Nova by Panic: Native Mac code editor

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Pricing and Value

  • $99 price sparks debate.
  • Some argue cheaper or free Mac editors (CodeEdit, CotEditor, etc.) should be tried first.
  • Others say for professionals, time spent tuning free tools can cost more than $99; a paid tool that is “good enough” can be rational.
  • Counterpoint: in modern dev, many best-in-class tools (especially editors/IDEs) are open source and free, so price ≠ quality.

Positioning vs Other Editors/IDEs

  • Nova is seen as more than a plain text editor: it organizes projects and targets web workflows, somewhat like its predecessor Coda.
  • Compared to VS Code and JetBrains: Nova is praised for feeling more integrated and “native” on macOS, but lacks their breadth and ecosystem.
  • Some users still prefer JetBrains or specialized IDEs (e.g., RubyMine) for serious language-specific work.
  • Complaints that Nova struggles with large projects (10k+ files) and seems to reindex heavily, while Sublime remains smooth.

“Native” / Mac-Assed Experience

  • Major thread on what “native” means:
    • Visual: standard Mac windows, title bars, controls.
    • Organization: proper use of menu bar, conventional settings layout.
    • Behavior: macOS-standard shortcuts, gestures, shared “find” pasteboard, scrolling vs cursor movement conventions.
    • Some also equate “native” with non-Electron, compiled apps.
  • Nova is praised as a “Mac-assed” app that respects platform conventions and feels more Mac-like than many cross-platform tools.
  • Others find its custom UI (tabs in title bar, icons, color schemes) visually off or “unnative.”

Features, Workflows, and Remote Dev

  • Good fit reported for certain workflows (e.g., embedded C with specific plugins, light web/PHP/markdown work).
  • Criticism that web language support (especially CSS parsing/highlighting) is flawed by design.
  • Remote workflows:
    • Nova supports SFTP editing but it’s described as slow, with limited plugin compatibility.
    • No alternative is seen as matching VS Code’s Remote SSH/DevContainers experience; Nova is not a replacement here.

Broader Ecosystem and Indie Mac Apps

  • Some buy Nova mainly to support Panic due to its history and polish (Transmit, other products).
  • Nostalgia for the older boutique Mac app ecosystem; complaints that Electron and the Mac App Store culture have hurt quality native apps.
  • Discussion of Apple’s macOS direction and SwiftUI: seen by some as immature and less “Mac-like,” contributing to fewer rich native apps.

Overall Sentiment

  • Mixed-to-positive: strong appreciation for Nova’s native feel, design, and focused simplicity, but notable concerns about price, large-project performance, incomplete language/remote support, and subjective dislike of its visual style.