FAQ

From AdaptableGIMP Wiki

Why isn't this a plugin for GIMP? You'd get a lot more users that way.
We deeply customize the Toolbox to achieve the new interface customization features of AdaptableGIMP. At present, GIMP's plug-in API simply does not allow us to make these types of customizations.

We also instrument the application to understand how it is actually used in practice. Data we collect from your use of AdaptableGIMP will help us further improve it. In fact, the data we collected from ingimp is what led us to this particular design.

Why show a list of commands in the Toolbox rather than the traditional grid of icons?
The data we collected from the ingimp project indicated that people typically use only about 6 different commands when they use GIMP. Given this, we can make better use of the Toolbox's real estate by listing each command needed to perform a task (and only the commands needed) in the order they need to be invoked. We also include the command's name to help casual users of the GIMP locate the needed command. (Casual users make up the vast majority of GIMP users.)

Why not make this part of the official GIMP project?
Our primary goal is to develop innovative new interaction techniques and research how they are used in practice. The specific techniques we develop may, or may not, coincide with the vision of the official GIMP project. However, if others wish to transfer our work to the official distribution (or other applications), they are certainly free to do so since all of our code falls under the same license as the GIMP (the GPL).

If you're concerned about whether AdaptableGIMP will continue to be supported in the near future, we note that we've been doing research with the GIMP since 2007, and will continue to work with this software for the foreseeable future.