Time to Let Go of Android Legend: Nova Launcher Support and Further Development Paused
In a significant blow to the future of Nova Launcher, nearly everyone on the development team has been laid off, leaving founder Kevin Barry as the sole full-time developer. Nova Launcher, a long-standing favorite in the Android community known for its customizability and unique features, was acquired by the mobile analytics company Branch in July 2022. Since the acquisition, Branch has now enacted widespread layoffs, impacting over 100 employees, including the majority of the Nova Launcher's team, as confirmed by customer relations lead Cliff Wade and developer Rob Wainwright. This is prepared by SSP.
Kevin Barry, reflecting on the early days of Nova Launcher, mentioned that it had initially been a one-developer project. However, the array of features and continuous enhancements over time necessitated a team, which has now been significantly scaled down. Despite the layoffs, Barry assured that development will persist, albeit at a slower pace and with a reduced scope for the upcoming Nova version 8.1 compared to earlier plans. Wainwright echoed these sentiments, highlighting that updates will continue in some form despite the reduction in manpower.
The deprivations aren't only in development; customer support and public relations functions are now largely non-operational. This bleak update follows Android's challenging stance towards third-party launchers by withdrawing native gesture navigation, which already dwindled user experience. Many Nova enthusiasts regard the situation as potentially catastrophic but hold a glimmer of hope. Barry's passion for the project and previous notes on Branch's colaboration hinted at a different, more supported future. Unfortunately, Barry himself is uncertain about what lies ahead, only emphasizing that Branch is still coming to grips with the sudden transition.
Branch's acquisition did not originally lead to any drastic changes, stoking skepticism initially about the company’s plans. The recent layoffs, however, have placed an abrupt pause on the tight-knit team, severing long-term contributors like Wade from their years-spanning journeys. Nova Launcher's Discord community remains an essential outlet for updates, and Kevin Barry continues to receive support as he navigates this uncertain phase. Despite the adversities, Nova Launcher remains accessible for current users, and many maintain hope that it can continue to thrive even with limited resources.