I have left Branch and am no longer involved with Nova Launcher
64 comments
·September 8, 2025cosmic_cheese
izacus
It also prevents your launcher from uploading your private wallpapers to servers and reading the exifs from images to datamine location data.
hdjrudni
This is an interesting point. Couldn't the OS give access to the pixel data without access to the EXIF data? i.e. doesn't need to give direct access to the image file, just convert it first to strip the metadata.
That still gives you the image data which might be private, but we should be able to lock that behind a permission dialog "Allow access to current desktop background image" or whatever. It's a weird and very specific permission but it might be worth having.
grepex
Maybe I'm not understanding something here, but Kvaesitso has wallpaper blur and darkening effects.
cosmic_cheese
Interesting, thanks for the link. Seems like they use that same “magic” wallpaper drawing I mentioned earlier and implement the blur by setting a blur property on the activity’s window, therefore letting the system compositor do the blurring. Had no idea that was possible.
Still has some limits, though, like inability to blur specific parts of the image (e.g. under a box) and apparently the Android skin that ships with some devices disables that window blurring feature, in which case it won’t work. Better than nothing but still restricts the scope of what’s possible quite a lot.
jimmySixDOF
Android has gone through epochs of customization option the best of which for me was 'Theamer' phase, a long gone one-click to customize the whole UI app and lot of creative people making things. Much much better than todays root needing hacks I used to enjoy opening the phone more then. Enshitification.
helqn
As someone with good taste I’m glad that phones and computers no longer let you customise them.
saghm
As someone whose devices you don't use, I'm confused about why you think the rest of us should care about your cocky opinions.
bitpush
That's a weird position to take. Are you also against people using Photoshop/Canva/MS-Paint/Figma to create graphics?
You come across super elitist.
null
ignoramous
> the only way to draw the wallpaper the user has set in Settings is to use a magic method that doesn’t let the launcher actually do anything with the image and forces you to let the system handle compositing
My guess is, this might have to do with fixed layers in the Hardware Composer HAL, which offloads compositing that otherwise (I guess) Surface Flinger would need GPU/CPU for.
tracker1
I'm looking forward to the stream of 1 star reviews on Google's App Store explaining this app is no longer under curation from the original developer and that they violated their contractual arrangements for open-sourcing the app.
wejick
I've been using it for couple years now, it gives me feeling of stability even when moving across devices.
Now what to do? Android apps is rarely a thing that you download once and use for multiple years.
ignoramous
> Android apps is rarely a thing that you download once and use for multiple years.
I've been using FOSS apps, Amaze File Manager, Muzei (wallpaper manager), and Lawnchair (Launcher), for well over 8 years across multiple Android devices and versions, with nary an issue.
The situation with Nova (and SimpleMobileTools before it) is that developers are selling their popular projects. This isn't an "Android" thing, but more of an indictment of sustainability of indie FOSS projects. This isn't limited to consumer apps, though (see: Redis).
netsharc
I have an old launcher, and even an old version of it. Version 2 was great, version 3 came with small cosmetic changes I didn't like, plus fucking ads. So I restored v2 from backups and stopped allowing auto-updates, to stay on v2.
One day the makers disappeared from the Play Store, voila, no more auto-enshittification, I win!
cssinate
One of my favourite features of Nova is swiping up or down on an icon for alternative actions. Anyone know of another launcher that can do that?
maxglute
Maybe action launcher. I seem to remember they had the OG functionality for years and I was finally able to migrate to Nova after they implemented it. I not sure though but I remember my setup was swipe up to open folder and swipe down to open widget.
blackoil
Microsoft launcher supports it, though also not OSS.
jfoerste
I've given up on custom launchers altogether because their proper support for gesture navigation breaks regularly. Nova support blamed this on missing apis, caused by manufacturer error (or intention?). Either way, custom launchers don't seem compatible with mainstream usage anymore.
ashirviskas
I assume you use Xiaomi or other chinese device. Those are the only ones that break navigation on purpose.
They tie essentials with the spyware so it would be nearly impossible to get rid of it without gimping the device.
I already forgot most of the details, but afaik even xiaomi apk installer has meta and bytedance trackers, in addition to like 20 more. Their mostly useless "Security" app has like 60 trackers (Includes even yandex ;) ). And you can't even really get rid of it.
cik
Not that I'm a fan of spyware, but isn't this effectively barking at the wind. We're either getting Google's approved spyware, Samsung's approved spyware, or <insert shady> spyware. Sure, we all implement blocks, and things like blocking VPNs and the like.... but the reality is also IP (not DNS) based for tier two of getting around blocks, in applications that they solve the dns blocking issue.
Combine this with the common method of literally fetching static files with updated IPs from AWS IPs, github gists, and other "safe" static hosts... Ultimately, your device connects to the internet, and you become the product.
Scene_Cast2
Oh interesting. I was considering getting a Chinese phone soon (a vivo x200 Ultra), this really changes things. Is there somewhere I can read more about this?
nottorp
They just replace sending everything to Google and/or Samsung with sending everything to Google and/or Xiaomi. Not much of a difference.
bcraven
There are some known bugs even on Pixels (I, for instance, can't always open my Recents menu when using Nova)
An example: https://issuetracker.google.com/u/0/issues/296108449?pli=1
nutjob2
It's a bad idea to give in to the incompetence or malice of manufacturers, and let them win.
And it is very much that. I just discovered Nova and installed it on my new Lenovo tablet, where they have a setting for changing the launcher. No matter, their old launcher just keeps on starting, fighting Nova and making it glitch out.
maxglute
Any other launcher that lets you use a PNG / image file as your icon? Apart from action launcher. Getting png icons from icons8 god send in having reasonably consistent home screen.
selcuka
I don't fully understand the situation. This statement [1] seems to indicate that Nova doesn't have to open-source it:
> Cliff: Branch owns Nova completely and Kevin has no access to it in any way at all. So no, he can't re-brand, keep coding and go forward. That's a breach of contract on his behalf.
