The future of Nova Launcher, one of the most established and beloved applications in the Android ecosystem, is currently in great uncertainty. According to the developer, the popular launcher is not expected to receive any new updates. Furthermore, it is no longer expected to be compatible with future Android versions.
The End of the Road for Nova Launcher
Nova Launcher has been a favorite among Android users for years thanks to its speed, stability, and endless customization options. However, its acquisition by data analytics firm Branch in 2022 sparked concerns in the community.
At the time, Branch management assured users that the project’s founding team would retain control, development would continue as before, and even promised that the project’s code would be open-sourced even if the team disbanded.
Today, it has become clear that none of these promises were kept. Developer Kevin Barry stated that while preparing to open-source the project, Branch management requested that he cease both this work and general development. Following this request, Barry announced that he had parted ways with the company and was no longer involved in the Nova project.
This development officially marks the end of Nova Launcher’s active development.
While the app will continue to work on existing Android devices for now, it is inevitable that it will face compatibility issues with future Android versions. It is also likely to be vulnerable to potential security vulnerabilities. Users are unlikely to expect new features, bug fixes, or performance improvements.
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