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Nova uses one shared Python agent runtime across its terminal, server, browser, and desktop interfaces. Choose nova serve for the backend, nova web for the browser app, nova tui for a terminal workflow, or nova desktop for a desktop window. The shared core includes the agent loop, tool registry, and SQLite store; what changes is how you launch and interact with it.

How Nova’s four interfaces fit together

Nova’s project README describes the TUI, server, web frontend, and desktop app as interfaces to the same agent core. The core components it identifies are the agent loop, tool registry, and SQLite store. That means these are not four separate agent implementations; each interface provides a different way to use the shared runtime.

Interface Launch command What it does Additional requirement or role
Server nova serve Starts the FastAPI backend, documented at http://127.0.0.1:8765. Backend entry point for the web and desktop interfaces; also exposes an API for clients.
Web nova web Serves the built frontend through the backend and opens it in a browser. Builds frontend/dist if needed; development can run Vite separately.
TUI nova tui Runs a terminal client built with Bun, React, and OpenTUI, with streaming and inline diffs. Bun is required for the TUI.
Desktop nova desktop Opens a PyWebView window hosting the built frontend. PyInstaller is used to package the desktop application.

Choose the interface for how you want to work

Use the server when you need the backend

Run nova serve to start Nova’s FastAPI service. The README documents the default local address as http://127.0.0.1:8765 and an AI SDK UI-compatible server-sent events stream at POST /api/chat/stream. This is the appropriate entry point when connecting an API client or when another Nova interface needs the backend.

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Use the web interface for a browser workflow

Run nova web to have the backend serve the built frontend and open it in a browser. If the built frontend is missing, the command builds frontend/dist. For frontend development, the README describes running Vite separately rather than relying only on the served production build.

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Use the TUI for a terminal workflow

Run nova tui to open Nova’s terminal client. The README describes it as a Bun, React, and OpenTUI application that supports streaming and inline diffs. Unlike the other launch choices, using the TUI adds Bun as a requirement.

Use desktop for a standalone window

Run nova desktop to open a PyWebView window that hosts the built frontend. This is a desktop wrapper around the frontend, not a separate agent core. The README identifies PyInstaller as the packaging tool.

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Install Nova and configure a model provider

The README specifies Python 3.12 or later. In a source checkout, install Nova in editable mode with pip install -e .. Clone the repository and install it with these commands:

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git clone https://github.com/bigrivi/nova.git
cd nova
pip install -e .

Choose and configure a model provider separately from installing the base package. Nova reads ~/.nova/config.json; the README also documents the NOVA_HOME override for changing the Nova home location. Supported provider types listed there include Ollama, openai-compatible, openai-response, and anthropic. Ollama can run locally without an API key. Do not assume the same applies to external providers: their credential requirements depend on the provider and configuration.

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Install optional components only when needed

  • Install Playwright Chromium only if you want to use browser tools.
  • Install frontend packages separately from the frontend directory with npm.
  • For TUI development, the README documents bun install and bun run build.

Expose the server to a local network carefully

Nova binds to 127.0.0.1 by default, making the documented default local to the machine. To expose it on a LAN, the README directs operators to set host to 0.0.0.0 and configure both auth_user and auth_password.

The README warns that credentials travel as base64 over plain HTTP. Base64 is not encryption, so this setup does not protect credentials in transit; use it only on a trusted network.

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Where to confirm setup details

Launch commands, provider options, and configuration guidance here reflect the project’s README, which can change over time. Check the Nova repository README for the current project instructions.

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