“Software is over”: Bold AI developer takes aim at Adobe with open source clones

Live updates

1. 53m ago

   AI Developer Releases Open-Source Clones of Adobe and Microsoft Suites

   A solo developer has used artificial intelligence to build free, open-source alternatives to major commercial software packages including Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom, and Microsoft Office. Developer Brandon Thomas utilized Claude to write the Rust-based clones, releasing them under the project name Artcraft. The rapid development cycle targets full parity with commercial suites while challenging traditional subscription models. The release arrives amid ongoing tensions over software pricing and a recent settlement involving Adobe cancellation fees.

   Why it matters

   The appearance of AI-generated software clones represents a direct challenge to the software-as-a-service business model established by major tech companies. By leveraging artificial intelligence to rapidly reverse engineer complex applications, individual developers can now replicate multi-million dollar software ecosystems. This trend threatens the recurring revenue streams of dominant subscription-based platforms.

   What is confirmed

   • A solo developer built free, open-source clones of Adobe applications including Photoshop, Premiere, and Lightroom using AI.
   • Developer Brandon Thomas used Claude to build the open-source software clones in Rust.
   • The project, known as Artcraft, offers free alternatives that emulate commercial software suites.
   • The developer has also unveiled open-source replications of Microsoft Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Autodesk tools and other subscription-based services may be targeted next for AI cloning.
   • The project faces piracy claims and safety warnings regarding the use of alpha software.

   What to watch next

   • Whether the developer achieves 100 percent parity with Adobe applications within the targeted one-month timeframe
   • Potential legal challenges or copyright actions from Adobe and Microsoft against the open-source clones
   • The release of additional cloned tools for Autodesk or other subscription platforms
   Sources used for this update (23)

   1. Ars Technica — “Software is over”: Bold AI developer takes aim at Adobe with open source clones
   2. Tom's Hardware — Solo developer rebuilds Adobe Creative Suite in Rust using Claude, releases it free to all — targets 100% parity in one month despite piracy claims and safety warnings
   3. PetaPixel — Someone Rebuilt Free, Open-Source Versions of Photoshop, Premiere, and Lightroom Using AI
   4. Gizmodo — Someone Vibe Coded a Free Knockoff of Adobe Creative Suite
   5. OMG! Ubuntu — PhotoCraft is an open-source, AI-built clone of Photoshop
   6. TechRadar — One dev is recreating 7 Adobe apps in Rust for free — so I tested it out
   7. HotHardware — Dev Uses AI To Build Clones Of Photoshop And Entire Adobe Suite For Free
   8. Futurism — Adobe in Trouble After Someone Reverse Engineered Adobe Creative Suite and Released It as Open Source
   9. The Register — Rust upstart reveals 'reimplementation' of Microsoft Office – with Claude on coding duty
   10. Tom's Hardware — Creator of free Adobe clones unveils open-source Microsoft Office Excel, PowerPoint, and Word replications — Autodesk tools and other subscription-based services may come next
   11. Thurrott.com — Open Source AI Dev is Going After Microsoft Office, Too
   12. tech.yahoo.com — “Software Is Over”: Developer Uses AI to Build Free Adobe ...
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