A request from a Linux user

As a Linux user, I can say that there is no painting program that would emulate natural media available for the system. I have been looking at Verve for some time, and think it would be awesome to have it working natively. Is that something that can be done in the predictable future? If there are too many things "in development" right now, would it be possible to make the source code, or even just the shaders available for the Linux crowd? I have experience as a programmer, so I could make an attempt at porting it, if that's necessary.

And yes, I know that publishing the source code is a big thing for a developer, but I think that would only increase Verve's potential and draw more users and developers.

[Taron]

Thanks, Int, haha, yeah, there will be a Linux version in the not so distant future. I'm interested in Linux myself as I had been for over 20 years and still never got myself to install any ever. But this will change very, very soon.
I don't give out the source just yet, because I want to protect it from opportunists and other overly ambitious developers, who may turn it into an avalanche of a crap storm that suffocates me and where I am planning to take it to. There's also the off chance that I may get around witnessing the most depressing ungratefulness that I'm already so familiar with and find a way to get funding for a focused development and get reminded of the great many beautifully grateful people amongst us, who are wise enough to support a source of useful inventions to their life.

I almost hate the current situation, while I'm so eager to bring Verve into proper shape, but making a living keeps me from complete focus, sometimes even any focus. I really wish for a time when the universe confirms that I'm on the right track with more than just all the joy I'm feeling. Every decision I make will either take me to then or not. If you are hoping for the "or not" part for your own sake, thinking that at such point you may get the chance to take over, you still have to learn a lot more about your own sake. It takes a lot more to continue a vision of this kind of complexity. You are looking at the tip of an iceberg. Not just in terms of code, because that's not that big at all, but in terms of what thought and understanding carries the whole thing and promises to push it way, way, way up out of the water!

BUT talk is cheap. And I really promise there will be a Linux version as much as I'm aiming for Mac and mobile versions, too! I'm thinking, though, if I can't find a way to get crowd funding, I might try making mobile versions a commercial product?! Anyway, it'll be exciting to go multi-platform, I'm sure!

Thanks for the reply. As for your fears that releasing the source will attract developers who miss the point and turn it into something completely different from what you wanted to make (let's say, a GIMP-type photo manipulation application more than digital painting software), you can always maintain your own branch and only bless the changes that you approve off. I believe Github even has a system of pull requests that help automate this process.
As for the opportunists, if you release the source code under a copyleft license (GPLv3 for example), the people who use your code will have to publish the changes that they made if they release their own software, thus giving back to the community. This way you can protect yourself from corporate greed.
As for funding, you could always start a crowdfunding effort - there's an open source painting application called Krita (https://krita.org) that recently successfully finished its Kickstarter campaign and got the funding for the developers.

Once again, it would be amazing to have Verve as Free Software, along things like Blender or Apache, proving that quality software doesn't need to cost thousands of dollars and be unmodifiable by the user. Vision and philosophy of future development aside, I think the ability to have other people help with the development would work out for the best. In the end, it's all up to you.

[Taron]

Yep, for the first time in my life I've managed to make this the case: It's all up to me!
And I'll keep it that way for a while for sure. It'll stay free in general, that's for sure, though! I love being able to offer that and share it all. I totally love seeing what people make with it, which- to me- is the true magic, really.

Once I have the time, I'll investigate all angles, that's another promise!

Hey Taron
Forgive me but I feel compelled to throw my two cents in here.
I absolutley LOVE open source software and the spirit of community and collaboration which it cultivates and encourages.
There are however many angles to the whole notion of giving and taking and many of us have come to expect the world for free.
The fact that you are sharing your invention openly at the moment is a blessing for those of us who have been fortunate enough to discover it. It is a magnificent diamond in the rough and time and love ( and perhaps money) will certainly put a shine on it.
The idea of dumping it into the public realm is quite frankly absurd. You stand on the edge of a rare opportunity here!
I would encourage you to keep this baby close to your heart and let it grow! I would also encourage you yet again to create a simple mechanism for donations to help[ you do that! Finally I would encourage you to take this opportunity very seriously and perhaps find a way to throw all your energy at it and don't delay…at least until you have a viable product. Clearly what you are doing here is ground breaking and it is ONLY A MATTER OF TIME before others will follow. As THE innovator you deserve not only the respect and admiration for your cleverness but some healthy monetary compensation! Don't kid yourself…this will be worth ALOT of money to someone…so it might as well be you! HAving said all that…I would urge you to stay focused, finish the fundamentals…get your interface in order…..stick to the one pure thing that verve does soooooooo well…PAINT….like no other…work out the resolution issue if its even possible because professionals will DEMAND higher resolutions. THere is NOTHING like this on the market yet…you keep hearing it over and over and over again and people like myself are wondering WHY?
Well perhaps you are the guy to change all that.
All the best and THANK YOU for your spirit of adventure and sharing.
Forgive my emotionalism but this about so much more that just a little paint program!

S

[Taron]

One of these days I sure hope we get a chance to meet, Stavros!
Sometimes I could really use an agent, haha, because it can get a little overwhelming. I've chosen a very unconventional life, which allows me to do all this, while the raging machine revolves around me and it feels like one wrong move can shred me to pieces. More than one thing I have to put into order, but it's words like yours that give me great strength!

Thank you, S!

oh dear Taron
If only you knew!
We are so much better at recognizing
the brilliance of others
than we are ourselves
Thats why its so easy to see you
( the blog and music and art help too)
Your clearly not alone in your struggle
to live a creative, meaningful life
amidst the noise of the machine
My wife is an actor turned jeweller
I am an artist and musician
struggling as a digital artist in commercial advertising
we have a 4 month old jewel of a baby
who has realigned our universe (apparently I have to be a grown up now)
and we are all raging against the machine
lol!

It would be an honour to meet you one day!
s

Yes, Verve is like a diamond I found few months ago. My wife recognized my excitement after I discovered your application and met your work after years again..

I have spent much great time with Verve and I suppose to spend more in future . You know that there are many people in the Verve community that are prepared to support your work including me..

I am glad that there is living one guy - Taron. Good guy with great talent in his heart and soul. And I can admire his work over and over again! Me and we are here to support and help you Taron (like sending amount of money, liebesbriefe, etc.) As you wish It is all up to and that's great!!

What I really don´t understand is: when do you sleep Taron? I usually can see Verve uploading time and your replies at the time: 4am, 6am, ..

[Taron]

Uh, don't ask! ...I'm totally twisted again these days. I thought I had just managed to sleep at night again when I fell asleep in the afternoon and woke up an hour ago again.
Liebesbriefe sound like a perfect currency, too!