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Awesome news. This part caught my attention though: >Unlike the Windows and Steam store, we don’t ask for money for Krita in the store, since it’s the only way

Awesome news. This part caught my attention though: >Unlike the Windows and Steam store, we don’t ask for money for Krita in the store, since it’s the only way people can install Krita on those devices, but you can buy a supporter badge from within Krita to support development. I don't know about the Windows store because I don't use Windows, but doesn't the Steam store allow you to put up free tools? Godot Engine is available for free on Steam, IIRC.

speedgoose 6y ago
Yes, what they mean is that on windows you can get krita for free outside of the windows store or steam. While on Android most users are stuck with the Google Play store because it's very difficult to use another store.
- MikusR 6y ago
  You are thinking of iOS. On Android using a different store or sideload is easy.
  - worble 6y ago
    >On Android using a different store or sideload is easy. Asking users to use developer mode is not easy, and a huge barrier to entry that most would just not bother and download something else from the Play Store instead.
    - noisem4ker 6y ago
      Developer mode has never been required on Android. App sources are managed by regular settings (Android 8+). Before that, there was a single switch for all non-Play-Store sources. 1. User downloads an .apk using a browser 2. User tries to open it 3. Android prompts the user to allow the browser as a trusted source 4. User agrees by flipping a switch 5. Installation resumes 6. User enjoys the app https://developer.android.com/distribute/marketing-tools/alternative-distribution https://developer.android.com/distribute/marketing-tools/alt... https://android.gadgethacks.com/how-to/android-101-sideload-apps-by-enabling-unknown-sources-install-unknown-apps-0161947/ https://android.gadgethacks.com/how-to/android-101-sideload-...
      - cesarb 6y ago
        You forgot, and the users probably will forget too, to flip the switch back so that the browser is no longer a trusted source. That is, you've now increased the chance of malware being accidentally installed through the browser, since AFAIK Android will not prompt again until the switch is flipped back to "not allowed".
        yorwba 6y ago
        Android won't tell you again that the source is untrusted and will directly show the installation dialog, but it also won't silently install a random APK, so in practice the risk of accidentally installing malware is not that high unless you have very fat fingers.
      - jraph 6y ago
        This is not a great substitute for installing through an app store because the app will not update automatically. This is, however, a great thing to have. A better substitute would be using F-Droid. By the way, some free software apps are not gratis on the Play Store but are on F-Droid. It can still be confusing to manage two app stores for some people, while installing an app from a downloaded executable is usual on Windows, so Krita probably did the right thing.
        noisem4ker 6y ago
        Good question: why is Krita not on F-Droid? Probably a matter of time and effort, not a technical reason. I guess they sensibly got into the most visible marketplaces first.
        hellozee 6y ago
        Exactly, it is on our plans, would take a bit of time.
        StavrosK 6y ago
        What you say echoes my experience, I see a lot of apps on the Play store say "pay 1.99 here or get it for free on F-Droid", which is fair. I usually even pay the money even though I have F-Droid installed, just to support the dev.
  - hellozee 6y ago
    Not for chromebooks, unfortunately
    - smitop 6y ago
      You can sideload on Chromebooks if you enable developer mode. But enabling developer mode wipes all data on the system and displays a warning message on boot.
      - lucb1e 6y ago
        So Chromebooks only let you run software that a Google employee approved, unless you wipe your device to enable developer mode (which nobody, after using it for a while and then deciding to develop something, will want to do)? There is no other way to run some test code on it? I didn't know that and it seems strange (even Android is more liberal than that, and that's not a laptop) so genuine question.
        esrauch 6y ago
        I think wiping a Chromebook isn't as problematic as wiping another computer. The OS settings and apps can fully sync, and almost all apps autosync all data to the cloud.
dgellow 6y ago
On desktop they went with free installers from their website and paid versions if you want the convenience of a store. That’s a way to support the project.
MikusR 6y ago
Krita uses Windows and Steam store for additional funding. It's freely available from website.
- trashburger 6y ago
  Oh, if it's a funding related thing, then that's fine. The paragraph makes it sound like they can't put Krita up on those stores without requiring a fee.

speedgoose 6y ago

Yes, what they mean is that on windows you can get krita for free outside of the windows store or steam. While on Android most users are stuck with the Google Play store because it's very difficult to use another store.

MikusR 6y ago
You are thinking of iOS. On Android using a different store or sideload is easy.
- worble 6y ago
  >On Android using a different store or sideload is easy. Asking users to use developer mode is not easy, and a huge barrier to entry that most would just not bother and download something else from the Play Store instead.
  - noisem4ker 6y ago
    Developer mode has never been required on Android. App sources are managed by regular settings (Android 8+). Before that, there was a single switch for all non-Play-Store sources. 1. User downloads an .apk using a browser 2. User tries to open it 3. Android prompts the user to allow the browser as a trusted source 4. User agrees by flipping a switch 5. Installation resumes 6. User enjoys the app https://developer.android.com/distribute/marketing-tools/alternative-distribution https://developer.android.com/distribute/marketing-tools/alt... https://android.gadgethacks.com/how-to/android-101-sideload-apps-by-enabling-unknown-sources-install-unknown-apps-0161947/ https://android.gadgethacks.com/how-to/android-101-sideload-...
    - cesarb 6y ago
      You forgot, and the users probably will forget too, to flip the switch back so that the browser is no longer a trusted source. That is, you've now increased the chance of malware being accidentally installed through the browser, since AFAIK Android will not prompt again until the switch is flipped back to "not allowed".
      - yorwba 6y ago
        Android won't tell you again that the source is untrusted and will directly show the installation dialog, but it also won't silently install a random APK, so in practice the risk of accidentally installing malware is not that high unless you have very fat fingers.
    - jraph 6y ago
      This is not a great substitute for installing through an app store because the app will not update automatically. This is, however, a great thing to have. A better substitute would be using F-Droid. By the way, some free software apps are not gratis on the Play Store but are on F-Droid. It can still be confusing to manage two app stores for some people, while installing an app from a downloaded executable is usual on Windows, so Krita probably did the right thing.
      - noisem4ker 6y ago
        Good question: why is Krita not on F-Droid? Probably a matter of time and effort, not a technical reason. I guess they sensibly got into the most visible marketplaces first.
        hellozee 6y ago
        Exactly, it is on our plans, would take a bit of time.
      - StavrosK 6y ago
        What you say echoes my experience, I see a lot of apps on the Play store say "pay 1.99 here or get it for free on F-Droid", which is fair. I usually even pay the money even though I have F-Droid installed, just to support the dev.
- hellozee 6y ago
  Not for chromebooks, unfortunately
  - smitop 6y ago
    You can sideload on Chromebooks if you enable developer mode. But enabling developer mode wipes all data on the system and displays a warning message on boot.
    - lucb1e 6y ago
      So Chromebooks only let you run software that a Google employee approved, unless you wipe your device to enable developer mode (which nobody, after using it for a while and then deciding to develop something, will want to do)? There is no other way to run some test code on it? I didn't know that and it seems strange (even Android is more liberal than that, and that's not a laptop) so genuine question.
      - esrauch 6y ago
        I think wiping a Chromebook isn't as problematic as wiping another computer. The OS settings and apps can fully sync, and almost all apps autosync all data to the cloud.

dgellow 6y ago

On desktop they went with free installers from their website and paid versions if you want the convenience of a store. That’s a way to support the project.

MikusR 6y ago

Krita uses Windows and Steam store for additional funding. It's freely available from website.

trashburger 6y ago
Oh, if it's a funding related thing, then that's fine. The paragraph makes it sound like they can't put Krita up on those stores without requiring a fee.