Expect bugs and incomplete tools. The .varve document format may still change in ways that break older files. Keep backups of anything you care about. See known issues andrelease notes.

These builds are not code-signed

Varve does not yet have code-signing certificates, so your operating system cannot verify who built these files. That is a statement about this project's budget, not about the files — but you cannot tell the difference without checking, so please check.

Verify your download against the published checksum before running it:

sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS.txt

macOS: shasum -a 256 -c SHA256SUMS.txt · Windows PowerShell:Get-FileHash .\Varve-*.exe -Algorithm SHA256

Download SHA256SUMS.txt·Software bill of materials

A checksum detects corruption or a swapped file, but it does not prove who built the file — an attacker who can replace the download can replace the checksum too. Treat unsigned builds as unsigned, and prefer the GitHub release page as the download source.

Linux

SHA-256 + provenance Verified by SHA-256 checksum, SBOM and GitHub build provenance. Linux has no platform code-signing certificate.

Which package should I choose?

Linux has no single package format. Pick the one that matches your distro:

Distro family	Recommended format	Install command
Debian / Ubuntu / Mint / Pop!_OS	Debian package (.deb)	`sudo apt install ./Varve-*.deb`
Fedora / RHEL / Rocky / Alma	RPM package (.rpm)	`sudo dnf install ./Varve-*.rpm`
Arch / CachyOS / Manjaro	AppImage recommended	`chmod +x Varve-.AppImage && ./Varve-.AppImage`
openSUSE / SUSE	AppImage	`chmod +x Varve-.AppImage && ./Varve-.AppImage`
Other distros	AppImage universal	Same as above; or `--appimage-extract-and-run` if FUSE2 is unavailable

AppImage — a single portable file that runs on any distro without root or a package manager. This is the universal option and the recommended default for Arch, CachyOS, openSUSE, and other non-Debian/Fedora distros. Requires FUSE2 (or --appimage-extract-and-run) and the system WebKitGTK library.

Debian package (.deb) — installs system-wide and updates through apt. Pulls in the WebKitGTK dependency automatically. For Debian, Ubuntu, and derivatives.

RPM package (.rpm) — installs system-wide and updates through dnf. For Fedora, RHEL, and derivatives.

Arch/CachyOS PKGBUILD — avarve-desktop-bin PKGBUILD is in therepository. It extracts the AppImage at install time, providing proper.desktop file, icons, MIME types, and clean uninstall viapacman -R. No FUSE dependency. Build withmakepkg -si from the PKGBUILD directory.

Recommended

Portable file for Linux — no install, no root. Uses the system WebKitGTK libraries (same requirement as the .deb).

Download 40.5 MB

Intel/AMD 64-bit Varve-0.2.1-linux-x86_64.AppImage

chmod +x Varve-*.AppImage && ./Varve-*.AppImage

Note: Requires FUSE2 and a system WebKitGTK (libwebkit2gtk-4.1). On systems without FUSE2, run with --appimage-extract-and-run.

SHA-256 of Varve-0.2.1-linux-x86_64.AppImage

67f29114a33dd3d588c6750b03d16c814e3be6981cf04237e80dfc04d32367e5

Software bill of materials for this package

For Debian 12+ and Ubuntu 22.04+.

Download 49.9 MB

Intel/AMD 64-bit Varve-0.2.1-linux-x86_64.deb

sudo apt install ./Varve-*.deb

SHA-256 of Varve-0.2.1-linux-x86_64.deb

7291c8843aa0155b800f0a7651af8951114fb7481868c2b627c9cb23c3b70df7

Software bill of materials for this package

For Fedora and RHEL-based distributions.

Download 49.9 MB

Intel/AMD 64-bit Varve-0.2.1-linux-x86_64.rpm

sudo dnf install ./Varve-*.rpm

SHA-256 of Varve-0.2.1-linux-x86_64.rpm

2cda7bb0a4b0894401a70b434be57bd7087a793e15f872846a7c7689cb6b1857

Software bill of materials for this package

Recommended

Portable file for Linux — no install, no root. Uses the system WebKitGTK libraries (same requirement as the .deb).

