Artcraft launches seven open source apps modeled on Adobe tools

In short: Artcraft has introduced seven free, open source apps that try to copy Adobe’s popular creative programs, but they are still in an early and unfinished stage.

What happened

Artcraft, a project that started as an AI tool for artists, has shifted direction. It now offers a suite of seven open source apps that aim to recreate the interface and tools of Adobe programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, Lightroom, After Effects, InDesign, and Acrobat Pro.

Developer Brandon Thomas said he used Anthropic’s Claude Opus 5.5 to help build what he called “clean-room replacements.” Clean-room means he is trying to re-create what the software does without copying Adobe’s original code, similar to building a look-alike appliance by studying how the buttons and features work.

The apps are written in Rust, a programming language, and some versions can run in a web browser using WebAssembly (a way to run fast code inside a browser). Thomas described the apps as “super early alpha,” meaning they are not ready for most everyday work yet. Commenters on sites like Hacker News also pointed out missing features and other problems.

Thomas said his goal is to reach full feature parity, which means matching the same features as Adobe’s apps. He first claimed this could happen within a month, then later suggested it would take months.

Why it matters

Many people dislike Adobe’s pricing and cancellation fees, and some want alternatives that feel familiar. If Artcraft’s apps improve, they could become another option for creators who want free tools. Still, the project could face legal questions if the apps copy Adobe’s look and layout too closely, even if the code is different.

Source: Arstechnica