diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/main_window.py b/src/calibre/gui2/main_window.py
index fae1b3f9d3..aa8a50aed9 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/main_window.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/main_window.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
     def native_menubar(self):
         return self.___menu_bar
 
-    def __init__(self, opts, parent=None, disable_automatic_gc=False):
+    def __init__(self, opts=None, parent=None, disable_automatic_gc=False):
         QMainWindow.__init__(self, parent)
         self.display_unhandled_exception.connect(self.unhandled_exception, type=Qt.ConnectionType.QueuedConnection)
         if disable_automatic_gc:
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tts2/develop.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tts2/develop.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c3198b0006
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tts2/develop.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# License: GPLv3 Copyright: 2024, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+
+
+from qt.core import QAction, QPlainTextEdit, QToolBar
+
+from calibre.gui2 import Application
+from calibre.gui2.main_window import MainWindow
+
+TEXT = '''\
+Demonstration of DOCX support in calibre
+
+This document demonstrates the ability of the calibre DOCX Input plugin to convert the various typographic features in a Microsoft Word
+(2007 and newer) document. Convert this document to a modern ebook format, such as AZW3 for Kindles or EPUB for other ebook readers,
+to see it in action.
+
+There is support for images, tables, lists, footnotes, endnotes, links, dropcaps and various types of text and paragraph level formatting.
+
+To see the DOCX conversion in action, simply add this file to calibre using the “Add Books” button and then click “Convert”.
+Set the output format in the top right corner of the conversion dialog to EPUB or AZW3 and click “OK”.
+'''
+
+
+def to_marked_text(text=TEXT):
+    pos = 0
+    for word in text.split():
+        yield pos
+        yield word
+        yield ' '
+        pos += 1 + len(word)
+
+
+class MainWindow(MainWindow):
+
+    def __init__(self, text):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.display = d = QPlainTextEdit(self)
+        self.toolbar = tb = QToolBar(self)
+        self.addToolBar(tb)
+        self.setCentralWidget(d)
+        d.setPlainText(text)
+        d.setReadOnly(True)
+        self.marked_text = to_marked_text(text)
+        self.resize(self.sizeHint())
+        self.play_action = pa = QAction('Play')
+        pa.setCheckable(True)
+        self.toolbar.addAction(pa)
+        self.faster_action = fa = QAction('Faster')
+        self.toolbar.addAction(fa)
+        self.slower_action = sa = QAction('Slower')
+        self.toolbar.addAction(sa)
+        self.configure_action = ca = QAction('Configure')
+        self.toolbar.addAction(ca)
+
+
+def main():
+    app = Application([])
+    mw = MainWindow(TEXT)
+    mw.set_exception_handler()
+    mw.show()
+    app.exec()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tts2/manager.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tts2/manager.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..231fbf4a91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tts2/manager.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# License: GPLv3 Copyright: 2024, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+
+
+from qt.core import QObject
+
+
+class TTSManager(QObject):
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        self._tts = None
+
+    @property
+    def tts(self):
+        if self._tts is None:
+            from calibre.gui2.tts.types import create_tts_backend
+            self._tts = create_tts_backend(parent=self)
+        return self._tts
+
+    def speak_marked_text(self, marked_text):
+        pass