Glossary

New to building apps? This page explains the words you'll meet in Nowa and in these docs, in plain language. You don't need to learn them by heart: Nowa AI and the visual editor take care of the technical side. Come back here whenever a word stops you.

Labels in bold are exactly what the app shows. To find a word fast, use your browser's search (Ctrl/Cmd + F).

Nowa words

Term	What it means
Agent mode	The Nowa AI mode that builds everything, from design to working features. Chip: Agent. See Design, Plan and Agent modes.
AI Assistant	The panel where you chat with Nowa AI. Open it with the Assistant icon in the sidebar. See Chat with Nowa AI.
Api panel	The sidebar panel where you connect REST APIs: you group requests into collections and test them on the spot. See Connect a REST API.
AppState	The global state every new project starts with. See Share data across your app.
Board	The design surface where your screens, components and widgets sit side by side, like pages pinned to a wall. Switch boards from the Boards chip in the top bar. See Work with boards.
Board item	Anything placed directly on a board: a screen, a component or a loose widget such as a shape. Screens and components have a title bar with Play and Open in new tab. See Work with boards.
Checkpoint	A saved point for each Nowa AI request that changes your files. Restore Checkpoint takes your project back to before that request and undoes every later one. Reapply Checkpoint brings the changes back. See Undo AI changes and reopen chats.
Circuit	The visual logic editor, where you stack steps to say what happens, for example when someone taps a button. Each function is a chain of nodes. See Build logic in Circuit.
Cloud project	A project stored in your Nowa account. Open it on any device you sign in on. See Cloud and local projects.
Code mode	The code editor over all your project files, opened with the <> button in the top bar. See Edit code in Nowa.
Component	A piece you build once and reuse on any screen, such as a product card. Change it once and every copy updates. See Build reusable components.
Connector	A link that lets Nowa AI work in another service, such as Figma or Supabase. In the app they are labeled MCP. See Connect Figma and Supabase to Nowa AI.
Console	The floating panel with the Problems and Logs tabs. Open it from the status bar. See Find and fix problems.
Constants	Project-wide values and integration keys, in project settings. See Keys and constants.
Dashboard	The page you land on after you sign in. Describe an app in What do you want to build? or open one of your Projects. See Create and manage projects.
Data Builder	A widget, and a wrapper, that loads data, for example from an API or a database, and hands it to the widgets inside, with something to show while it loads. See Show data in your UI.
Deploy	The top-bar button that puts your app on the web or builds it for Android and iOS. Cloud projects only. See Get ready to publish.
Design mode	The Nowa AI mode for the look and flow of your app, with demo data. Chip: Design. See Design, Plan and Agent modes.
Desktop app	Nowa for macOS, Windows and Linux. Needed for local projects and running on devices. See Install the desktop app.
Details panel	The panel on the right of the board that shows the selected item's properties. See Change widget properties.
Embedded preview	Where Run shows your real, compiled app, right inside Nowa. See Run your app.
Event	A property like On Pressed or On Tap that starts your logic when something happens. See Respond to taps and other events.
External agent	Claude Code, Claude Desktop or Cursor connected to build in Nowa, from Connect External Agent in the AI Assistant menu. Desktop app, Enterprise. See Connect your own AI agent.
Files panel	The sidebar panel labeled Files, shown in code mode. It lists the whole project tree. In the designer, the Library takes its place. See Manage project files.
Global state	App-wide data and functions that every screen can use, such as a shopping cart. See Share data across your app.
Instance	One use of a component. Every instance follows the component's design, and params give each one its own content, such as a different recipe on each card. See Build reusable components.
