Nova for Designers: Panic's Modern Mac Code Editor
Native Mac code editor from Panic with integrated file management, Git, terminal, and live preview
Nova is Panic’s native Mac code editor, built as the successor to Coda. It combines text editing, file management (FTP/SFTP), Git, terminal, and live preview in one app. Designed for web developers and designers who code, Nova feels like a Mac app should: fast, beautiful, and integrated with macOS features.
Key Specs
| Price | $99 first year; $49/year renewal (optional) |
| Platform | Mac only |
| Best for | Web development, front-end design, WordPress/CMS editing |
| Learning curve | 1-2 hours for basics; familiar if you’ve used Coda |
How Designers Use Nova
Nova fits designers who write code as part of their workflow.
For Front-End Development
Build HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with excellent syntax highlighting, autocomplete, and Emmet support. Nova’s built-in preview shows your work without switching to a browser. Edit CSS and see changes live.
For WordPress and CMS Theming
Connect to your server via SFTP, edit theme files directly, and upload on save. Nova’s file browser shows remote files like local ones. This workflow is common for designers maintaining client WordPress sites.
For Quick Code Edits
Nova opens fast and handles quick edits without the weight of a full IDE. Fix a bug, tweak some CSS, commit to Git, done. For designers who code occasionally, Nova is less overwhelming than VS Code’s feature density.
For Project Organization
Nova’s “Projects” feature saves your workspace: open files, server connections, Git repos, terminal sessions. Reopen a project and everything is where you left it. Manage multiple client projects without setup friction.
Nova vs. Alternatives
| Feature | Nova | VS Code | Sublime Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99/year | Free | $99 one-time |
| Platform | Mac only | Mac, Win, Linux | Mac, Win, Linux |
| Native Mac app | ✅ Yes | ❌ Electron | ⚠️ Semi-native |
| Built-in FTP/SFTP | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Extension | ⚠️ Extension |
| Live preview | ✅ Built-in | ⚠️ Extension | ⚠️ Extension |
| Git integration | ✅ Built-in | ✅ Built-in | ⚠️ Extension |
| Extension ecosystem | ⚠️ Growing | ✅ Huge | ✅ Large |
| Terminal | ✅ Built-in | ✅ Built-in | ❌ No |
Choose Nova if: You’re on Mac, value native app quality, and want integrated FTP/preview. Perfect for designers who code.
Choose VS Code if: You need the largest extension ecosystem, cross-platform support, or prefer free tools. Accept some Mac polish trade-offs.
Choose Sublime Text if: You want the fastest editor with minimal features. Great for quick edits; Nova is better for project workflows.
Getting Started with Nova
Set up your first project in 15 minutes.
Step 1: Create or clone a project
Open Nova. Choose File > New Project for local work, or Clone a Git repository if your code is on GitHub. Nova creates a workspace with your files in the sidebar.
Step 2: Connect to a server (if needed)
For remote editing, add a server in the Servers sidebar. Enter FTP or SFTP credentials. Your remote files appear alongside local ones. Edit remotely and Nova uploads on save.
Step 3: Customize your workflow
Install extensions from Extension Library (Nova menu > Extension Library). Popular ones: Prettier for code formatting, Emmet for HTML/CSS shortcuts, and language packs for frameworks you use. Set up keyboard shortcuts in preferences.
Nova in Your Design Workflow
Nova handles the code side of design projects.
- Before Nova: Design mockups in Figma, plan structure
- During development: Nova for HTML/CSS/JS, preview in browser, test locally
- After Nova: Push to Git, deploy to hosting, hand off to client
Common tool pairings:
- Nova + Transmit for advanced file transfers (both from Panic, work well together)
- Nova + Figma for design reference while coding
- Nova + Terminal (built-in) for running build tools, npm, Git commands
- Nova + Local by Flywheel for WordPress development on localhost
Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)
“Nova’s extension ecosystem is small”
True. VS Code has 40,000+ extensions; Nova has hundreds. Core needs are covered (languages, linters, formatters), but niche tools may not exist. Check the extension library before committing; if you need specific VS Code extensions, Nova may not work.
“I’m used to VS Code shortcuts”
Nova’s shortcuts differ. Import a VS Code-style keymap from extensions, or manually remap in Preferences > Key Bindings. Muscle memory takes a few days to adjust.
“Live preview doesn’t work with my framework”
Nova’s built-in preview works best with static HTML. For React, Vue, or other frameworks, run your dev server in Nova’s terminal and preview in a browser. Nova can’t replace framework-specific tooling but works alongside it.
“Is the subscription worth it over free editors?”
Depends on your values. Nova’s native Mac experience, integrated features, and Panic’s design quality are worth $49-99/year to some. If you’re budget-constrained or need VS Code’s ecosystem, free editors work fine.
“Can I import my Coda sites?”
Yes. Nova prompts to import Coda data on first launch, or go to File > Import from Coda. Sites, clips, and themes transfer. Some settings may need manual adjustment.