Language Servers

Language Servers are external tools that can provide Nova with additional, language-specific intelligence about your project. This can include better and more relevant completion suggestions, checking your code for issues and warnings, providing documentation when hovering over a symbol, and more.

Nova is compatible with language servers that conform to the Language Server Protocol (microsoft.github.io). To use a language server with Nova, you’ll need to first install an Extension that provides integration with the language server you intend to use. You can find a variety of language server extensions in the Nova Extension Library.

NOTE: Not all language servers support all of the features listed below.

Hovers

Language servers can provide contextual hover information. Just hover your cursor over a symbol, and Nova can display type information, arguments, and documentation.

Signature Help

When making calls to functions or methods, language servers can display signature help, showing you required or optional arguments for the function in question.

Code Actions

Language servers may suggest code actions relevant to particular sections of code. This can include formatting commands, refactoring, or adding missing comments or documentation. A light bulb icon will appear over code with available actions.