another version, but im gonna test the first one

modules/play_sort2.py.disabled

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+from . import log95, PlaylistModifierModule, Track, Path
+
+# The module loader injects this variable.
+# We assert it to satisfy static analysis and inform runtime about its presence.
+_log_out: log95.TextIO
+assert _log_out # pyright: ignore[reportUnboundVariable]
+
+def load_play_counts(file_path: Path) -> dict[str, int]:
+    """
+    Loads the play counts from the file generated by the play_counter module.
+    """
+    counts = {}
+    try:
+        with open(file_path, 'r') as file:
+            for line in file:
+                if line.strip() == "" or line.startswith(";"):
+                    continue
+                try:
+                    key, value = line.split(':', 1)
+                    counts[key.strip()] = int(value.strip())
+                except ValueError:
+                    # Ignore lines with invalid formats
+                    continue
+        return counts
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        # It's okay if the file doesn't exist yet, means no counts have been recorded.
+        return {}
+
+class GroupedSorterModule(PlaylistModifierModule):
+    """
+    A playlist modifier that sorts tracks based on their play history
+    but only within sequential groups of 3.
+    """
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.logger = log95.log95("GroupSort", output=_log_out)
+        # The play_counter file is located in the parent directory of the 'modules' folder.
+        self.play_counts_file = Path(__file__, "..", "..", "play_counter").resolve()
+
+    def modify(self, global_args: dict, playlist: list[Track]) -> list[Track]:
+        self.logger.info("Applying grouped sorting to the playlist...")
+        
+        play_counts = load_play_counts(self.play_counts_file)
+        if not play_counts:
+            self.logger.info("Play counter file not found or is empty. No sorting will be applied.")
+            return playlist
+
+        group_size = 3
+        
+        # Iterate through the playlist in steps of 'group_size'
+        for i in range(0, len(playlist), group_size):
+            # Get the current group (slice) of tracks
+            group = playlist[i:i+group_size]
+            
+            # Sort this smaller group based on play count, from least played to most played.
+            # Tracks not in play_counts are given a count of 0.
+            sorted_group = sorted(group, key=lambda track: play_counts.get(track.path.as_posix(), 0))
+            
+            # Replace the original slice in the playlist with the newly sorted group
+            playlist[i:i+group_size] = sorted_group
+
+        self.logger.info("Grouped sorting complete.")
+        return playlist
+
+# The radioPlayer will look for a 'playlistmod' variable to load the module.
+# playlistmod = (GroupedSorterModule(), 1)