Redsandro

I'm sorry, but you can't offer this circulus in demonstrando. Once users started to organize a crowd funding campaign that would definitely prove or disprove whether or not there would be enough demand to recoup the costs, Affinity informed us that they would not do a Linux version even if the goal would be reached, effectively stopping the community initiative from definitively probing the demand.
The result is two-fold. One, we haven't proven demand. But more importantly, you can't argue that we can't prove demand after stopping attempts to do just that.
So yes, it is my view and the view of some of my peers that Serif is actively stifling serious attempts to probe demand. If this perception is wrong, it could be beneficial in a PR sense to write an official statement or semiofficial blog post as suggested before.
This is a classic argumentum ad hominem. I see you do that a lot. There was nothing remotely zealous about my post. Obviously, I'm not inciting a rebellious movement. I'm telling people that further proceedings have lost practical significance, which is basically the opposite of an uncompromising pursuit. Your relentless anti-Linux propaganda stream of logical fallacies over the past year or so (Why? To what end?) have more in common with the definition of a zealot, so I think you are projecting.
They have not done so back when I was in this discussion, two odd years or so ago. So I think "very clearly and openly" is quite a flattering way of saying that someone wrote a comment somewhere between the thousands of posts on this forum. I believe the fact that the "idea" to crowdfund keeps popping up proofs this. People suggesting this weren't there when it almost happened and was shot down. This is why I believe a written blog post or verbose official statement would be a good idea. Everyone can just point to the article and the circular discussion is over.
 

Dear @kleber.swf and others,
I understand the frustration. First, Serif said: We would need to be confident that we'd recoup a certain amount of cost. Then the community said: Okay. We will crowdsource that amount. Some folks started preparing a campaign, and Serif was quick to respond: Please don't do it. Even if you raise the money, we decided not to do it.
I also understand the frustration about their lack of oppenness to the community. First they giveth (a set of rules that would make a Linux version possible) then taketh away. And they don't communicate their rationale.
With the immense performance boost of WINE/Linux in recent years, and the compatibility with many triple A titles, people wonder why Affinity products have some secret sause that causes them not to work with WINE. Because WINE-compatibility would seem like a descent middle-ground loved and appreciated by Linux users. I haven't been able to get a comment about that.
While a forthcoming and verbose blog or article from Affinity/Serif to their Linux fanbase - who are often paying customers with a Windows license - about their rationale and answers to the questions about the change of heart and WINE problems would surely make those community members fall in love, Serif is taking a different approach of mostly ignoring the demand except for the occasional sneer that we can't just demand a Linux version. And they are right.
So that's it. We feel like it would make sense to build a Linux version. And with people saying that the core is basically platform independent so 'only' the UI would need to be ported to Linux, it feels closer than ever. But it's not going to happen. Serif has decided. They are not the Linux heros some of us hoped. Let's stop promoting Affinity among our colleagues as Adobe killer, and wait for something more inclusive to come along.
All you can do is go to the posts where some of the staff summarize their position and click thanks -> sad face on the bottom right to document your point of view in numbers.

 

Thank you @Mark Ingram. This brings some clarity, although I had to look up the word clamour.
The team is not really interested in doing this right now, and you're happy with the spoils of the current markets. There's generally no interest in a crowd source either, because the team is not confident that the spoils of the Linux market would remain interesting after a theoretical crowdfund. The proverbial banana would be 20.000 people showing up here suggesting that Affinity for Linux would be a lovely idea.
TL;DR: Not now, maybe later.

The second post on this thread from @TonyB said:
Now, that was in 2014, and as the products have grown (and new products like iPad and Publisher have arrived), that cost will have risen, unfortunately.
This thread is popular, but ultimately we've only had a fraction of a percent of people request a Linux version so far. Now, if this post had 20,000 people in it, we'd be clamouring to build for Linux...
We're not saying never, we're just saying that our limited resources are best spent working on other things right now.
And I say all that as a Linux fan.

Me too  without dedicated hardware from DaVinci though. Mainly for color grading.I don't mind the occasional frame drop from non-quattro nVidia cards for this purpose.

Hi guys,
i think at the moment serif is focusing on affinity publisher ... and maybe another adobe killer after. Because there is a much more bigger market for new Adobe killers than a linux port at the moment. Maybe later, if the adobe palette is finished, there may be a more serious thought about linux. Don't ask how many years ...
But I think there is currently another realistic option to get affinity on the Linux desktop.
Ask the wine community ... do a crowdfunding for WINE (developers) to make the affinity products run on linux!
A good annual salary would be enough to put one experienced wine developer to make it run. We would even not need 500.000$.
What do you think about that?

