What it does
Nova is Panic’s Mac-native code editor and IDE. It combines source editing with debugging, custom build/run/clean tasks, Git, file transfer, live previews, and JavaScript-based extensions. The official page lists macOS 15.6 or later and offers a 30-day full-featured trial; the opened purchase page did not state a price.
Open a Nova project, edit its source, and configure language settings or language servers. Build, run, or clean tasks can be triggered from the toolbar or keyboard shortcuts. When a program needs inspection, use the debugger sidebar, console, and breakpoints; Git support covers common repository actions.
Nova’s integration of editing, tasks, debugging, and Git reduces context switching for Mac development, while its platform requirement is a clear constraint: the product page lists macOS 15.6 or later. Panic describes a full-featured trial lasting up to 30 days and says users can buy Nova to keep it. The purchase amount and a software-license page were not established from the pages opened.
Strengths
- Combines editor, build/run tasks, debugger, Git, live previews, and extensions.
- The official page describes a full-featured 30-day trial.
Watch out for
- Requires macOS 15.6 or later; it is not a cross-platform editor.
Best for
- Mac-based developers who want editor, task, debug, and Git workflows together
- Web developers who want live previews and editor extensions on macOS
Sources
- Nova | Panic (Oct 25, 2026)
- Buy Nova | Panic (Oct 25, 2026)