Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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JAWS vs NVDA for blind programmers (self.Blind)
submitted by Braille-Bennett
Hello everyone, I am a blind student wishing to get into coding. I am wondering which windows screen reader to use to achieve this goal. I am between JAWS and NVDA currently and don't know which one to choose. Sense I am a student I can get a free JAWS license, but once I graduate this perk would no longer be available to me. Is JAWS worth it? Is NVDA better sense it is free and open source? Which ones controls/commands do you like more?
synthpopolis 4 points 1y ago
I am a software engineer and I use NVDA exclusively. That doesn’t necessarily mean one is better than the other, just that that’s what I’m used to. People used to always say that JAWS had more support because people were more familiar with it in the industry, but I wonder how true that is these days, as it seems like more and more people are adopting NVDA
CloudyBeep 2 points 1y ago
The latest reliable survey figures show that, after a brief stint as the most popular screen reader, NVDA usage is declining in comparison to JAWS. However, more data will be needed to see a pattern over time.
[deleted] 3 points 1y ago
[deleted]
CloudyBeep 2 points 1y ago
I said "reliable" statistics. I would not have mentioned them if I didn't think that they were empirically valid.
In addition to JAWS now being offered more affordably in the U.S., industry experts also believe that there has been an exodus from NVDA as the most popular screen reader because of its inferior support for Microsoft Office, and the fact that many recent updates have broken compatibility with add-ons which provide functionality that JAWS includes out of the box, requiring users to wait for add-ons to be updated by their creator and then download those updated add-ons.
In addition to JAWS now being offered more affordably in the U.S., industry experts also believe that there has been an exodus from NVDA as the most popular screen reader because of its inferior support for Microsoft Office, and the fact that many recent updates have broken compatibility with add-ons which provide functionality that JAWS includes out of the box, requiring users to wait for add-ons to be updated by their creator and then download those updated add-ons.
synthpopolis 2 points 1y ago
Interesting. Last time I checked, JAWS costs a fortune so I can’t imagine NVDA users are going in that direction. My guess would be that people are increasingly relying on windows narrator since it has gotten so much better in recent years. While I still prefer NVDA to narrator, there are some things narrator is actually better at, so it’s good to have both of them handy. As for JAWS, I would guess it’s days are numbered
CloudyBeep 1 points 1y ago
In the U.S., JAWS costs $90 a year. In some other countries, the cost is subsidized by the government.
Vispero's measures to respond to a changing market have paid off so far.
Vispero's measures to respond to a changing market have paid off so far.
modulus 3 points 1y ago
Personally I prefer NVDA, and, from a programming standpoint, it has the advantage that if you don't like something about it, you at least can attempt to modify it to your taste, with a general purpose language rather than JAWS scripting, which is much more limited.
I'd also say it depends on what you're going to be working with for development. Either one might have better support for a specific editor or IDE. I'd give both a try if at all possible.
I'd also say it depends on what you're going to be working with for development. Either one might have better support for a specific editor or IDE. I'd give both a try if at all possible.
NoConfidence_2192 3 points 1y ago
Which ever one you choose it will not hurt to get some exposure to the other as well. You may not always have control over what tools are available to you in a work environment
r_1235 2 points 1y ago
Hands down, NVDA!
It's lighter on the system resources, has more options that I care about, has amazing addons, and has fantastic customization capabilities. Hell, you can customize it down to it's code if you want, since it's open-source.
Jaws? just no! on low end machines it's very hevy on system resources, is damn expencive, and I've heard that you need to pay for updates! That last one is just nope!
It's lighter on the system resources, has more options that I care about, has amazing addons, and has fantastic customization capabilities. Hell, you can customize it down to it's code if you want, since it's open-source.
Jaws? just no! on low end machines it's very hevy on system resources, is damn expencive, and I've heard that you need to pay for updates! That last one is just nope!
TechnicalPragmatist 2 points 1y ago
Can I throw in voice over as well as in mac computers I would be using an m1 chip mac, probably textmate unless anyone has better ideas, but that or jaws or nvda? Just a third option for myself because I have access to both computers. I actually have a few more but I am sure no one codes on those like chromebooks and a surface pro. Hahaha! Probably riddiculous ideas to even suggest coding on those hahahaha!
AndAdapt 1 points 1y ago
On the Mac you are probably better off with emacs and Emacspeak than you are text mate.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Interesting why would you say that is, just wondering, is there more functionality on it?
Is it generally better to code on mac or windows?
Is it generally better to code on mac or windows?
AndAdapt 1 points 1y ago
Emacs with emacspeak is going to be the best IDE you can get on the mac with a screen reader. Textmate will not give a complete IDE experience.
I use both windows and mac. On windows i use VSCODE with NVDA and emacs on the mac. I find myself doing most of my coding on windows. However, I prefer some of the features of emacs.
But I work with students day in and day out. VSCODE is easier for them to pick up. So that’s where I spend most of my time.
I use both windows and mac. On windows i use VSCODE with NVDA and emacs on the mac. I find myself doing most of my coding on windows. However, I prefer some of the features of emacs.
But I work with students day in and day out. VSCODE is easier for them to pick up. So that’s where I spend most of my time.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
I see. Thanks makes sense. Thanks for the insights and information.
What do you prefer on emacs.
And why. Do you find that students pick up on vscode better?
What do you prefer on emacs.
And why. Do you find that students pick up on vscode better?
Future-Ad326 1 points 1y ago
I'd say NVDA. I am a student studying programming, and NVDA works well enough. It's fast enough to work with the editors. Nvda is free and open source, so if you spot a bug and you want to fix it and know how to, you can do it with some setup.
fhifck 1 points 1y ago
I don’t really know but I’m a programmer and use Mac products at work so I’m learning voiceover
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Is it better to program on a mac over windows? And do you like programming with voice over? I am primarily a mac user myself.
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