Download 40.5 MB

ARM64 Varve-0.2.1-linux-aarch64.AppImage

chmod +x Varve-*.AppImage && ./Varve-*.AppImage

Note: Requires FUSE2 and a system WebKitGTK (libwebkit2gtk-4.1). On systems without FUSE2, run with --appimage-extract-and-run.

SHA-256 of Varve-0.2.1-linux-aarch64.AppImage

a5912c25129b5ad23a1d9959d9581dac5ab3ce9845ebd1af136a17cf91ce16ce

Software bill of materials for this package

For Debian 12+ and Ubuntu 22.04+.

Download 49.0 MB

ARM64 Varve-0.2.1-linux-aarch64.deb

sudo apt install ./Varve-*.deb

SHA-256 of Varve-0.2.1-linux-aarch64.deb

04a52411bf0a2b3ab9cc368b3d17c554b88cb17d179b3ecc784d3eb5bfe9b890

Software bill of materials for this package

For Fedora and RHEL-based distributions.

Download 49.0 MB

ARM64 Varve-0.2.1-linux-aarch64.rpm

sudo dnf install ./Varve-*.rpm

SHA-256 of Varve-0.2.1-linux-aarch64.rpm

159d8d6639a3ae0852147945136e2f9ab66203d4f8f50b99c985d7e1411ea7c7

Software bill of materials for this package

System requirements

OS: any distribution with glibc 2.35 or newer (Ubuntu 22.04+, Fedora 38+, Arch, CachyOS)
Libraries: WebKitGTK 4.1, GTK3, librsvg2, OpenSSL, fontconfig (DEB/RPM pull these in automatically; AppImage and PKGBUILD need them as system packages)
CPU: choose the download labeled x86_64 or ARM64 to match your Linux machine
RAM: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended
Display: Wayland or X11
Storage: 500 MB minimum free disk

macOS

Not code-signed Unsigned and not notarised: macOS will refuse to open it. Use System Settings > Privacy & Security > Open Anyway. Do not disable Gatekeeper.

Recommended

Apple Silicon.

Download 49.1 MB

ARM64 Varve-0.2.1-macos-aarch64.dmg

Open the .dmg and drag Varve to Applications

Note: Unsigned and not notarized: macOS will refuse to open it. Use System Settings > Privacy & Security > Open Anyway. Do not disable Gatekeeper.

SHA-256 of Varve-0.2.1-macos-aarch64.dmg

e6aa5748a49cec7263e1f59cd1e58193644cb61d232f9a0dcb96184ae4d15962

Software bill of materials for this package

System requirements

OS: macOS 13 Ventura or later
CPU: Apple Silicon only. There is no Intel macOS build — the on-device AI depends on ONNX Runtime, whose upstream discontinued macOS Intel binaries; see the FAQ for details.
RAM: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended
Storage: 500 MB minimum free disk

Windows

Not code-signed Unsigned build: Windows will show "Windows protected your PC". Choose More info, then Run anyway.

Recommended

Installs for the current user. No administrator rights needed.

Download 38.9 MB

Intel/AMD 64-bit Varve-0.2.1-windows-x86_64.exe

Run the downloaded .exe

Note: Unsigned: Windows will show "Windows protected your PC". Choose More info, then Run anyway.

SHA-256 of Varve-0.2.1-windows-x86_64.exe

812f9f589283ecbaf032748a5525b9fc589c52ba024bc603a6696bda528b329e

Software bill of materials for this package

Recommended

Installs for the current user. No administrator rights needed.

Download 37.6 MB

ARM64 Varve-0.2.1-windows-aarch64.exe

Run the downloaded .exe

Note: Unsigned: Windows will show "Windows protected your PC". Choose More info, then Run anyway.

