3.8k
Stars
377
Forks
227
Open issues
30
Contributors
AI Analysis
Pinta is a cross-platform GTK-based paint program inspired by Paint.NET 3.0, offering drawing and image editing capabilities for Linux, Windows, and macOS. It serves users seeking a lightweight desktop painting application with a familiar UI model. Best suited for casual artists and users who prefer a simpler alternative to GIMP.
Inferred from signals mentioned in the README (tests, CI, type safety) — not a review of the actual code.
AI's overall editorial judgment — not an average of the bars above, can weigh other factors too.
GTK paint editor with Paint.NET-inspired interface, cross-platform but modest adoption
Pinta is a C# desktop paint application targeting Linux, Windows, and macOS. It replicates the interface and core toolset of Paint.NET 3.0 within the GTK ecosystem. The project appears to serve users who prefer lightweight, open-source raster drawing tools on Linux and want familiar Paint.NET workflows. Adoption evidence is limited; the project maintains a stable but modest user base primarily through Flathub and Snap distributions. It is actively maintained as of July 2026 but shows no signs of rapid growth.
Pinta was created in 2011 as a GTK clone of Paint.NET 3.0, aiming to bring Paint.NET's UI paradigm to Linux desktops. Development has been consistent but incremental over 15 years, with the project transitioning from Gtk# to modern GTK4 and .NET 10 as documented in recent builds.
The project achieved modest early adoption around 2011–2015 as a Paint.NET alternative for Linux users. Growth appears flat since then, with 3,807 GitHub stars accumulated over 15 years and zero net new stars in the trailing 7 days (as of 2026-07-10). Recent activity (push date matching analysis date) indicates ongoing maintenance rather than acceleration. Distribution via Flathub and Snap suggests user acquisition through packaging ecosystems rather than viral adoption.
Adoption not verified. The project is distributed via Flathub and Snap Store, indicating some user accessibility, but no download counts, user surveys, or production case studies are referenced. No explicit mention of corporate or organizational deployment. Translation efforts via Weblate suggest a community, but scale is unknown.
Likely a C# application using GTK4 bindings via GtkSharp, deployed via .NET runtime. Based on README, the codebase references Paint.NET 3.36 code licensed under MIT and integrates icon sets from multiple sources. Architecture appears modular enough to support plugins (mentioned in patch guidelines), though details are not documented in the README excerpt.
Not documented in README
Push timestamp of 2026-07-10 indicates active development or maintenance as of the analysis date. Build status badge suggests CI/CD infrastructure is operational. Issue and discussion channels are referenced as active support mechanisms. However, zero stars in trailing 7 days and stable commit frequency suggest maintenance mode rather than feature-driven development cycle.
ADOPT IF: You are a Linux/macOS user seeking a lightweight, simple, offline paint editor with a Paint.NET-like interface and do not require advanced layer management, color grading, or plugin ecosystems. You prefer a small, stable tool over a feature-maximizing platform. AVOID IF: You require professional-grade raster editing (layer groups, masks, blending modes, non-destructive workflows), active plugin ecosystem, tablet pressure sensitivity, or expect rapid feature addition. MONITOR IF: You are evaluating GTK4 adoption on Linux desktops or seeking alternatives to web-based editing tools with strong privacy properties; Pinta's GTK4 modernization and cross-platform .NET approach may indicate broader Linux desktop tooling trends.
Independent dimensions
Mainstream potential
2/10
Technical importance
4/10
Adoption evidence
3/10
- Adoption concentration: No evidence of institutional or commercial use; primarily a hobbyist/enthusiast tool reliant on community volunteers.
- GTK4 migration risk: Recent rewrite to GTK4 and .NET 10 (per README) represents a significant maintenance burden; if maintainer availability drops, platform support could lag.
- Feature stagnation: Zero momentum in trailing 7-day stars and flat 15-year growth trajectory suggest limited capacity for feature expansion; may fall further behind GIMP and Krita over time.
- Platform fragmentation: Reliance on .NET runtime, GTK4, and webp-pixbuf-loader creates complex cross-platform build and deployment requirements; breakage on platform updates could strand users.
- Niche market: Paint.NET ecosystem is primarily Windows; Pinta's primary value (cross-platform Paint.NET clone) is inherently limited to non-Windows users already comfortable with Paint.NET workflows.
Pinta will likely remain a stable, low-adoption tool serving Linux desktops for casual image editing. No evidence suggests acceleration toward mainstream adoption. Most probable trajectory: continued incremental maintenance, slow decline as GIMP and Krita improve accessibility, eventual transition to community-only maintenance if primary maintainers leave.
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Languages
Information
- Website
- http://www.pinta-project.com/
- Language
- C#
- License
- MIT
- Last updated
- 9h ago
- Created
- 181mo ago
- Analyzed with
- anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5
Stars over time
Contributors over time
Top 100 contributors only — repos with more will plateau at 100.
Open issues
Unable to delete layers.
Cannot read a file from other disk when 'drag and drop' on Linux
Index was out of range
Pinta can open but can't save as JPEG XL (.jxl)
Wrap resize 4 angled selection, per corner handle.
Top contributors
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GIMP is far more feature-complete (non-destructive layers, color management, scripting) but heavier and has a steeper learning curve. Pinta targets users seeking simplicity at the cost of capability. GIMP dominates production and professional workflows; Pinta targets casual/lightweight editing.
Krita focuses on digital painting and illustration with tablet support. Pinta is a general-purpose raster editor. Krita has substantially larger adoption and community momentum; Pinta serves a narrower, less graphics-focused audience.
Pinta exists explicitly to replicate Paint.NET on platforms where Paint.NET (Windows-only) is unavailable. Paint.NET retains Windows mindshare. Pinta's value proposition is platform availability, not superiority.
Web-based editors reduce friction for casual users but lack offline capability and local control. Pinta serves users who prefer native desktop applications with guaranteed privacy and offline availability.
Aseprite targets pixel art and animation; Pinta is general raster editing. Different niches; Aseprite has higher commercial adoption in game dev. Minimal direct competition.