Just pre-ordered the affinity publisher. (I'm using scribus atm.)
I am a proud owner of all your products. Right now I use a VM with VFIO (I share GPU, mouse, keyboard, wacom tablet to a windows vm) to use those products.
It's far from ideal, but I am willing to support Serif, because you are actually building amazing products that are very nice to use !
This post is simply to share my support on something happening someday on the linux support front. Whatever it is.
Hope all the posts and repeated questions don't get too much on your nerves. I'm a Software Engineer also, and I know how "Support" can be a hard thing to do properly.
Concerning your choice of technologies, some are questionable, but I'm sure your CTO knows what he is doing. You are invested in .NET, try having a look at .NET core 3 it also supports WPF and other things that can be installed on all platforms and architectures.
https://github.com/dotnet/wpf
https://github.com/dotnet/core/blob/master/release-notes/3.0/preview/3.0.0-preview5.md

@Redsandro Thanks for the recap post, it saved me a lot of reading.
Additional note, I'm a happy user of Davinci Resolve on Linux, and because of their entreprise support on Linux, I'm now moving my equipment and capture cards to theirs instead.
My company is by no means large enough to sponsor such a development on your side. But happy to help if you want more info.

Best regards,

Campaigners....lol.  
Well, I'll add it to my CV. The more, the merrier. Or maybe you were not including me there, I don't know. I have changed my opinion quite drastically in years (and about politics, sports, etc).
Ok, I believe the point that is wrong in the above is that, in these 19 pages, and in the other ton of threads  this has not been addressed by Serif. Yep, they have said no, and this is not what you wanted to hear. But they have answered this complaint more times and more in depth than many others.  A bit of a sample below, but I have been skipping the light irony, and moderation posts....or... some just 'cause have things to do now, and the mouse wheel is showing smoke now due to friction and speed... might have missed some... below is a list... And please, don't post again comments ad hominem (not particularly you: anyone). A company is a complex machine. Typically what is posted in a forum, is previously agreed (at least the general line, not every word) in a meeting or so (in the 10 companies I've worked at, is what I experienced). So, if u see more of patrick's posts, I'd consider that a good percentage of that is merely the company position on the matter (dunno if he's officially in charge of taking the heat and punches, seems like that), not the individual opinion (well, in the matters when they make it explicit, or in which you can read between the lines that is the agreed answer).
I got the idea of posting the below, as you say that the 1 posters new users that come here to "leave a vote", are not aware of the previous comments in this very thread (and don't dare to read them, but yep are ready to post... :? ) ...let alone do a simple search about the matter... But hey, to collect some here. Consider many are so old that the company might have a different position in some details. And while it might be helpful for some newcomers right now, this one will also get sunk for ever, too. So...
This one suggesting to get Windows if not considering a Mac (as the company also offers Windows versions)
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/626-affinity-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=131837
this one explains it with a metaphor, but you can read all into that, no need for more. And is from early 2017 (you -redsandro- indeed have been posting about this since 2016 (tells me that prolly you've read most of the company's answers). But only now I see you finally discarding the possibility (or so it reads, I don't know).
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/626-affinity-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=180965
This one is essential. Mostly tells you how really aware is Serif about the matter.
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/626-affinity-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=387979
Indirectly, quite revealing :
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/626-affinity-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=395481
Probably the most relevant and recent one:
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/626-affinity-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=463301
This clarifies definitely a particular matter :
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/626-affinity-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=465313
In the other thread (but there have been many more threads, but people do not care to make a search, this is not like the linux mates I remember...) , the most relevant :
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/47502-affinity-products-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=460568
This one doesn't go in the line of denying its implementation or not. But we should consider that, as mentioned above, these threads last years, as Serif is not censorship loving, even when many posts are filled with direct attacks to the company. So, opinions, and the company take at it could have evolved, as situation changes. (and I mean, after all the negativity, they might be less inclined for it. I don't wish it to be so, though )
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/47502-affinity-products-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=273998
This one is extremely verbose, clarifying, and "abundant" in my book. Again, could or could not apply for today's company position. And he cares to add in this one "in my opinion" :
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/47502-affinity-products-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=292916
This, in very direct language clarifies that it is not the technical issues :
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/47502-affinity-products-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=309134
This one I was not going to link here, as we all (including Serif) know that really, the many distributions now is not a problem in linux, but...the following clarifies one of the questions (and many others have also been replied, repeatedly) you were saying that are not being addressed : "The lack of competition on Linux is a big plus true, but that does not in itself mean it is an attractive option for us right now."
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/47502-affinity-products-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=310100
A very neutral post below (yet you can read between the lines... I mean, even I can, so.... )
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/47502-affinity-products-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=333870
In this one demonstrates that how some of their data tells them that the users through certain sources, are caring more about other matters than a Linux version :
 

