Happy 25th Birthday, GIMP -- you make Linux a viable Windows 10 alternative
I'm a big fan of Linux-based operating systems, and I try to convert people whenever I can. No, Linux isn't right for everyone, and Windows 10 isn't a bad operating system, but many computer users are better served by a Linux distro such as Ubuntu. After all, many people live in the web browser these days, so they don't need the bloat of Windows. Not to mention, Linux is arguably more secure.
Of course, there are always people that fight me on the benefits of Linux, and two pieces of software often enter the conversation -- Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. Thankfully, I have some great ammunition in those arguments -- LibreOffice and GNU Image Manipulation Program (aka GIMP). True, both of those programs are also available on Windows and not Linux-only, but still, they make Linux a viable Windows alternative for many.
When it comes to GIMP, many ignorant Adobe Photoshop users will scoff at it, but the truth is, a talented person can have success with either. Usually it's just a matter of being patient and dealing with the learning curve. Ultimately, having GIMP makes Linux-based operating systems a legitimate option for Photoshop users.
And now, GIMP celebrates a 25th Birthday. Technically, the birthday was yesterday (November 21), but there is no reason we can't celebrate it all weekend! Isn't is crazy that the software has been around for a quarter century?
"The world is definitely a different place 25 years later. Louder, noisier, more demanding. Definitely less safe. But also full with warmth and humanity. We've seen waves of that washing up and down the rocky shores of GIMP," explains the GIMP Development Team.
The developers further say, "We don't really have any kind of big news for you to commemorate the anniversary. Sorry about that. We keep slaving away -- in a more intelligent way these days, hopefully. But there might be cake."
Do you use GIMP? On what operating system do you use the program? Please tell me in the comments below.