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nvALT

Brett Terpstra and David Halter · Keyboard-first plain-text notes with instant search, wiki links and an Apex Markdown preview.

CaskWriting & NotesProductivityAuto-updatesApple silicon · Intel
Official download · updates.designheresy.com

SHA-256 recorded by Homebrew · Not disabled by Homebrew · Checked

Homepage
From homebrew/cask
30-day installs
2
#2381 in App
1-year installs
102
Last 365 days
Latest version
3.0.11
Download size
7.1MB
arm64 / x86_64 · zip
Release cadence
Daily
2 releases in 30 days

nvALT is a Writing & Notes app for Mac. It is made by Brett Terpstra and David Halter.

Quick facts

Chips
Apple silicon · Intel
macOS
macOS 12 or later
Price
Free
Developer
Brett Terpstra and David Halter
Install
brew install --cask nvalt
Homebrew
Available; the app updates itself
Also known as
nvalt

These facts were checked on or after . See each source

About

nvALT is a keyboard-first notes app based on Notational Velocity, maintained by Brett Terpstra and David Halter. Search while typing, open a matching note or create a new one from the same field. It suits writers and anyone keeping a searchable collection of short notes.

It supports plain-text files, double-bracket links between notes, Finder tags and an Apex-powered Markdown preview. You can open notes in an external editor; Marked Share publishes an individual note, not a full online backup.

nvALT is free, with optional donations. The revived 3.x app requires macOS 12 or later and runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel. Users of the old app must download 3.x manually once; subsequent updates use Sparkle. Back up your notes before migrating.

System requirements

macOSVersionChipsDownloadSource
macOS 12 or later3.0.11,140Intelupdates.designheresy.com/nvalt/nvALT3.0.11140.zipSHA-256 20aebe208aa7509e505099f9bec9fed0dbab508eaf8f893d9cda04aaaeca32c8HomebrewChecked
macOS 12 or later3.0.11,140Apple siliconupdates.designheresy.com/nvalt/nvALT3.0.11140.zipSHA-256 20aebe208aa7509e505099f9bec9fed0dbab508eaf8f893d9cda04aaaeca32c8HomebrewChecked
macOS 12 or later3.0.11,140Apple silicon · Runs natively—brettterpstra.com/2026/10/24/nvalt-back-from-the-deadChecked
macOS 12 or later3.0.11,140Intel—brettterpstra.com/2026/10/24/nvalt-back-from-the-deadChecked

How to install nvALT on Mac

  1. In Terminal, run: brew install --cask nvalt
  2. Homebrew installs the app in your Applications folder.

Install without Homebrew

Download the same file Homebrew uses: updates.designheresy.com/nvalt/nvALT3.0.11140.zip

SHA-256 only checks that the download is complete; it is not a security certification. See the SHA-256 and download address

Uninstall nvALT and optional data cleanup

Uninstall command
brew uninstall --cask nvalt

A regular uninstall removes the app and keeps its settings and caches.

Deep clean (optional)

Uninstall command
brew uninstall --zap --cask nvalt

--zap also deletes the settings, caches and other files listed in the Homebrew definition. They can include data shared with other apps and cannot be restored, and it does not guarantee that nothing is left. Back up any data you need first. To keep settings and caches, leave out --zap.

Files nvALT can leave on your Mac (2)
Files and folders
~/Library/Application Support/nvALT
~/Library/Preferences/net.elasticthreads.nv.plist

These entries come from the Homebrew definition, checked . They say what it declares, not what is on your Mac.

What’s new in 3.0.11

New OpenNavo editorial

Fixes leftover search highlighting and lets Escape clear the search in the editor.

See all 2 releases

nvALT security facts

Only facts that can be checked, each with its source and date. This is not a safety certification. To check the files you downloaded, scan them on your Mac with OpenNavo.

Distribution
Homebrew
Open source
Yes · github.com/ttscoff/nv · BSD-3-ClauseChecked
Scan with OpenNavoOpens a scan preview in the OpenNavo app; you decide whether to start it. ClamAV on Mac

Install Details

Tap
homebrew/cask
Download URL
https://updates.designheresy.com/nvalt/nvALT3.0.11140.zip
SHA-256
20aebe208aa7509e505099f9bec9fed0dbab508eaf8f893d9cda04aaaeca32c8
Homebrew definition
github.com/homebrew/homebrew-cask/blob/HEAD/Casks/n/nvalt.rb
formulae.brew.sh
formulae.brew.sh/cask/nvalt
Source code
github.com/ttscoff/nv

Installation and removal contents

  • Install app

    Source file: nvALT.app

    Declared destination: /Applications/nvALT.app

    View full declaration
    {
  "app": [
    "nvALT.app"
  ],
  "target": "/Applications/nvALT.app"
}

  • Remove user data zap

    View full declaration
    {
  "zap": [
    {
      "trash": [
        "~/Library/Application Support/nvALT",
        "~/Library/Preferences/net.elasticthreads.nv.plist"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Questions about nvALT

Is nvALT safe?

nvALT is in Homebrew’s official catalog and has not been disabled. Since September 2026, Homebrew disables apps that fail macOS Gatekeeper checks. When installing, Homebrew checks the download from updates.designheresy.com against its SHA-256 checksum. It was installed 2 times through Homebrew in the last 30 days.

Is nvALT free?

Yes, nvALT is free to use. Source: brettterpstra.com/projects/nvalt, checked Oct 27, 2026.

Is nvALT open source?

nvALT’s source code is public on GitHub (ttscoff/nv) under the BSD-3-Clause license.

How do I completely uninstall nvALT on a Mac?

Run brew uninstall --cask nvalt. To delete its settings and caches as well, run brew uninstall --zap --cask nvalt. --zap also deletes the settings, caches and other files listed in the Homebrew definition. They can include data shared with other apps and cannot be restored, and it does not guarantee that nothing is left. Back up any data you need first. To keep settings and caches, leave out --zap. That also deletes 2 files and folders, including ~/Library/Application Support/nvALT.

Does nvALT run on Apple silicon (M1 and later) Macs?

Yes. The vendor states it runs natively on Apple silicon. Source: brettterpstra.com/2026/10/24/nvalt-back-from-the-dead, checked Oct 27, 2026.

Where does nvALT store its settings and data?

Its settings are in ~/Library/Preferences/net.elasticthreads.nv.plist. Its data is in ~/Library/Application Support/nvALT. These locations come from Homebrew’s clean-up list.

What is the latest version of nvALT?

The latest version is 3.0.11. nvALT updates itself; to update it with Homebrew, run brew upgrade --cask --greedy nvalt.

Sources

Every fact on this page names its source and check date. Facts past their validity read “as of” their date and are no longer stated as current.