The one I mentioned before, which they have posted (not only patrick) so many times:
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/47502-affinity-products-for-linux/&do=findComment&comment=460568
Another thread... (this time, MEB ). Shows you how they were very aware of it, and already a bit tired (maybe) of answering it:
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/3353-linux-seriously-now/&do=findComment&comment=12572
This one from another member (quite an active developer), explains a bit about technical matters (BUT...is from 2014!), but also mentions the money issue :
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/3353-linux-seriously-now/&do=findComment&comment=12584
Another answer from another staff member (another very busy programmer, yet kind to answer):
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/3353-linux-seriously-now/&do=findComment&comment=12601
[omitted a follow-up from him, as you might not appreciate this people's irony... I do.... I kindda like British humor... )  ]
The one of the 500k, which I suspected that it was a bit of a joke or random post... confirmed recently... (IMO!)
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/3353-linux-seriously-now/&do=findComment&comment=12753
In this one I realize Tony said a random number MAYBE just to speak about some (any) money-up-front proof that the community would be willing to put, to put their money where their mouth is . So, yeah, maybe not to read too much into that number. As I stated before, it does not grant in any way sustainability, just an initial moment, neither other expenses that come besides the salaries (that's only a part of what a company has to pay)
 
Totally OT, but a post which throws a light on their position about posting competitors (ie, the one you mentioned there), that is, actual competitors, of course. Is indeed the one I was remembering in my recent post. They have a ton of patience, for everything:
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/3353-linux-seriously-now/&do=findComment&comment=140209
Directly that they don't have "apetite" for a KS at this time (back then, surely neither now)
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/3353-linux-seriously-now/&do=findComment&comment=165006
This one clarifies important aspects, while I am yet seeing complaints about those not being addressed. Not true, they have, they also explain how is not a single issue, but many:
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/3353-linux-seriously-now/&do=findComment&comment=276491
While I'm not pasting the ones that were pure moderation work (or off topic, or just light irony), this one puts a take about the choice of OS. And I quite agree with  that... One must decide well when choosing an OS, and is responsible of that. And I'd add: And use whatever allows you to get the job done, as that is the most important thing (to survive, at least) or at least should be the take of a professional.
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/3353-linux-seriously-now/&do=findComment&comment=302452
In another thread :
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/72023-linux-support/&do=findComment&comment=374324

The amount of threads asking this would have ended with a sticky thread with the main rule of banning any thread asking for it, in other company's forum, but they don't do that. They don't even close these threads (while they have closed threads about other matters and complaints, although very rarely ). As a proof :
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/tags/linux/

Given the situation, I totally understand if they prefer to dedicate time to production and fixing bugs rather than answering _again_  5 year old threads. They have already given their answer, even if you don't like which it is.
Also, they have no moral obligation to do a Linux version. Neither to give you an expanded explanation. Not even if you purchased a Windows or Mac, or iPad version. You purchased that version, not a linux one. Is the same when someone complaints about a lacking feature. I have asked for features. I have not complained nor "required" those to be implemented. I wouldn't have any right. Like everyone else, I downloaded the demo, tested, estimated if I could use it, and there I could be right or wrong, but is all on me.
So, in light of that, you can't, have no right to require the exact answer or longer explanation that you would like to hear. They owe you nothing, there's no moral obligation from them. So the complaint tone is what is imo out of place. The dialogue, and seduction about Linux possibilities, totally fine (although imo, having read so many times that they have not interest in that, even a nice tone there is a bit rude. Is like : 
Me: Sir, would you like a tea?
Some random dude: Er... No, thank you very much.
Me: I think you need a tea. The world would be better if you drink a tea, right now.
The dude : Er... your kindness is overwhelming, but no, thank you. I appreciate it.
Me: Are you SERIOUSLY declining my offer of a cup of tea ????!!
The exhausted dude:  ....
Me: WHAT??? You DON'T answer me now??? You dare to ignore me??? Drink this$%!! cup of tea, NOW!. You OWE it to me.
And so ad infinitum....
I'd LOVE a Linux version, but whenever emerges some solid data that would be profitable for the (not a single solid data in the bazillion posts I've read in years) company, and heck, they feel as going for it, is their project.
Because I love Linux and its freedom. I am indeed very, very nostalgic of the old Linux community kindness. For most of it, I declare it gone, lost with the dust of the years....  

PD: Is not "aggressive" to have a different opinion (that's yet another attempt to try to shut other people's voice. Hidden censorship). Neither to provide with reasons and data. Probably you only refer to the most rude attacks, but... just in case you refer to any kind of opposition to a point of view.
PD 2 : Sorry for the links that went "graphic mode" by their own will. Seems is triggered even with a space bar tap. Even if I ctrl+z -ed every each of them.
PD: 3 : This post is not directed to you, Redsandro, it's a post thrown to the void. But you gave me the idea, when I read from you that newcomers (can't read prev pages? Or search? It's a must in every forum) are in disadvantage as don't know if the company have answered about this. Well, here's some links pasted with those answers.

