My point is that if you want a future-proof software, you need a solid code base. Affinity already fix that. Clip Studio Paint done that. GIMP dev is currently working on it.

Regarding Shape Tool: this feature is dependant on Vector Layer. The earliest attempt to implement this is back in 2006: https://web.archive.org/web/20061219233008/http://lunarcrisis.pooq.com/wiki/Gimp/SoC2006Log

I recommend to check the discussion for Shape tool and Better vector Tool here: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gimp/-/issues/11190

If you check Gitlab repository of GIMP, they’re actually rewriting some old-codebase to be more future-proof. And that works really takes time. https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gimp/-/commits/master

A lot of major design software are actually doing this. For example:

• Manga Studio -> Clip Studio Paint. CSP is now “de-facto” software standard of comic industry, including webtoon. Hugely popular in Asia.
• Serif PhotoPlus -> Affinity Photo. It was regarding as the best Photoshop alternative with arguably easier interface and better performance.

You cannot just slap new feature continuously. The software will end bloated and slow like Photoshop.

I believe when majority of people saying “Photoshop has this, we should do this as well” are not actually saying GIMP should create a total carbon-copy.

People loves easy to use interface, not carbon copy of Photoshop, even if they don’t say that. They just don’t know how to articulate their frustration better.

When Affinity Photo emerges as actual Photoshop alternative, no one complains regarding “not being Photoshop clone” because the interface is actually easier than Photoshop, while still being advanced software.

New GIMP user complaining about interface “not being Photoshop clone” is indicator that GIMP interface is not easy to use and intuitive enough.

No. Importance of UX simply means advance users can customize their workflow while making it easy to use for casual users.

Kinda like Krita or Blender. Both are not perfect, but the dev are working on it, together with the community.

Even GIMP dev also working on that, they have GIMP UX issue tracker here: https://gitlab.gnome.org/Teams/GIMP/Design/gimp-ux/

“your program should look and behave exactly like this other program made by a corpo, because I’ve learned that one already”

Oftentimes established workflow is already simple. There’s no need to reinvent this from scratch. Example: Npainter and AzPainter are heavily inspired by PaintToolSAI. Inochi Creator is a clone (with unique feature) of Live2D Cubism.

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You can go on random comment section on internet, and people are starting new “console war” for Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch.

I’m not saying it has to be GNOME or Teams. Gnome is too limiting (I also don’t like it), while Teams is… whatever.

It’s just have to be great for advance user, while easy to user for first-time user.

Let me give you some example of bad UX, that fixed in other software:

• Gradient effect is not editable once you deselect it, you have to recreate it from scratch (you can edit it on Photoshop or Affinity Photo)
• There’s should be option to adjust font size with resizing text box instead of trying to input every single number (it’s possible on every major software)
• Drawing outside the layer does not retain its information (CSP retains the information)
• NDE effects cannot be drag and drop between layer for faster editing
• Rotating text cannot be edited (just saw the dev talk about it on Discord)

Almost all of the UX problems here are recognized by the dev, even actively discussed on how to fix them!

You can make advance application while still catering towards newbies! For example: Clip Studio Paint. They have multiple layout and UI for different use case and audience.

That’s still not as intuitive as actual shape tools on any other software.

If average casual user get confused to it, then it’s a bad UX.

That’s not actual shape tool.

Shape created by shape tools should be always editable. Using ellipse selection tool means the circle is rasterized.

To be fair, MS Paint (and other Paint-alike) software shape tools is barebone. No NDE and just direct to canvas/layer. (which perfectly fine for its scope)

Using select tools to make shape is not actual Shape tools.

As I stated previously, GIMP developers list Shape Tools in the roadmap.

Also, why not use those programs you listed instead, if GIMP isn’t getting the job done.

Hoping our tool to be more capable is just a normal thing. I want GIMP to be the best image editor, I want Krita to be the best painting and animation software, and so on.

Wrong.

“GIMP is a cross-platform image editor … Whether you are a graphic designer, photographer, illustrator, or scientist, GIMP provides you with sophisticated tools to get your job done.” - gimp.org

Shape tools is a universal basic tool for any software that handle some sort of image creation or addition.

Photo editing, general image editing, painting software, page layout design, vector design, PDF editor, all of them have one.

Photoshop, Microsoft Paint, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, Photopea, Pixelmator, Affinity Photo, … all of them have shape tools.

Heck, even Microsoft Excel and Word even have one.

EDIT: Shape tool is planned, not yet WIP. Source: GIMP Roadmaps