Nova
A fully native macOS code editor from Panic that combines editing, Git, terminal, debugging, and remote file work in one Mac-first workspace—without an Electron shell.
Everyday Mac workflow
You open a local project (or connect to a remote server), edit in a fast native editor with multiple cursors, minimap, and syntax highlighting powered by Tree-sitter grammars, then use sidebars for files, Git, issues, and debugging as needed. Built-in terminal tabs keep shell work beside the code. Tasks can run build, run, and clean steps from the toolbar or shortcuts. For web work, live previews and HTML/SVG preview panes support a tight edit-and-check loop. Remote browsing and publishing (FTP/SFTP and related workflows rooted in Panic’s file-transfer heritage) let you edit and deploy without jumping to a separate client for every upload.
Extensions are written in JavaScript and can add languages, themes, sidebar tools, and validation. Compared with VS Code, the extension catalog is smaller, but the trade-off is a coherent native UI, lower typical memory overhead for many Mac users, and tools that feel designed together rather than bolted on.
What changes in version 14
The headline of Nova 14 is language-server integration managed inside the app. In Settings → Languages you can detect servers already on the system, install many tools in one click, pin versions, and let Nova handle updates. Language servers bring diagnostics, hovers, and richer autocomplete for languages you care about. The same release line adds built-in syntax and debugging support for C, C++, Swift, and Rust (with integration paths such as clangd, SourceKit-LSP, and rust-analyzer), plus per-language editor settings for indentation and display. Tree-sitter and built-in grammars were updated; minimap, invisibles, and line wrap can be toggled per document without changing global preferences. Official download notes list macOS 15.6 or later for the current build.
Licensing and fit
Licensing is a hybrid model: purchase from Panic (commonly cited at $99 USD) and keep the version you bought indefinitely, with one year of updates included; renewals for further updates are optional (commonly $49/year). A 30-day trial is available. Nova suits Mac developers who want a native all-in-one editor—especially web, PHP, and now stronger native-language tooling—and who prefer owning a Mac-only app over a free cross-platform Electron IDE. It is less ideal if you need a massive plugin ecosystem, Windows/Linux parity, or AI features that other editors market aggressively. Public version history still documents the 14 line under the 14b track with iterative fixes; treat feature claims as vendor-documented for Nova 14 rather than inventing a separate minor build changelog.