Instant Play	Running a board item right on the board, instantly. The button says Play. See Play your app on the board.
Integrations	The group of project settings for Firebase, Stripe, RevenueCat, AdMob, Google Maps, Google Sign-In and Deep Links. See Connect data and services.
Library	The sidebar panel with your project's screens, components, models and more, Nowa's built-in widgets, your packages and your assets. Open it with the second icon or Ctrl/Cmd + 2. Search it, add from it and drag from it. See Find and add things with the Library.
Local project	A project stored in a folder on your computer. Desktop app only. On the dashboard it sits under On this device. See Work with local projects.
Model	A description of one kind of data in your app, such as a product with a name and a price. Nowa can build one from JSON. Create one with New Model... in the Add menu of the Library. See Data models.
Node	One step in a Circuit function, such as Show snackbar. See Build logic in Circuit.
Nowa AI	The AI agent built into Nowa. It designs, builds and fixes your app with you. See How Nowa AI works.
Outline	The panel that shows the widget tree of the board or open screen. See Use the Outline.
Parameter	A value a screen or component receives, such as the product to show. Also called a param: the Variables panel lists them under Params. See Pass data with parameters.
Plan mode	The Nowa AI mode that writes a plan you review before anything changes. Chip: Plan. See Design, Plan and Agent modes.
Playground	The editor you can use without an account, at app.nowa.dev/playground. See Try Nowa without an account.
Project settings	The settings of one project: name, identifiers, permissions, constants and more. Open them with the gear (Settings) in the top bar. See Project settings.
Public project	A cloud project that anyone with its link can open in Nowa and keep their own copy of. Turn it on in Project Details → Sharing. See Share your app.
Router	The sidebar panel that lists your app's routes, the paths that open your screens, and decides which screen opens first. See Set up routes in the Router panel.
Run	Compiling and running your real app, in the Embedded preview inside Nowa or on a device. See Run your app.
Screen	A page of your app, such as a home page, a product page or a checkout. The Library lists your screens. See Create and set up screens.
Session	One conversation with Nowa AI. Start one with New Session; reopen old ones in Chat History. See Undo AI changes and reopen chats.
Share Preview	A link and QR code that let people try your app in a browser. Click Share preview while an item plays on the board. Cloud projects only. See Share your app.
Support panel	The panel that the round ? button at the bottom right opens, with Your tickets, Report an issue, Chat with support and more. See Get help.
Template	A ready-made screen or component, such as a login flow or a dashboard, that you add and make your own. See Start from a template.
Theme	Your app's colors, text styles and widget styles, edited in the Themes panel. See Create and edit themes.
Thinking level	How much Nowa AI reasons before it acts: Instant (fastest), Thinking (balanced, the default) or Deep Thinking (extra reasoning). See Design, Plan and Agent modes.
Variable	A named value a screen or component remembers while it's open, such as the number of items in a cart. See Store data in variables.
Variables panel	The floating panel at the top right of the board. It lists the Params, Variables and Functions of the selected screen or component, and Globals when nothing is selected. See Store data in variables.
Widget	A building block of your app, such as a text, a button, an image or a row. Every screen is made of widgets (they're Flutter widgets). See Widget catalog.
Widget picker	The dialog with the hint Search for a widget. It opens from Replace with..., from the + of an empty widget slot and from properties that take a widget. Ctrl/Cmd + K and the toolbar's Widget tool open the Library instead. See Add widgets.
Workspace	A shared space for projects and team members. See Workspaces and team members.
Wrapper	A widget that goes around another to add one thing, such as space (Padding) or scrolling (Scroll View). Add one with Add Wrapper in Details. See Wrappers.