SHA-256 of Varve-0.2.1-windows-aarch64.exe

e5fc2ffbeb54523f6a7b772561da2bed7945d619c069137cef120a7963b20a09

Software bill of materials for this package

System requirements

OS: Windows 10 (version 1809) or Windows 11
CPU: choose the download labeled x86_64 or ARM64 to match your Windows device
RAM: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended
Storage: 500 MB minimum free disk

This release

Version: 0.2.1

Released: 2026-08-25

Channel: Beta

Full release notes on GitHub

Keeping Varve up to date

Varve checks for updates only after you choose to allow it. On first launch you are asked whether Varve may periodically check for newer versions; you can change or revoke that choice at any time in Settings → Updates. Update checks send only your current version, platform, architecture and channel to Varve's release endpoint — no account, document data or device identifier.

Downloads are cryptographically verified against a signature embedded in the installed app before anything is installed, and Varve never restarts over unsaved design work.

AppImage: in-app automatic updates are temporarily unavailable in published builds due to a signing pipeline issue (see Updates guide). Download the new AppImage from the release page and replace the current file.
Windows (NSIS): updates install through the installer with a visible progress window, and installation happens only after your approval. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning for unsigned builds — choose More info, then Run anyway.
macOS: in-app updates are available for installed copies (drag the app from the DMG into Applications). If you are running Varve from a mounted DMG or a Gatekeeper-translocated copy, download the new DMG from the release page and replace your installed copy. macOS may block unsigned builds — use System Settings > Privacy & Security to allow it.
Debian / RPM packages: installed files are owned by your package manager. Varve does not overwrite them; use your package manager to install newer versions from the release page.

Updates are cryptographically signed and verified. Platform code-signing (Apple Developer ID, Windows Authenticode) is not yet provisioned — see the Updates guide for platform-specific details.

Read the full update and privacy guide.

After you install

Open the app.
- Linux (pick one):
  chmod +x Varve-*.AppImage && ./Varve-*.AppImagesudo apt install ./Varve-*.debsudo dnf install ./Varve-*.rpm
- macOS: Open the .dmg and drag Varve to Applications
- Windows: Run the downloaded .exe
First launch. Varve opens a welcome screen where you can start a new document, open a recent file, or load the sample document. If your operating system blocks the app (unsigned build), the platform notes above say exactly what to click — and verify the checksum first.
Make your first project. Open the sample poster document (a small .varve file showing a complete poster project), follow the first-project guide, or take the getting started tour.

Having trouble launching?

Wrong architecture. If the OS says the binary is not supported or the app exits immediately, you likely downloaded the build for the other architecture. Check with uname -m (Linux) or Settings > System > About (Windows) and pick the matching label above.
Linux — AppImage will not start (FUSE2 missing): install thefuse2 package for your distro (e.g. sudo pacman -S fuse2on Arch, sudo apt install fuse libfuse2 on Debian/Ubuntu), or run with --appimage-extract-and-run. Alternatively, build the AUR package on Arch which does not need FUSE at all.
Linux — AppImage white screen or EGL error: some GPU/driver combinations conflict with bundled Mesa libraries. Run with--appimage-extract-and-run to use system libraries instead.
Linux — .deb fails to install or start: the package needs the system WebKitGTK library — sudo apt install libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0, then reinstall the package.
Arch/CachyOS — prefer the PKGBUILD: thevarve-desktop-bin PKGBUILD is in therepository. It extracts the AppImage, providing proper desktop integration (icons, MIME types, clean uninstall) without FUSE. Build with makepkg -si from the PKGBUILD directory.
macOS — the app is blocked: this build is unsigned and not notarized: System Settings > Privacy & Security > Open Anyway. Do not disable Gatekeeper.
Windows — SmartScreen warning: choose More info, then Run anyway — after verifying the SHA-256 checksum shown above.
Still stuck? Troubleshooting guide · Known issues · Report a bug · Report a security issue