In response to this, and also for Linux users that mention using GIMP as much as possible so they don't have to boot Windows: You can also try the multi platform Polarr Photo Editor (Basic version is free, full version is $24 per year).
It's available on Snapcraft, and as you can see on the statistics this snap is used on Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, KDE Neon, Elementary OS, Fedora, Debian, Deepin, Manjaro, Parrot PS and Arch Linux. Maybe more.
While it doesn't compare to Affinity Photo or Adobe Photoshop by a long shot (so I think in light of this discussion it's okay for me to mention this app, and if not, moderators should feel free to remove this post), it does have pretty descent RAW photo support and might make a hobbyist happy for being able to do quick photo series while on holiday or something.
Also available for Android tablets and Chromebooks (and of course Windows).
"Anyone can argue that if what we’re doing is not making money, then it’s probably not worth doing anyway. Fortunately, we see a large number of people who are willing to pay, and we believe Polarr does have a product-market fit in the photo enthusiast community."
Especially when they work offline too, and can be installed as a stand-alone app. I believe Polarr is an Electron app.

Because people are curious? If you see a car that looks cool, would you not go for a ride in it (if given the chance) just because it doesn't have cup holders?
 
I wouldn't say people are complaining that they don't support Linux, people are complaining because they are given a straight answer without any arguments to back it up (they don't necessarily need to back them up, it's their property we're talking about). People are frustrated that they aren't given a choice to have a proper argument. If there are people who just complain that they want a Linux version and they want it fast, sure, that's petty, but most people here who argue for a Linux version already have Linux in mind for different reasons (ease of setting up different stuff, UX, UI, the openness of the platform). 
 
That is a fair argument, however people here are rooting for Serif to win another fight against Adobe and have the first professional level design software available on Linux and I have to somewhat share their sentiment a bit. When all you see is reasons serif *should* have a Linux port and they don't even make the pre-existing stuff compatible with stuff like WINE nor do they give a public statement (even something like "we've noticed the growth of the Linux platform, however we're a small company, we can't afford to the business venture a Linux port would be when we have all of this other stuff to work on") then you do get a bit frustrated. This is turning into an echo chamber, with people talking to a wall who keep raising their voice, just in case the wall might hear them and reply (weird af analogy I know but bear with me) 

I shared their concern at first moments. Is not hate for linux (perhaps with some exceptions, but I'd use the word disaffection, as hating a piece of software is kindda silly) . Is an almost certainty about the matter of a small staff having to divert resources,, dev hours to yet another fronts. Prolly the most vocal about it are people that have been a long time crying for a feature (tga format, dxf support, arrow heads(now added to 1.7), better RAWs performance, warp in designer, etc). They have some reasons to believe it'd slow more the apps' dev. Or that's what I suspect many think. 
Me... I don't care anymore, as I'm used to figure out what's missing with other apps used as companion tools, or generate my self creative workflows as a workaround inside each app. I'm more worried about performance and stability, but those are a must for every commercial app, so, why would I request that when I know it's already their main priority, or among the highest priorities. But I can understand the feeling of users that have even their studio, small business already involved, it's their income, workflows already with those files, with Affinity. Not just that they would like an extra tool (coming from someone who thinks that the current linux graphic FOSS apps are highly underrated) for their personal favorite OS. If that's a thing.
I believe these latest statements give too much credit to the non-linux-version crowd's "influence" (which is most probably zero). I have seen how the company is quite independent in all its actions, and not weak under pressure. I suspect is merely a business decision, running the numbers. It would be very simplistic to think a very limited number of individuals (actually in one  party or the other, these are ridiculous numbers for a business decision) in a forum would affect that way an entire company (with experts, investors...).
Again (and I don't buy them having that fear of linux users mounting a competitor -they have already strong, matured competitors in the Windows an Mac market, too, and I can feel even so Affinity is winning-, as Linux's community has had that chance for very long, with Photoshop as the king, and all they did was Gimp, which my nerd part loves, but has been all what was produced of some strength in 16 years!), I'm afraid I don't see it like that. Besides that would mean making several assumptions (and we can't know about those) I think is more a case of : "who knows what will bring the future". Tech (and software's market) has become almost unpredictable and some things are coming sooner than we thought (others never happened, maybe never will). So, that sounds to me as not willing to close a door and then be quoted for it. As is not an easy guess. I read it as : The company has no plans for it, and surely is all about just reasonable doubts about it being a good ratio of income/expenses. I doubt a (at times) childish conflict in a forum would affect things of that level of importance...

