Core configuration
Use desktop Settings to select models and enter credentials. When running from source, you can also edit the project .env; restart the desktop afterwards.
Minimal setup
The defaults use Qwen realtime speech and Tavily search:
DASHSCOPE_API_KEY=your-dashscope-key
TAVILY_API_KEY=your-tavily-keyDisabling search removes the need for a Tavily key. Cascaded mode defaults to Volcengine recognition, DeepSeek and Volcengine synthesis, requiring DOUBAO_BIGMODEL_API_KEY and DEEPSEEK_API_KEY. Keep DASHSCOPE_API_KEY for supporting models such as personal-memory processing.
Common options
Set only what you need to change. Keep credentials out of Git.
| Variable | Default | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_PIPELINE_MODE |
integrated | Product pipeline shape: integrated or cascaded. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_LANGUAGE |
zh-CN | AI system prompt language: zh-CN or en; desktop supplies its saved preference. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_CASCADE_LLM_PROVIDER |
deepseek | Cascaded LLM provider. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_CASCADE_LLM_MODEL |
provider default | Cascaded LLM model override. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_CODEX_APPROVAL_MODE |
ask | Codex approval mode. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_CAPABILITIES_CONFIG |
~/.nova-audio-agent/capabilities.json | Capabilities registry path. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_MEMORY_CONNECTION |
local | Memory connection: disabled, local, or remote. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_MEMORY_PROVIDER |
None | Local engine: mem0 (default) or voicemem. Remote engines are service-owned. |
DASHSCOPE_API_KEY |
None | Qwen realtime credential. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_QWEN_REALTIME_MODEL |
qwen-audio-3.0-realtime-plus | Qwen realtime model. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_QWEN_REALTIME_VOICE |
longanqian | Qwen realtime voice. |
DEEPSEEK_API_KEY |
None | Official DeepSeek cascaded LLM credential. |
ARK_API_KEY |
None | Ark cascaded LLM credential. |
DOUBAO_ASR_API_KEY |
Doubao big-model key | Volcengine ASR credential override. |
DOUBAO_BIGMODEL_API_KEY |
None | Volcengine TTS and ASR fallback credential. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_CODEX_WORKSPACE |
None | Host-approved Codex workspace. |
NOVA_AUDIO_AGENT_CODEX_BIN |
codex | Host-approved Codex app-server binary. |
TAVILY_API_KEY |
None | Tavily search credential. |
ask retains permission prompts; yolo lets Codex execute without approval. Choose according to your trust requirements.
Remove the local provider setting when disabling memory or selecting a remote service. See personal memory for remote settings and the iPhone guide for phone connections.