Departure of Nova Launcher's Creator and Sole Developer

Kevin Barry, the sole remaining developer of Nova Launcher, has announced his departure from its parent company. Previously, the majority of the team that worked on one of the most prominent Android launchers had been let go. Barry revealed he was asked to halt his work on both the launcher and efforts to open-source the project. Although Nova Launcher's website is down, the app remains on Google Play.

Nova was bought by Branch Metrics, a mobile analytics firm, in 2022. At that time, CEO Alex Austin stated on Reddit that if Barry were to exit the company, an agreement was in place for the source code to be released to the public. However, Austin stepped down in 2023, leaving it uncertain whether the launcher will indeed become open-sourced following Barry's departure.

Uncertain Future for Nova

Despite attempts to reach out for further comments, Barry has remained silent on the matter. Both current and former associates have weighed in on the situation. Former Nova customer relations lead Cliff Wade, who left after layoffs in 2024, indicated that since the leadership change post-Austin, Nova is no longer a priority for Branch Metrics.

Wade expressed skepticism about Branch taking action to open-source Nova anytime soon, attributing this to the company's apparent lack of interest unless community pressure demands it. He pointed out that users have initiated a petition for transparency concerning the launcher. Although Wade hasn't personally reviewed Barry's contract, he acknowledges the community's right to campaign for the launcher's open-sourcing.

Community Involvement

Wade insists that the Nova community deserves to see Branch Metrics honor their previous promises made under Austin's leadership to make the project open-source. Believing in community efforts, he regards the petition as a significant step toward encouraging the company to fulfill its commitments.