...but this post says they are obligated to:
> Cliff: Much more to it than word of mouth. There's a contract as well.
croes
Branch being obliged to open source it, doesn’t mean Kevin could simply took matters into his own hands
Two breaches of contract don‘t make a right
selcuka
I'm not saying he should. Just trying to understand the issue.
Apparently there are two conflicting contracts (or two sections within one contract), and Branch is counting on the fact that Branch can go after Kevin but Kevin can't/won't. Or maybe the contract is clear, but Kevin just doesn't want to burn the ships.
croes
They aren’t conflicting.
Branch is obliged to open source the Launcher.
That’s it.
An employee of a company just isn’t allowed to do it on his own.
If a company refuses to pay a bill that it should pay, then one of its accountants cannot simply transfer money.
ktosobcy
igor47
I signed the linked petition at https://www.change.org/p/make-nova-launcher-open-source-let-...
josephcsible
Who has standing to sue them for breach of contract?
jrochkind1
pretty sure only a party to this purported contract. Someone else who they signed it with, presumably Kevin Barry?
suprjami
Guess it's time to find a new launcher then. Suggestions?
saltcured
Everyone has different needs, so all these recommendations without any explanation are frustrating.
My reason to use Nova before was:
- REMOVE search bar from home screen, unlike the Pixel launcher
- Have the usual, customizable row of quick launchers across the bottom
- Have basic app drawer and background apps gestures pull up from bottom
- Add a couple basic widgets like Calendar and clock to home screen, or other app shortcuts
- Minimal permissions, no ads, no network-based features
Based on this, I just started trying out Fossify Launcher Beta, installed from F-Droid. It seems OK so far. My only complaint is that there seem to be multiple gestures that open up a Launcher menu, and I wish this was limited to just long press on the home screen background.
toast0
Fossify Launcher looks to fit my needs, maybe. I can't see how to make the app list a button instead of having to drag up (I am anti-gesture. The only gesture I want to make in connection with a computer is obscene)
Also having some issues getting widgets on there... But Android is Android, so I'm sure it's not Fossify Launcher's fault, I had the widget I wanted and then I removed it cause I wanted a different size, and it won't add again. A restart will probably help. (Spoiler: it didn't)
Would also be nice if I could make widgets 2.5 columns wide. I like a 5 wide screen, but I want two widgets to share the screen width.
izacus
Lawnchair sounds like a good fit for you then.
jayknight
I've been using lawnchair, and I like it's simplicity. They're latest "real" released version is from 2018, but not long ago they jumped from Version 14-beta3 to 15-beta1. I can't say I understand their development philosophy, but the product is pretty decent with an occasional issue. I have had some intermittent problems with widgets on this latest beta.
spiffytech
I've been using Lawnchair 14 for a while now and it works well. I'm looking forward to some of the features in v15, but no complaints.
t0bia_s
Once you get used to it, you'll never get back to classic launchers.
calgoo
I use Square Home which looks like the old Microsoft tiles in windows 8 phone. I always found the the MS tiles worked really well on a phone and actually had it installed on a old android phone.
wonger_
I've been using the ultra-minimal pie menu launcher for ~1 year: https://f-droid.org/packages/de.markusfisch.android.pielaunc...
Makes opening go-to apps faster, but opening anything else slower. Worth it imo
onli
I use that one as well and really like it. Exactly what pie menus are good at.
rpdillon
Long time KISS user. Highly recommend, as it makes my app use far more intentional.
arcanemachiner
Same, I think I've been using it for like a decade now.
I like that I have to consciously type in who j app I want to open. Prevents me from spacing out and opening reddit out of pure habit.
rpdillon
A million times this. Getting rid of the grid of icons changes everything! I can also find specific apps really fast.
branon
Seconded, KISS is great, haven't found anything better
lillesvin
I've been using the super minimalistic 0launcher (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.olauncher&...) for about a year now.
Besides being a good, very simple, minimalistic launcher, it's also Open Source (https://github.com/tanujnotes/Olauncher), ad-free, and collects and shares no data.
wltr
I use the better fork: Olauncher CF. Simple and Clutter-Free Android launcher, https://github.com/OlauncherCF/OlauncherCF
lillesvin
That looks neat. I don't remember ever seeing any ads in the original though, so I'm a bit confused about what they removed. Regardless, having the choice is always good.
ignoramous
> collects and shares no data
If the developer is building the code that's on GitHub, it is curious why AppGoblin flags the Play Store version for using Firebase: https://appgoblin.info/apps/app.olauncher/data-flows
grepex
Kvaesitso! I've been using it for about two years. It takes a little bit getting used to a search based launcher but once you've gotten used to it, everything is so quick. Speed up animation speeds to 0.5x in dev settings and man it's like doing kung fu with your finger tips.
ChrisArchitect
A year ago there were some posts about Nova being on shaky ground because Barry was the only one left working on it. This seems to just be continuing the negative narrative. Unfortunate. Seems like he was really close to open sourcing it, which would probably be a boon. It's a longstanding and still pretty popular launcher in the Android world isn't it? I've used it for years on multiple phones.
Semi-relevant, not too long ago I started tinkering around with launcher ideas and almost immediately ran into headwinds when it turned out that the only way to draw the wallpaper the user has set in Settings is to use a magic method that doesn’t let the launcher actually do anything with the image and forces you to let the system handle compositing.
This is limiting and completely rules out implementing effects like blurs or a Liquid Glass lookalike unless you want to make the user set the wallpaper in the launcher separately. Totally killed my motivation to build further.