Kevin Barry, the sole remaining developer of Nova Launcher, has departed from Nova’s parent company following a request to cease development on the popular Android launcher. Barry’s exit comes after significant layoffs within the team last year, which left most of the workforce gone. The Nova Launcher website is currently displaying a 404 error, although the application remains available for download on Google Play.
Nova Launcher was acquired by mobile analytics company Branch Metrics in 2022. Prior to his departure, Branch’s CEO, Alex Austin, indicated that, should Barry leave the company, there was a contractual agreement to open-source the launcher, thus allowing the community to take it over. Since Austin’s exit from the company in 2023, the future of open-sourcing Nova is uncertain.
Barry did not provide comment when approached by media outlets, and efforts to reach Branch for clarification were made. A former customer relations lead at Nova, Cliff Wade, who was also laid off earlier this year, suggested that recent leadership changes have shifted the company’s focus away from Nova, leading to its reduced importance within Branch.
Wade expressed skepticism about Branch’s intentions regarding open-sourcing the launcher, suggesting that the company may not prioritize this unless pressured by community demand. In response, users have initiated a petition on Change.org advocating for the project to be open-sourced, which Wade acknowledged as a positive development.
Wade emphasized the community’s entitlement to see the launcher open-sourced and called for Branch to honor previous commitments made by company leaders. The question of Nova Launcher’s future remains, particularly with the disappearance of original leadership and lack of clear direction from its current management.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/773937/nova-launcher-founder-left-kevin-barry-branch-open-source-android