What is Varve?
Varve is a local-first design suite for vector, layout, typography, motion, prototyping, and print production — all in one cross-platform environment. It runs natively on Linux, macOS, and Windows. The same engine is compiled to WASM for the web target, but there is no hosted web app yet — the desktop installers are how you use Varve today.
Connected creative workflows
Most creative work spans multiple disciplines. A poster needs vector shapes, typography, and print-ready export. A social media campaign needs layout, animation, and multiple output formats. A product design needs components, prototyping, and developer handoff.
Varve is designed to keep this work in one place. Instead of switching between separate applications and rebuilding your context each time, you move between tasks within the same document, the same layer system, and the same interface.
Local-first, your files, your machine
Varve stores all design data locally. No account is required, no cloud sync is needed, and no telemetry is transmitted. You own your files, you control where they live, and you can work offline. The desktop application uses a native Rust engine; the same engine is compiled to WASM for the web target (a hosted web app is not available yet).
Cross-platform native performance
Varve runs natively on Linux (CachyOS, Arch, Ubuntu, Fedora), macOS (Apple Silicon), and Windows (x86_64). The rendering architecture separates scene computation from display, using an intermediate representation that replays efficiently to the canvas. The same codebase powers both the native desktop and WASM web builds.
Source-available, shaped by its users
Varve is licensed under FSL-1.1-MIT — free to use, with source code available on GitHub. Development is transparent: architecture decisions, known limitations, and progress are documented publicly. Community input influences priorities. No VC pressure and no feature-checklist deadlines — features are built when they work, not when they sound good in marketing copy.
Who is Varve for?
Multi-disciplinary creators
Designers, illustrators, and content creators who regularly switch between vector, layout, motion, and print work.
Independent designers
Freelancers and small studios who want professional tools without subscription costs or cloud dependencies.
Linux users
Creators on Linux who need a native design application with first-class platform support.
Early adopters
People who want to test emerging workflows, report problems, and influence the direction of a developing creative tool.
Who Varve is not for (yet)
Because Varve is in beta, it is not yet the right choice for every situation:
- Critical production deadlines: expect bugs, incomplete tools, and workflow changes. Keep backups and test before relying on it for paid work.
- Teams needing real-time collaboration: collaboration is not implemented — this is a single-user tool today.
- Arabic, Hebrew, or Devanagari text: complex script shaping is not supported yet.
- Linux or Windows on ARM: only x86_64 is supported on those platforms (macOS builds target Apple Silicon).
Beta status
Varve is in public beta. Core features are functional and tested, but you may encounter bugs, incomplete tools, or changes to workflows and file formats as development continues. We recommend keeping backups of important work and not relying on Varve as the sole tool for critical production projects at this stage.
The value of participating now: test emerging workflows, report problems that matter to you, and help shape where Varve goes next. See the known issues and release notes for current limitations.
Get started
Try Varve beta.
Free and source-available under FSL-1.1-MIT. Expect rough edges — it is an early release.