Building your app

Term	What it means
Asset	A file that ships inside your app, such as an image, a font or an animation. The Assets chip in the Library lists them. See Images, videos and other files.
Constraints	Which edges a widget in a Stack keeps its distance to when the screen size changes: Left, Right, Left and right or Center across, and Top, Bottom, Top and bottom or Center down. You set them under Layout in Details. The Constrained Box wrapper uses the word differently, for the smallest and largest size a widget may take. See Lay out widgets.
Container	A box you can fill with a color, gradient or image, and give a border, rounded corners, a shadow and space inside and around it. See Widget catalog.
Dart	The programming language Flutter apps are written in. You don't need to read it: Nowa AI and the visual editor write it for you.
Dialog, snackbar and bottom sheet	Three kinds of pop-up. A dialog is a box over the screen that tells or asks something. A snackbar is a short message at the bottom of the screen. A bottom sheet is a panel that slides up from the bottom. See Show dialogs, sheets, snackbars and pickers.
Fixed, Auto and Expand	How a widget's width or height is set under Layout: Fixed keeps the size you type, Auto takes the size of its content, and Expand takes the space left in a row or column. See Lay out widgets.
Flutter	Google's free, open-source toolkit for building apps for iPhone, Android, the web and desktop from one project. Nowa builds Flutter apps, so what you make is real Flutter code that you own.
Group	Widgets held together so they move and resize as one. A group is a Stack, a Row or a Column. See Lay out widgets.
Localization and right-to-left (RTL)	Localization means making your app work in several languages. Right-to-left languages, such as Arabic and Hebrew, also start their layout on the right: set Text Direction to rtl. See Languages and right-to-left text.
Markdown and HTML	Two ways to write formatted text. Markdown uses simple symbols, such as **bold**, and HTML is the language of web pages. The Markdown and Html widgets show them. See Widget catalog.
Material and Cupertino	Material is Google's design system and the standard look of Flutter widgets. Cupertino widgets look like iPhone apps. The Library lists both under Built-in.
Overflow	Content that doesn't fit the space it's given. Text that's too long follows its Overflow setting, for example ellipsis to end it with "…". Content that's too tall for the screen needs a Scroll View.
Padding and margin	Padding is empty space inside a widget's edge, around its content. Margin is space outside the edge, between the widget and its neighbors. See Wrappers.
Responsive	A layout that adapts to the screen it's on, from a small phone to a wide desktop window. See Design for every screen size.
Route	The path that opens a screen, such as /home. The Router panel lists your routes. See Navigate between screens.
Row, Column and Stack	The three ways a group arranges widgets: side by side (Row), one below the other (Column), or layered on top of each other (Stack), where you place each one freely. See Lay out widgets.
Safe area	The part of the screen that notches, rounded corners and system bars don't cover. See Wrappers.
SVG, Lottie and Rive	SVG is an image format that stays sharp at any size, good for icons and logos. Lottie and Rive are animation formats. Nowa has a widget for each. See Images, video, animations and web content.
Widget tree	How the widgets of a screen sit inside each other, like folders inside folders. The Outline shows it. See Use the Outline.

Logic and data

Term	What it means
Class	In code, the definition of one kind of thing, such as a screen, a component or a model. In the AI chat, you can mention one by typing @.
Condition	A true-or-false question your logic asks, such as "is the cart empty?", to decide what happens next. An If Statement node runs different steps for true and for false. See Make decisions, handle errors and repeat steps.
Expression	A small formula that works out a value, such as a price times a quantity, or a choice between two values. See Expressions and conditions.
Function	A named set of steps your app runs, such as "add to cart". You build functions in Circuit. See Create functions.
Future and Stream	A Future is a value that arrives later, such as an answer from the internet. A step that waits for it uses await. A Stream keeps delivering new values, such as messages in a live chat. See Build logic in Circuit.
JSON	A common text format for data, made of names and values, such as {"name": "Mia", "age": 31}. APIs send and receive it, and Nowa can build a model from it. See Data models.
null	Empty: no value at all. An empty widget slot reads null, and Set to null empties a property on purpose.
refresh and notifyListeners	Circuit steps that update what's on screen. refresh redraws a screen after its variables change. notifyListeners tells every widget that shows a global state to update. See Store data in variables and Share data across your app.
State	The data your app or a screen holds right now, such as what's in the cart or who's signed in. See Share data across your app.
Types: String, int, double and bool	The kind of value a variable holds. String is text, int a whole number, double a number with decimals and bool true or false. Tick As List to hold several values of one type in order, such as a list of names. See Store data in variables.

