Summary

Nova is an AI-native workspace designed for creators to plan, write, revise, and orchestrate long-form novels and interactive stories. It offers a comprehensive IDE that integrates file management, editing, structured data, version control, and AI agents, enabling sustainable, iterative content creation beyond simple prompt-to-text tools.

How It Works

Nova operates with distinct "Writing Mode" and "Interactive Mode" workbenches that share a persistent, structured "Repository" for long-term assets like characters, world-building, and rules. Its core innovation lies in "Progressive Context" management, which intelligently organizes LLM input by source, purpose, and size limits, preventing unbounded historical or setting injection. This approach allows for iterative development of complex narratives, managing context efficiently for both novel writing and interactive story progression.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Installation: Download pre-compiled binaries from GitHub Releases and run ./nova or ./nova --workspace /path/to/your-novel. Alternatively, build from source using git clone, cd nova, corepack enable, and ./bootstrap.sh.
• Prerequisites: Source build requires Go 1.26+, Node.js 20+, and pnpm. OpenAI-compatible model configuration (API key, base URL, model name) is necessary, configurable via environment variables or the UI.
• Links: GitHub Releases, Source Code Repository.

Highlighted Details

• AI-native IDE for long-form novels and interactive fiction.
• Dual workbenches: "Writing Mode" for novel creation and "Interactive Mode" for playable stories.
• Structured "Repository" for persistent assets (characters, world-building, locations, rules, items).
• "Progressive Context" management optimizes LLM input by source and size.
• Integrated "Version Management" (go-git based) with automatic saves on agent output.
• Customizable "Skills & Agents" with tools and writing styles.
• Automation features: timed tasks, review, auto-continuation.
• Supports importing existing novels and AI Tavern character cards.
• OpenAI-compatible model configuration.
• Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux).

Maintenance & Community

The project is in "rapid iteration" with a beta version (v0.1.12, 2026-06-20). Community feedback is encouraged via a group chat for timely responses. Sponsorship options are available via a "Buy me a coffee" link.

Licensing & Compatibility

Licensed under the Apache-2.0 license, which is generally permissive for commercial use and integration into closed-source projects.

Limitations & Caveats

The project is currently in beta, indicating potential for instability or breaking changes due to rapid development. Specific feature completeness or polish may vary.