I'm sorry, but you can't offer this circulus in demonstrando. Once users started to organize a crowd funding campaign that would definitely prove or disprove whether or not there would be enough demand to recoup the costs, Affinity informed us that they would not do a Linux version even if the goal would be reached, effectively stopping the community initiative from definitively probing the demand.
The result is two-fold. One, we haven't proven demand. But more importantly, you can't argue that we can't prove demand after stopping attempts to do just that.
So yes, it is my view and the view of some of my peers that Serif is actively stifling serious attempts to probe demand. If this perception is wrong, it could be beneficial in a PR sense to write an official statement or semiofficial blog post as suggested before.
This is a classic argumentum ad hominem. I see you do that a lot. There was nothing remotely zealous about my post. Obviously, I'm not inciting a rebellious movement. I'm telling people that further proceedings have lost practical significance, which is basically the opposite of an uncompromising pursuit. Your relentless anti-Linux propaganda stream of logical fallacies over the past year or so (Why? To what end?) have more in common with the definition of a zealot, so I think you are projecting.
They have not done so back when I was in this discussion, two odd years or so ago. So I think "very clearly and openly" is quite a flattering way of saying that someone wrote a comment somewhere between the thousands of posts on this forum. I believe the fact that the "idea" to crowdfund keeps popping up proofs this. People suggesting this weren't there when it almost happened and was shot down. This is why I believe a written blog post or verbose official statement would be a good idea. Everyone can just point to the article and the circular discussion is over.
 

I'm sorry, but you can't offer this circulus in demonstrando. Once users started to organize a crowd funding campaign that would definitely prove or disprove whether or not there would be enough demand to recoup the costs, Affinity informed us that they would not do a Linux version even if the goal would be reached, effectively stopping the community initiative from definitively probing the demand.
The result is two-fold. One, we haven't proven demand. But more importantly, you can't argue that we can't prove demand after stopping attempts to do just that.
So yes, it is my view and the view of some of my peers that Serif is actively stifling serious attempts to probe demand. If this perception is wrong, it could be beneficial in a PR sense to write an official statement or semiofficial blog post as suggested before.
This is a classic argumentum ad hominem. I see you do that a lot. There was nothing remotely zealous about my post. Obviously, I'm not inciting a rebellious movement. I'm telling people that further proceedings have lost practical significance, which is basically the opposite of an uncompromising pursuit. Your relentless anti-Linux propaganda stream of logical fallacies over the past year or so (Why? To what end?) have more in common with the definition of a zealot, so I think you are projecting.
They have not done so back when I was in this discussion, two odd years or so ago. So I think "very clearly and openly" is quite a flattering way of saying that someone wrote a comment somewhere between the thousands of posts on this forum. I believe the fact that the "idea" to crowdfund keeps popping up proofs this. People suggesting this weren't there when it almost happened and was shot down. This is why I believe a written blog post or verbose official statement would be a good idea. Everyone can just point to the article and the circular discussion is over.
 

Dear @kleber.swf and others,
I understand the frustration. First, Serif said: We would need to be confident that we'd recoup a certain amount of cost. Then the community said: Okay. We will crowdsource that amount. Some folks started preparing a campaign, and Serif was quick to respond: Please don't do it. Even if you raise the money, we decided not to do it.
I also understand the frustration about their lack of oppenness to the community. First they giveth (a set of rules that would make a Linux version possible) then taketh away. And they don't communicate their rationale.
With the immense performance boost of WINE/Linux in recent years, and the compatibility with many triple A titles, people wonder why Affinity products have some secret sause that causes them not to work with WINE. Because WINE-compatibility would seem like a descent middle-ground loved and appreciated by Linux users. I haven't been able to get a comment about that.
While a forthcoming and verbose blog or article from Affinity/Serif to their Linux fanbase - who are often paying customers with a Windows license - about their rationale and answers to the questions about the change of heart and WINE problems would surely make those community members fall in love, Serif is taking a different approach of mostly ignoring the demand except for the occasional sneer that we can't just demand a Linux version. And they are right.
So that's it. We feel like it would make sense to build a Linux version. And with people saying that the core is basically platform independent so 'only' the UI would need to be ported to Linux, it feels closer than ever. But it's not going to happen. Serif has decided. They are not the Linux heros some of us hoped. Let's stop promoting Affinity among our colleagues as Adobe killer, and wait for something more inclusive to come along.
All you can do is go to the posts where some of the staff summarize their position and click thanks -> sad face on the bottom right to document your point of view in numbers.