Backend and services

Term	What it means
Ad unit ID	The ID AdMob gives each ad placement in your app, such as a banner. You paste it into Nowa where you place that ad. See Show ads with AdMob.
API and REST API	An API is a way for one program to ask another for data or actions, like your app asking a weather service for today's forecast. A REST API does it over the web, and it's the most common kind. See Connect a REST API.
API key, secret key and token	Codes that prove your app, or you, may use a service. A publishable key is safe inside your app. A secret key works like a password and must stay on a server, because anything inside your app can be dug out. A token is often a temporary key, given after someone signs in. See Keys and constants.
Authentication	Checking who someone is, for example with an email and a password or a Google account, so your app can show them their own data. Also called sign-in. See Connect data and services.
Backend	The part of an app that runs on a server instead of on the phone: the database, sign-in and stored files, shared by everyone who uses the app. See Connect data and services.
Cloud Firestore	Firebase's database. It stores data in documents, each a set of named values, grouped into collections, such as an orders collection with one document per order. See Use Cloud Firestore.
CORS	A browser safety rule: a web page may only call an API that accepts calls from that page's address. It's why an API test can fail in the web app but work in the desktop app. See Known issues.
cURL, Swagger, Postman and Xano	Common ways to describe or build an API. Nowa can import requests from them. See Import an API.
Database	Where your app keeps its data, such as orders, messages or user profiles, so everyone sees the same, up-to-date information.
Deep link	A link that opens your app, even a specific screen, from outside it, for example from a message or a QR code. A custom URL scheme, such as myapp://, is one kind. See Deep links.
Edge Function	A small program that runs on Supabase's servers instead of in your app, for work that needs a secret key, such as taking payments.
Endpoint, method and base URL	An endpoint is one address of an API, such as /products. The method says what a request does: GET reads, POST sends something new, PUT and PATCH change something and DELETE removes it. The base URL is the start all the addresses share, such as https://api.example.com. See Connect a REST API.
Entitlement and offering	RevenueCat words. An entitlement is what a purchase unlocks, such as premium access. An offering is the set of products your paywall shows. See In-app purchases with RevenueCat.
Firebase	Google's backend service, which Nowa uses for sign-in, the Cloud Firestore database and push notifications. Connect it from Settings → Integrations → Firebase. See Connect Firebase.
In-app purchase and subscription	An in-app purchase is something people buy inside your app. A subscription charges again on a schedule, such as every month, until it's cancelled. See Connect data and services.
MCP	Model Context Protocol, an open standard for connecting AI tools to other apps and services. Nowa's connectors and Connect External Agent use it. See Connect Figma and Supabase to Nowa AI.
Migration	A saved change to your database's structure, such as a new table, kept in order so the same changes can be applied again elsewhere. See Manage your Supabase backend.
OAuth and client ID	OAuth is the standard behind buttons like "Sign in with Google": people use an account they already have, without giving your app their password. A client ID tells that sign-in service which app is asking. See Google Sign-In.
Package, pub.dev and dependency	A package is a ready-made add-on for Flutter apps, such as charts or maps, and pub.dev is the public site that hosts them. A dependency is a package your app relies on: when a widget needs one, Nowa offers Add Missing Dependencies. See Add packages.
Paywall	A screen that shows what a subscription or purchase offers and lets people buy it, such as the RevenueCat Paywall widget. See In-app purchases with RevenueCat.
pubspec.yaml	The file that lists your app's name, version and packages, often called the pubspec. Nowa updates it when you add packages. If Problems says a package "is not in the pubspec", click Fix and Nowa adds it. See Add packages.
Push notification	A message that pops up on someone's phone even when your app is closed. Push Notifications (FCM) uses Firebase Cloud Messaging to deliver them. See Send push notifications.
Query	A question you ask a database or an API, such as "products in stock, cheapest first". The answer is the data your screen shows.
Request, response and header	Your app sends a request to an API, and the API answers with a response, often in JSON. Headers are extra details sent along, such as an API key.
Row Level Security (RLS)	Supabase rules, called policies, that decide who may read or change each row of a table, for example only the person who placed an order. See Connect Supabase.
SDK	A software development kit: the tools for building for one platform or service. The Flutter SDK is what the desktop app uses to build your app on your computer. See Install the desktop app.
SQL	The language for asking questions of databases, such as Supabase's. You don't need to write it: with the Supabase connector, Nowa AI works with your database for you.
Storage bucket	A container for files in Supabase Storage, such as profile pictures. Policies decide who may upload and read them. See Store files in Supabase.
Supabase	A backend service with a database made of tables and rows, a bit like spreadsheets, plus sign-in and file storage. Connect it from the Supabase panel. See Connect Supabase.
Webhook	An automatic message one service sends another when something happens, such as Stripe telling your backend that a payment went through. See Accept payments with Stripe.

