Developer launches AI-driven open-source suite to replicate Adobe Creative apps

Artcraft, originally launched as an AI-assisted editing tool, has expanded into a collection of seven open-source applications that copy the look and capabilities of Adobe's Creative Suite. Developer Brandon Thomas disclosed that he employed Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5 to reverse-engineer the software, writing the replacements in Rust and offering WebAssembly versions for online access. The suite covers Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, Lightroom, After Effects, InDesign and Acrobat Pro.

Community feedback on platforms like Hacker News highlights current limitations, but Thomas asserts that the early alpha will evolve to match Adobe's features within months. He initially claimed 100% parity could be achieved in a month, later adjusting the timeline to several months for 99% functionality. The project aims to provide a free alternative to Adobe's costly licensing model.