 

Dear @kleber.swf and others,
I understand the frustration. First, Serif said: We would need to be confident that we'd recoup a certain amount of cost. Then the community said: Okay. We will crowdsource that amount. Some folks started preparing a campaign, and Serif was quick to respond: Please don't do it. Even if you raise the money, we decided not to do it.
I also understand the frustration about their lack of oppenness to the community. First they giveth (a set of rules that would make a Linux version possible) then taketh away. And they don't communicate their rationale.
With the immense performance boost of WINE/Linux in recent years, and the compatibility with many triple A titles, people wonder why Affinity products have some secret sause that causes them not to work with WINE. Because WINE-compatibility would seem like a descent middle-ground loved and appreciated by Linux users. I haven't been able to get a comment about that.
While a forthcoming and verbose blog or article from Affinity/Serif to their Linux fanbase - who are often paying customers with a Windows license - about their rationale and answers to the questions about the change of heart and WINE problems would surely make those community members fall in love, Serif is taking a different approach of mostly ignoring the demand except for the occasional sneer that we can't just demand a Linux version. And they are right.
So that's it. We feel like it would make sense to build a Linux version. And with people saying that the core is basically platform independent so 'only' the UI would need to be ported to Linux, it feels closer than ever. But it's not going to happen. Serif has decided. They are not the Linux heros some of us hoped. Let's stop promoting Affinity among our colleagues as Adobe killer, and wait for something more inclusive to come along.
All you can do is go to the posts where some of the staff summarize their position and click thanks -> sad face on the bottom right to document your point of view in numbers.

 

It's actually weird to me that Affinity supports Windows over Linux.
Not only is OSX a unix-like operating system making the base level application architecture closer, but Linux is absolutely starving for modern design tools, while Windows is saturated.
So from a market perspective, Serif is intentionally choosing to be a little fish in a giant pond, instead of the other way around.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sorry, but we currently have no plans to release on Linux

My colleague is using PS CC 2018 in Linux. Claims it works fine. 
With the new Wine 4.0, Adobe Photoshop CC 2018 seems to work on Fedora (Silver), Ubuntu (Bronze) and OpenSuse (Platinum):
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=36206&iTestingId=104933
On Wine 3, it can be done but requires some work:
https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/7ql4kl/the_screenshots_of_photoshop_cc_2018_64bit_on/
I have not tested this myself. I unsubscribed from Adobe CC years ago because I am not using it enough to warrant a fulltime fee each month. I'm following the developments with interest though, because as we all (some) know, the first software that works fine across distro's without the need to do a lot of workarounds will win the Linux market share. (Unless it's Adobe CC because that's simply too expensive for freelancers that won't use it fulltime.)

It's an interesting question and I guess that we can't convince anyone with more than an educated guess type prediction that just might be as wrong as European Central Bank predictions for bank sustainability have proven to be wrong as often as not, even though they are made up by some of the most well-paid banking professionals.
What I personally believe is that Linux users - not everyone but generalized - are among the most creative people with a well weighed and tried preference and requirement profile that ended them up using Linux. There are also insanely creative people using Windows. However I'm making a generalization to show why I'm thinking this way, in case you're interested. People use Windows by default. Sociology student, history teacher, lawyer (working with scanned-in documents, it's crazy. But that's a different story. I talk to a lot of people on train commutes.) Most people stick to Windows, some try Mac OS. Of them, most stick to Mac OS, but some still not satisfied in need of more control move to Linux.
I mean, I know a huge amount of Windows users that just write a document, or play bejeweld or cards. See someone using a Windows laptop and talk to them. I'm pretty sure saying 1 in 10 is a creator (creative person working on some form of interesting media project) is very optimistic. But when you encounter a random MacOS user, odds are they are a creator. Maybe 4 out of 10 times when you ask what they do, turns out they are a creator, working on some interesting media project. However, when you see a Linux user on the train - which happens approximately 2.78% of the time - and you talk them, there is like a 10 to 1 chance that they are doing something extremely cool. Make music, work on a short animated movie, do some color grading or work on gaming mods.
I admit this is all anecdotal, but I meet a lot of people so for me my educated guess on the market is more like so, very rough rounded subjective numbers so I can estimate:
Desktop OS Market Creators Share Weighed ---------- ------ -------- ----- ------- Windows 80% 10% 8% 45% Mac OS 17.5% 40% 7% 40% Linux 2.5% 90% 2.25% 15% ----- + 100% The pickiness, refined opinion and philosophy that characterize Linux users will lead others to believe they are zealots - After all, Apple markets scarcity of choice because they target an audience that prefers it, while Linux is popularized by their abundance of choice, so naturally these people won't easily see eye to eye - but I know that sketching Linux users as zero-creative freeloaders is not a fair generalization. I would guesstimate on the opposite.
Referencing the guesstimated numbers above, if you humor me and see it could be plausible, here is the extra bacon: Windows and MacOS market are saturated. You need to steal market share from some other software. On Linux you'd be the first. There are no quality competitors. Yet. The creative market share is smaller, but the share is there for the grabbing. You don't have to fight for it. The users are begging you to sell them something.

