Man, after decades, why does GIMP still have a marketing problem?

Just visit www.gimp.org and compare it to www.adobe.com/ca/products/photoshop.html

Just assume both did exactly the same thing and cost the exact same amount (free or otherwise). Which would you choose based on their website?

Why does GIMP (and pretty much all FOSS) have to be so secretive about their product? Why no screenshots? Why not showcase the software on their website?

It’s so damn frustrating that every FOSS app appears to be command line software, or assumed that the user knows everything about it already.

Devs, you might have a killer piece of software, but screenshots go a long way to help with gaining interest and adoption.

You’re welcome to contribute your experties.

I wish I could, but this is a systemic problem, not a problem with one individual project.

Is the mindset that anyone looking for open source, FOSS, or Linux stuff is already tech-savvy enough to know exactly what they are looking for based solely on a text description?

I think it’s more so that the kind of people contributing to these projects are on balance not that interested in doing the marketing work.

Do the operating systems the contributors use not have a screenshot function?

I mean, seriously, simply highlighting a few features would make a massive difference.

I speak for all projects, not just GIMP.

These projects are run by volunteers, they don’t have the unlimited budget for designers that Adobe does. And to be honest, it kinda seems like you’re just criticizing them for no good reason. Have you personally designed and built a website that doesn’t suck?

These projects are run by volunteers, they don’t have the unlimited budget for designers that Adobe does.

A few screenshots would be nice. Not asking them to make a high-production video intro shot on a cruise ship with RED cameras and featuring an A-list celeb.

And to be honest, it kinda seems like you’re just criticizing them for no good reason.

On the contrary. I want to see them reach a wider audience. I want to see FOSS, Linux, and other open-source projects become more accessible and widely available. For me, the way many of these projects present themselves is like gatekeeping to keep people away.

Have you personally designed and built a website that doesn’t suck?

Yes, but I won’t doxx myself, so there’s no proof I can give you.

Regardless, as a user and someone who wants to see open-source projects succeed, my comment should only be taken as constructive criticism.

On the contrary. I want to see them reach a wider audience. I want to see FOSS, Linux, and other open-source projects become more accessible and widely available

then contribute, it’s called “open source” for a reason or at least raise an issue where the maintainers can see? Not on some random link aggregation platform about an announcement?