P: Provide support for Linux (2011)

Hi Chris,

I was looking at some old threads on the 'PS on Linux' conversations.   I know some are old threads (years old) and you likely had enough of it but always wanted someone at Adobe to hear my cries.  8)

- PS was ported to IRIX back in the day,  it was the second platform I used it on (mac being the first) - while I could be wrong I suspect you would sell more licenses for linux than for all the SGI ones ever sold,   in your first year of offering it on linux.    I know they don't exist today and that was a long time ago - Adobe was a smaller company back then and was likely more nimble. 

- PS is done in C+,  a port would be fairly "easy".

- I am willing to bet a linux port within Adobe already exists,  as a result of an official mandate or skunkworks project.  I worked at a few large software companies (Alias/Autodesk) and know this is how some ports of projects start their existence, as internal skunkwork efforts.

- A few years ago you said its too complex to offer on linux as the landscape isn't settled (which is still the case).   At Alias we ported a few of our products such as Maya in the 90's,  to both linux and windows,  I suspect Maya has more lines of code and is more complex than PS.   What we did to address the 'linux fragmentation' issue as many other vendors do who offer ports,  is state the system OS/Distro requirements.    Many list / standardize on RHEL as an example.   If you are not using that, you are not using a supported configuration - support is off the hook (unless its Ford or a similar sized client calling you).

- effort vs cost.  An interesting thing here is the amount of effort it took for the ports we did.     2 guys in the Seattle office ported the IRIX code base of Maya to Windows in 2 weeks during their off time!   Every company/project is different,  i understand it may not be the same at Adobe. 

- another comment you may of made was 'linux users don't typically buy software'.   I think things have changed here.   I can say from my personal experience working in M&E studios for the last 15 years or so that Adobe would of had purchase orders for a few hundred linux cuts.   That is from 2 or 3 studios here in Town that I've been at.   How many cuts does Adobe have to think they need to be able to sell before the effort gets traction?    In 3 studios there was an effort made to roll the desk tops over to linux,  and its always the same road block which prevents many from doing so,  Adobe Photoshop.   Its used in almost every department so it makes it extremely difficult to move off of windows or mac.   Every one of these studios would be more than happy buying PS for linux post roll over.  If these 3 studios in town here would be good to buy 40-100 cuts each,  we are only 3 of hundreds or thousands of studios out there..   The first release may not sell a bunch as it would take people time to realize the final road block has been removed,  and plan for a migration,  which typically have to be scheduled weeks/months in advance due to project schedules.  But i'm sure with each quarter,  sales would continue to climb.     Aside from all that we spend _hundreds of thousands_ of dollars on licenses for products which will run on linux.    the industry spends money.

- I ended up here on this page as yet again I find myself at yet another  studio who wants to move off of windows to linux for the desktop,  and we are seeing how/if the landscape has changed related to the Photoshop challenge.    Perhaps its the M&E bubble i'm stuck in that makes be believe there is lots of potential for PS on linux - but man,  everyone i've talked to in the industry (from ILM, Disney, Wetta,  Arc and many others) for the last decade or so has always maintained a desire to see PS released on linux.

-  I wonder who these surveys you state which indicated there is little opportunity are being completed by or what the target audience is.  I've been in a management role for years and have never been asked by Adobe or anyone for that matter if I would like to see Photoshop ported,  or any 'survey' related to Adobe for that matter.   Who is being asked?    There is a forum named "Studio SysAdmins",  if one were to go to that list and prompt the question and I assure you,  you would have several hundred purchase commitments.  That forum is dedicated to people in M&E and many of them are chomping at the bit to migrate off of windows,  yet the common show stopper continues to be Photoshop - for the last decade or so.

- Most of the open source flag wavers who state they won't buy commercial software are likely still stuck in their basements or just don't get it.   A company who is out to make a profit will use the proper tools to achieve that goal,  regardless if that tool is a commercial one.    some PFY in the tech department refusing to use PS because there is a cost associated to it would/should be turfed.   Some of the people piping up here probably have no decision making role,  but unfortunately they tend to be the most vocal.    

- If Autodesk can do it,  Adobe can too! 

- I'm being forced to consider some sort of remote to the desktop photoshop solution.  its going to cost us more per workstation to use PS than the product itself.  We have never had any luck using PS under emulation,  such as Wine.   it "works" but has many issues and i've never seen an Artist accept it.    Wine is not an option for most professional applications I suspect.

- Adobe is out to make money,  they have lots of money.  I'm sure they could afford to test the waters without going under or pissing off the share holders.   There is always a budget for projects when times are good.

- conspiratorial theories aside - M$ has been known (many times) to 'influence' vendors in ways which are attempts to maintain M$'s market share. They have been brought to court many times for related issues.   Apple not so much,  as far as I know.   I mention this its not a far leap to make when someone says "M$ has a deal with Adobe".     Personally I don't think this is the case in this particular situation but its  plausible.  Stranger deals have happened at the executive level in many companies.

thanks for your time,

take care,

g