Gimp program how to#
Gimp program install#
Gimp program software#
Gimp program code#
Gimp program tv#

If you get a mismatch, it doesn’t automatically mean that someone is trying to tamper with your GIMP installation. Any change in the content of the downloaded file changes the checksum, and you know something is wrong. When you download your copy of the file, you can run the same algorithm on your downloaded copy of the file, and you should get the same exact result as the official version. The hash sum for the current Windows installation file In this case, the official checksum for gimp-2.10.24-setup-3.exe from the official website:

The official developer puts the official release copy of the file through an algorithm that produces a long string of letters and numbers known as a hash sum or checksum (as shown below). While I don’t pretend to understand the math involved in hashing – there are several reasons why I went into the arts, lol – this is the basis of how it works. If you’re deeply concerned about your computer security or even just curious, it’s possible to use a system known as a ‘hash sum’ or ‘checksum’ to verify that the file you’ve downloaded onto your computer is an exact copy of the file located on the official GIMP website. Just make sure to download GIMP from the official website, and you have nothing to worry about.

It’s a useful cautionary tale, but it’s not exactly dangerous now. If you want to read more about the drama, I wrote up a quick article about the story as soon as I learned about what happened. Because it was released for free, it was quickly picked up by a rogue developer who packaged in all kinds of nasty malware in order to make some money.

Gimp program tv#

GIMPshop was the pet project of a TV host in the mid-2000s, designed to make GIMP look function more closely to Photoshop. GIMP has also had to endure this kind of confusion in the past, at least partly.

Gimp program software#

Some Open Source RisksĬreating and improving free open-source software is one of the most altruistic and valuable contributions that a software developer can make, but unfortunately, not everyone with those software development skills falls into the altruistic category – some can even be just plain greedy.īecause open-source software has a large following, it creates opportunities for the unscrupulous to try to make a quick buck off of well-meaning users who just want to get some work done.

Gimp program code#

Suddenly it’s a far safer idea to have everyone look at your code to spot any exploitable issues as soon as possible so they can be repaired – and that’s how GIMP works. If the source code is secret, it can be sold for a profit, and that obviously drives many (ok, almost all) business models in the software industry.īut at soon as you realize that developers will pull software apart anyways looking for flaws, the answer changes. Microsoft Word, Autodesk Fusion 360, and all your video games are closed source – nobody is supposed to look under the hood and see how all the computer source code works.Īt first, this seems like the best way to create software. Most computer programs that you use are probably ‘closed source’ software.

Gimp program how to#

How to Check the GIMP Installer Hash Sum.

It is absolutely safe to use on your computer. After all the different versions I’ve installed, I’ve never had a single computer issue caused by installing or using GIMP. I’ve also used GIMP at various points in its evolution, starting from just a few years after it was first released back in 1996. I’ve been trained in digital graphic design, but my love of digital image editing goes back over two decades to the very early days of consumer digital photography. Hello! As you may have seen around the site already, my name is Thomas Boldt and I’m your guide here at TGT (The GIMP Tutorials). This means there are also unofficial versions of GIMP available online. The reason for the two-part answer comes from the fact that GIMP is open-source software, which means that the code which makes up the program can be accessed and modified by any user who wants to do so. It’s important to always download an official copy! The slightly longer version is that it’s perfectly safe to download as long as you get your copy from the official website.

Gimp program install#

The short answer is yes, GIMP is perfectly safe to download and install on your computer.