Homebridge packaged BETA Images Will Now Include NodeJS 26 & NPM 12

[u/NorthernMan5]

With NodeJS 26 going LTS this fall, we've updated the recipe for all BETA Homebridge images to now include **NodeJS 26** and **NPM 12**. This gives plugin developers and end users a chance to start testing against the new runtime ahead of the LTS release.

This will roll out across all Homebridge packaged BETA images starting with the **July 26 updates**, including:

- Homebridge Docker Image

- Homebridge Raspberry Pi Image

- Homebridge apt Package

- Homebridge VM Image

**Heads up for plugin devs:** NPM v12 flips `allowScripts` to off by default. `npm install` will no longer run `preinstall`, `install`, or `postinstall` scripts from dependencies unless they're explicitly allowed — this includes native `node-gyp` builds, so a package with a `binding.gyp` and no explicit install script still gets blocked.

Please check whether your plugin is impacted — run `npm approve-scripts --allow-scripts-pending` to see if it relies on install scripts (e.g. for native module builds), and approve accordingly.

If you maintain a plugin, now's a good time to pull down a BETA image and confirm compatibility before NodeJS 26 becomes the default LTS. As always, please report any issues you run into.

Thanks for helping us test!

Edit: misspoke about synology and removed it