Re: [Gimp-developer] GIMP development- What's the point?

[Marius Kjeldahl <marius kjeldahl gmail com>]

While I am not a Gimp developer, I've been a keen user for many years. Same
goes for Inkscape. After having to do some native work on iOS, I started
working on Macs. In addition new laptop offerings kept making life as a
linux user harder and harder. Touch screen, sexy new form factors, pens? At
the same time, doing linuxy things on Macs became easier and easier, to the
point that I know do most development on Macs, deploying on Linux where
approriate.

I've waited years for Gimp and Inkscape to support Macs, but sadly they
still don't. They barely "run", but they aren't usable. I wrote a blog post
with the details:

https://medium.com/@kjeldahl/gimp-and-inkscape-on-retina-macs-do-not-work-9601c3052e86#.i3ys9rmhn

So to your question, what's the point?

IMHO, the point is that Gimp and Inkscape are excellent FREE offerings
within their genres. Unfortunately, neither works on Macs (I know little
about Windows). Until they support Macs (and possibly Windows), Gimp and
Inkscape usage will be limited to current Linux users. Yes, I'm aware of
the underlying technical reasons WHY support is poor, but that doesn't
change the fact that neither Gimp or Inkscape has any chance as becoming a
real offering outside of the Linux user base, and people not using Linux
will keep asking that question. :-)

Thanks,

Marius K.

On Fri, 23 Sep 2016 at 13:20 C R <cajhne gmail com> wrote:

> I run a London Linux Meet, where a bunch of Linux and open source folks
> have drinks and discuss Linux, and free software.
>
> At the last meet I was showing off GIMP, as I often do when asked "what do
> you do?" There's the usual ooohing and ahhing as I show what GIMP allows me
> to do easily as a designer.
>
> This time, I got a strange comment from a new visitor to our group. He said
> "GIMP development? What's the point of that?" in a rather sarcastic tone.
>
> In such cases I have to push down my annoyance with the tone and answer the
> question properly, because I know such comments usually come from one of
> two places:
>
> a) User has tried GIMP, but didn't take time to learn enough to get past
> things that aren't obvious.
> b) User has heard that GIMP is hard to use, and is not an adequate tool for
> professionals.
>
> Both of these point of views are skewed, but I find all it takes is a short
> walk-through and sometimes question answering about how to do what they
> want. Most people just want a show, though. Someone to prove to them that
> their preconceptions of GIMP are incorrect, or at least incomplete.
>
> In this case, I opted to give the fireworks/show. My weapons of choice this
> time included the unified transform tool, the handle-transform tool, and
> the warp transform tool-
> "Without development, we (designers/users) would not have these new
> features, which will be released in the next version, and are available now
> via the gimp-edge repo."
>
> I love the change in expression. You can SEE the change from the sceptical
> arm-foldedness, to hands-on hips, or chin-scratching that indicated not
> only a change in perspective, but also imagining the possibilities.
>
> "Without dedicated people constantly working to improve GIMP, we would not
> have any of this, and nothing to look forward to. It's an incredible gift,
> and allows us to work with complete freedom. It's there for the taking, for
> the enjoyment of everyone. All one has to do is reach for it with patience
> that is necessary for learning (any) complex and extremely powerful
> graphics application."
>
> I just wanted to again say thanks, and relay that even on days where it
> seems no one has anything good to say about GIMP, you've got fans who
> genuinely appreciate the work you do, and believe in what GIMP is, and
> enjoy what it will become in the future with your tremendous efforts.
>
> You're presently causing ooohs and ahhhs, in London. :)
>
> The question: "What's the point?" is a curious one.
> As a developer in the project, what are your reasons for working on GIMP?
> What are your motivations? What do you enjoy most about it?
>
> -C
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