It's an interesting question and I guess that we can't convince anyone with more than an educated guess type prediction that just might be as wrong as European Central Bank predictions for bank sustainability have proven to be wrong as often as not, even though they are made up by some of the most well-paid banking professionals.
What I personally believe is that Linux users - not everyone but generalized - are among the most creative people with a well weighed and tried preference and requirement profile that ended them up using Linux. There are also insanely creative people using Windows. However I'm making a generalization to show why I'm thinking this way, in case you're interested. People use Windows by default. Sociology student, history teacher, lawyer (working with scanned-in documents, it's crazy. But that's a different story. I talk to a lot of people on train commutes.) Most people stick to Windows, some try Mac OS. Of them, most stick to Mac OS, but some still not satisfied in need of more control move to Linux.
I mean, I know a huge amount of Windows users that just write a document, or play bejeweld or cards. See someone using a Windows laptop and talk to them. I'm pretty sure saying 1 in 10 is a creator (creative person working on some form of interesting media project) is very optimistic. But when you encounter a random MacOS user, odds are they are a creator. Maybe 4 out of 10 times when you ask what they do, turns out they are a creator, working on some interesting media project. However, when you see a Linux user on the train - which happens approximately 2.78% of the time - and you talk them, there is like a 10 to 1 chance that they are doing something extremely cool. Make music, work on a short animated movie, do some color grading or work on gaming mods.
I admit this is all anecdotal, but I meet a lot of people so for me my educated guess on the market is more like so, very rough rounded subjective numbers so I can estimate:
Desktop OS Market Creators Share Weighed ---------- ------ -------- ----- ------- Windows 80% 10% 8% 45% Mac OS 17.5% 40% 7% 40% Linux 2.5% 90% 2.25% 15% ----- + 100% The pickiness, refined opinion and philosophy that characterize Linux users will lead others to believe they are zealots - After all, Apple markets scarcity of choice because they target an audience that prefers it, while Linux is popularized by their abundance of choice, so naturally these people won't easily see eye to eye - but I know that sketching Linux users as zero-creative freeloaders is not a fair generalization. I would guesstimate on the opposite.
Referencing the guesstimated numbers above, if you humor me and see it could be plausible, here is the extra bacon: Windows and MacOS market are saturated. You need to steal market share from some other software. On Linux you'd be the first. There are no quality competitors. Yet. The creative market share is smaller, but the share is there for the grabbing. You don't have to fight for it. The users are begging you to sell them something.

It's an interesting question and I guess that we can't convince anyone with more than an educated guess type prediction that just might be as wrong as European Central Bank predictions for bank sustainability have proven to be wrong as often as not, even though they are made up by some of the most well-paid banking professionals.
What I personally believe is that Linux users - not everyone but generalized - are among the most creative people with a well weighed and tried preference and requirement profile that ended them up using Linux. There are also insanely creative people using Windows. However I'm making a generalization to show why I'm thinking this way, in case you're interested. People use Windows by default. Sociology student, history teacher, lawyer (working with scanned-in documents, it's crazy. But that's a different story. I talk to a lot of people on train commutes.) Most people stick to Windows, some try Mac OS. Of them, most stick to Mac OS, but some still not satisfied in need of more control move to Linux.
I mean, I know a huge amount of Windows users that just write a document, or play bejeweld or cards. See someone using a Windows laptop and talk to them. I'm pretty sure saying 1 in 10 is a creator (creative person working on some form of interesting media project) is very optimistic. But when you encounter a random MacOS user, odds are they are a creator. Maybe 4 out of 10 times when you ask what they do, turns out they are a creator, working on some interesting media project. However, when you see a Linux user on the train - which happens approximately 2.78% of the time - and you talk them, there is like a 10 to 1 chance that they are doing something extremely cool. Make music, work on a short animated movie, do some color grading or work on gaming mods.
I admit this is all anecdotal, but I meet a lot of people so for me my educated guess on the market is more like so, very rough rounded subjective numbers so I can estimate:
Desktop OS Market Creators Share Weighed ---------- ------ -------- ----- ------- Windows 80% 10% 8% 45% Mac OS 17.5% 40% 7% 40% Linux 2.5% 90% 2.25% 15% ----- + 100% The pickiness, refined opinion and philosophy that characterize Linux users will lead others to believe they are zealots - After all, Apple markets scarcity of choice because they target an audience that prefers it, while Linux is popularized by their abundance of choice, so naturally these people won't easily see eye to eye - but I know that sketching Linux users as zero-creative freeloaders is not a fair generalization. I would guesstimate on the opposite.
Referencing the guesstimated numbers above, if you humor me and see it could be plausible, here is the extra bacon: Windows and MacOS market are saturated. You need to steal market share from some other software. On Linux you'd be the first. There are no quality competitors. Yet. The creative market share is smaller, but the share is there for the grabbing. You don't have to fight for it. The users are begging you to sell them something.