Testing and publishing

Term	What it means
APK, AAB and IPA	App files. An APK installs straight onto an Android phone. An AAB (Android App Bundle) is what you upload to Google Play. An IPA is the iPhone app file that goes to App Store Connect. See Build history and logs.
App Store Connect	Apple's website where you create your app's store page, receive the builds Nowa uploads, invite testers and submit for review. See Publish to the App Store.
Build	Turning your project into an app file a phone or a browser can run. When you publish, Nowa builds your app in the cloud, and you can follow each build step by step. See Build history and logs.
Bundle Identifier	Your app's unique ID in the app stores, such as com.yourcompany.yourapp. Apple calls it a bundle ID, and Android calls it a package name or application ID. Set it in Project Details before your first build. It isn't the Package Name field on the same page. See Check your app details.
Debug and release builds	A debug build is a quick test version you install yourself. A release build is signed and ready for the stores. For Android, the Debug mode switch picks between them. See Publish to Google Play.
Distribution certificate	Apple's proof that an iPhone app comes from you. Nowa signs every iOS build with it. See Publish to the App Store.
Domain and DNS records	A domain is a web address you own, such as myshop.com. DNS records are settings at your domain provider that point that address at your app. See Publish to the web.
Emulator and simulator	A virtual phone in a window on your computer, for testing without a real phone: an emulator for Android, the iOS Simulator for iPhone (on a Mac). See Run on a device or emulator.
Google Play Console	Google's website for publishing Android apps: you upload your app bundle there and fill in its store listing. See Publish to Google Play.
Hot reload and hot restart	Two ways to put your latest changes into an app that's running. Hot Reload updates it in place, so you stay where you are. Hot Restart starts it again from the beginning. In Nowa, the button reads Hot Reload in local projects and Hot Restart in cloud projects. See Run your app.
SHA-1 and SHA-256 fingerprints	Short codes that identify your Android signing key. Services such as Google sign-in ask for them. Nowa shows them on the Signing Key card, on the Android tab of Settings → Deployment, once a key is saved. See Publish to Google Play.
Signing key	The digital key that proves an Android app comes from you, kept in a keystore file. Google Play needs your releases signed with it, so keep a copy somewhere safe. Nowa can generate one for you. See Publish to Google Play.
TestFlight	Apple's way to let testers install your iPhone app before it's on the App Store. See Publish to the App Store.

Code and Git

For people who also work with code. You can build and publish your app without any of these.

Term	What it means
Commit, push, pull and branch	A commit is a saved snapshot of your changes with a short note. Push sends your commits to GitHub, and pull brings in commits made elsewhere. A branch is a separate line of work that you can merge back later. See Use Git.
Git and repository	Git keeps the history of every saved version of your project, so you can go back or work with others. A repository, or repo, is a project tracked by Git. See Use Git.
GitHub and access token	GitHub is a website that stores Git repositories online. You connect your GitHub account to Nowa, or, the older way, give it an access token: a password-like code you create on GitHub. See Connect GitHub.
VS Code	Visual Studio Code, a free code editor from Microsoft. The desktop app can open a local project in it, so you can design in Nowa and code in VS Code side by side. See Use Nowa with VS Code.
Xcode and Android Studio	Apple's and Google's app-building tools. The desktop app uses Xcode to run your app on an iPhone or the iOS Simulator (Mac only). Android Studio is optional, for creating more emulators. Nowa's cloud builds don't need either. See Run on a device or emulator.

Renamed or removed

If you followed older tutorials, these names changed:

You may have seen	Now
Think Mode	Thinking levels (Instant, Thinking, Deep Thinking)
New Chat	New Session
Replay checkpoint	Reapply Checkpoint
Instant preview, Play mode	Instant Play (Play)
Instant Preview Share	Share preview, a link and QR code
New Cloud Project	New project on the dashboard, or What do you want to build?
Assets panel	The Assets chip in the Library
Widgets panel	The Library, with Page and Component tiles now shown as rows
Open widget picker (Ctrl/Cmd + P)	Add a widget: Ctrl/Cmd + K, which opens the Library. Ctrl/Cmd + P runs your app.
Board chip	The Boards chip, with a Search boards field
Move Up, Move Down, Move To Top, Move To Bottom	Move Up is now Send backward, Move Down is Bring forward, Move To Top is Send to back and Move To Bottom is Bring to front
Fractional Sized Box, Clip Radius, Default text style (wrappers)	Fractionally Sized Box, Clip radius, Default Text Style

Next steps

• Tour the editor: find your way around the panels and the board.
• Build your first app: put the words to work.
• Widget catalog: every built-in widget.