Install Node.js, NPM and Yarn
         uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:

.github/workflows/modem_tests.yml

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ jobs:
           - python-version: "3.13"
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
         uses: actions/setup-python@v6

.github/workflows/pip_package.yml

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ jobs:
   deploy:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
     - name: Set up Python 3.13
       uses: actions/setup-python@v6

.github/workflows/prettier.yaml

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
 
         steps:
             - name: Checkout
-              uses: actions/checkout@v6
+              uses: actions/checkout@v7
               with:
                   # Make sure the actual branch is checked out when running on pull requests
                   ref: ${{ github.head_ref }}

.github/workflows/ruff.yaml

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
   ruff:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
       - name: Install Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v6
         with:

README.md

@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # FreeDATA
 
+> [!NOTE]
+> Development has slowed due to limited maintainer time.
+
+> [!WARNING]
+> Latest release accumulated many changes towards the 0.18.x release, including a new broadcast feature for group chats. If you run into issues, please fall back to the more stable release, [v0.17.8](https://github.com/DJ2LS/FreeDATA/releases/tag/v0.17.8).
+
 > FreeDATA is a versatile, **open-source platform designed specifically for HF communications**, leveraging **codec2** data modes for robust global digital communication. It features a network-based server-client architecture, a REST API, multi-platform compatibility, and a messaging system.
 
 > Please keep in mind, this project is still **under development** with many issues which need to be solved.