I believe the question is valid, but this answer is your guess. It literally hasn't been explored yet.
Affinity has said that it is possible and they can do it and it would be interesting if the $500,000 point would be reached. But when we were "going to find out" through crowd campaign, they thought about it and decided did not want to do it, but rather keep the team as it is. Maybe in the future, but not in the near future.
It does not mean there is no market. It means it was not within their vision. I think we can safely say there is a lot of professional creative users on Linux. I know there are commercial audio production and DAW software with Linux versions. I don't know a lot of them because it's not my area, but there's Tracktion (added Linux support since version 4) and Harrison Mixbus.
For cartoons there are some commercial options. I guess TVPaint Animation Pro is the most famous. Then there is a lot of commercial video software, like LightWorks, DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagic Fusion, Nuke and the Autodesk series (flint/smoke/fire/inferno).
And finally the heavy stuff not for the small business or hobbyist, like Houdini, MASSIVE, and Maya). Competition is strong, even with the high quality FOSS alternative Blender.
The only thing that just isn't there is quality Photo and Vector editing software. I don't think the aforementioned anecdotal evidence subscribes to the idea of lack of creative market on Linux. It can be interesting for multiple reasons. Unexpected market due to being the first. I just think that you're underestimating the market. I accept that you think that I am overestimating the market. But the thing is, we both don't know. Just saying there is or is not a market is an argument without value to the other side, so I think the market discussion is exhausted after 17 pages of repeating ourselves to each other.

You are correct that the Linux market share is the smallest. Looking at the numbers from december last year, Linux has a desktop market share of 2.78%. It's a fraction. However, if you compare it to the MacOS desktop market share of december last year, you see that it is 10.65%. So if MacOS is an interesting market, just be advised that Linux is ~25% their size. Now it's no longer a fraction. It's a quarter.
Besides, I believe the Affinity team has explained that their products consist of one bigger easily portable multi-platform "server" component, and one smaller platform-specific GUI/UX component. Only the latter would need to be ported. They roughly estimated that developing the GUI/UX component for Linux would cost $500,000. When a more serious initiative was started to crowdsource these funds, Affinity decided that they did not want to grow the team for that purpose, but rather focus on the two GUI/UX components they are developing right now (for Windows/OSX). This is a choice and their prerogative, but it was not stated or insinuated that it was because of money.
Corel AfterShot Pro had the same choice. Starting from Corel AfterShot Pro 2, they did port their software to Linux. AfterShot Pro 3 is available for two distro's (rpm based and deb based). I don't know if people from the industry ever run into each other, but perhaps Affinity can ask some Corel folks if it was a good, bad or neutral move, and if they sold more than 3 copies.

I believe the question is valid, but this answer is your guess. It literally hasn't been explored yet.
Affinity has said that it is possible and they can do it and it would be interesting if the $500,000 point would be reached. But when we were "going to find out" through crowd campaign, they thought about it and decided did not want to do it, but rather keep the team as it is. Maybe in the future, but not in the near future.
It does not mean there is no market. It means it was not within their vision. I think we can safely say there is a lot of professional creative users on Linux. I know there are commercial audio production and DAW software with Linux versions. I don't know a lot of them because it's not my area, but there's Tracktion (added Linux support since version 4) and Harrison Mixbus.
For cartoons there are some commercial options. I guess TVPaint Animation Pro is the most famous. Then there is a lot of commercial video software, like LightWorks, DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagic Fusion, Nuke and the Autodesk series (flint/smoke/fire/inferno).
And finally the heavy stuff not for the small business or hobbyist, like Houdini, MASSIVE, and Maya). Competition is strong, even with the high quality FOSS alternative Blender.
The only thing that just isn't there is quality Photo and Vector editing software. I don't think the aforementioned anecdotal evidence subscribes to the idea of lack of creative market on Linux. It can be interesting for multiple reasons. Unexpected market due to being the first. I just think that you're underestimating the market. I accept that you think that I am overestimating the market. But the thing is, we both don't know. Just saying there is or is not a market is an argument without value to the other side, so I think the market discussion is exhausted after 17 pages of repeating ourselves to each other.

I wonder if Microsoft paid Affinity $500,000 to not make a Linux version.
For a lot of people, Windows is literally one piece of software away from being irrelevant.