About Varve

Why Varve exists

Linux users deserve a native design suite. Every creator deserves to own their files. Varve was built for people who need local documents they can open during an outage and one application for vector, layout, typography, motion, and print. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with no account and no recurring cost.

Source-available, developed on GitHub

Varve is developed independently by one designer-developer, without VC pressure or corporate compromise. Source code, issues and release notes are on GitHub. Community input influences priorities. This independence means decisions are made for users rather than shareholders.

The vision

Design tools shouldn't require cloud subscriptions, data lock-in, or compromise on privacy. Varve is built on the belief that local-first architecture, native desktop apps, and honest licensing can coexist with professional features and modern workflows.

Development philosophy

• Technical depth over marketing fluff: Features are built when they work, not when they sound good in marketing copy
• Honest limitations: What's not implemented is clearly labeled as "in development" or "types only"
• Transparent roadmap: Public planning documents, open development process, community input on priorities
• Quality gates: All changes must pass format, lint, typecheck, test, token audit, and emoji audit gates
• Documentation-first: Architecture decisions, audits, and plans are documented as they're made

FSL-1.1-MIT licensing

Varve is licensed under the Functional Source License, Version 1.1, MIT Future License (FSL-1.1-MIT). The source code is publicly available. FSL-1.1-MIT allows free use, modification, and redistribution for any Permitted Purpose (everything other than a Competing Use, such as offering a substitute product or service). Commercial redistribution as a competing product or hosted service requires a separate licence.

After two years from each release, that release's code automatically converts to the MIT licence. This ensures that if the project ever ceases development, that code is available under the MIT licence.

Privacy policy

Varve does not track users across sites or require cloud accounts. Optional website and browser-demo analytics use GoatCounter only after you click Allow, with no cookies or fingerprinting, and never anything about the design. The desktop app sends no usage stats. The application keeps design data local.

Security policy

Security vulnerabilities can be reported privately via GitHub Private Vulnerability Reporting or security@varve.studio. The project follows coordinated disclosure practices.

How Varve is built

Development uses reviewed AI coding assistants: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Devin, opencode, and Windsurf. AI co-author tags were removed from git history with git-filter-repo. AI features are on by default, run on your device with no Varve AI server, and can be turned off in Settings.