Didn't this get purchased by some conglomerate recently? I know there was a reason I held it back from updates.
Edit:
Ah yes, it's in the article of course:
"If you haven’t heard from nova in a while, it could be because they were in the news over a year ago when analytics company Branch acquired the brand from its creators Kevin Barry and Cliff Wade."
I stopped using it because of that for a while. I have not found another launcher that has the swipe up and down on home screen icons to open other apps, put 9 icons in the dock and a few other things I can't remember right now...
I blocked all Internet access to nova to circumvent analytics. Not sure if it's working but until I find a different launcher...
It's doesn't have anywhere near the same feature set or polish but I think neolauncher probably comes the closest to replacing nova as far as open source solutions go.
I have a couple invisible buttons that don't do anything when clicked but swiping opens up a Tasker window for a couple of home automation things. It's overkill but I love it
Have been using Niagara launcher for a while. Quite a different feeling than normal launcher but really great. You can swipe up from any app icon to either open a folder of more apps or attach widgets to a small pop up screen. Super handy and I love it.
I have not found another launcher that has the swipe up and down on home screen icons to open other apps
Do you mean using folder icons as app list covers, so that a tap opens the app and a swipe opens the folder? If so, Action Launcher does that (if I'm not mistaken it was the first to do so, and it's swipe up or down). Neo Launcher also has it (swipe up only).