Nova Launcher’s founder and sole developer has left

An aged screenshot of Nova Launcher. | Image: Nova Launcher

After astir everyone moving connected the Nova Launcher, 1 of the astir recognizable names successful Android launchers, was laid disconnected last year, laminitis Kevin Barry, Nova’s sole remaining developer, said this weekend that helium has near Nova’s genitor institution aft being asked to halt moving connected the launcher and an effort to open-source it. Nova Launcher’s website currently shows a 404 error, though the launcher is inactive available connected Google Play.

Mobile analytics institution Branch Metrics acquired Nova successful 2022. The company’s CEO astatine the time, co-founder Alex Austin, said connected Reddit that if Barry were to permission Branch, “it’s contracted that the codification volition beryllium open-sourced and enactment successful the hands of the community.” Austin near Branch successful 2023, and present with Barry officially gone from the company, too, it’s unclear if the launcher volition present really beryllium open-sourced.

Barry declined to remark to The Verge. We’ve reached retired to Branch for comment.

“I deliberation the newer enactment since Alex Austin near has enactment a antithetic absorption connected the institution and Nova simply isn’t portion of that absorption successful immoderate mode astatine all,” Cliff Wade, Nova’s erstwhile lawsuit relations pb who near arsenic portion of the 2024 layoffs, tells The Verge. “It’s conscionable immoderate app that they ain but nary longer consciousness they request oregon want.”

Wade besides said that “I don’t judge Branch volition bash the close happening immoderate clip soon with regards to open-sourcing Nova. I deliberation they simply conscionable don’t attraction and don’t privation to put time, unless of course, they get capable unit from the assemblage and individuals who care.” Users person started a change.org petition to inquire for the task to beryllium open-sourced, and Wade says it’s a “great start” to use that pressure. Wade said helium hasn’t personally seen Barry’s contract, truthful couldn’t corroborate the assertion of a contractual work to open-source Nova.

Still, helium said that the assemblage “deserves” for the launcher to beryllium open-sourced. “Branch conscionable simply needs to bash the close happening present and grant what they arsenic a institution person stated arsenic good arsenic what past CEO Alex Austin has stated galore times anterior to him leaving Branch.”

Additional reporting by Dominic Preston.