Adobe, Linux Support, and the Linux Foundation.

Report · Apr 08, 2019

While generally I've only lurked the Adobe forums I've finally worked up guts to post this. I also know that about every 1-2 months this question is asked but I think it deserves a another go around.

My premises is this:

Adobe joined the Linux Foundation in 2008 for a focus on Linux for Web 2.0 Applications like Adobe® Flash® Player and Adobe AIR™. Currently Adobe holds a silver membership status with the Linux Foundation. So why in the world do they not have any Creative Cloud Programs available in Linux without the need for WINE and other such workarounds. I think it's a sucky move to support the Linux Foundation and use Linux in the back-end while not doing anything to support actual Linux users who have for at least a decade requested Adobe desktop products on Linux. Sure it's going to take a lot of manpower, financial resources, etc. But to truly support Linux and the Linux Foundation I think it's necessary that y'all do make things like Photoshop and Lightroom available for the Linux desktop. In any regards the wider Linux community would most likely help with testing and debugging programs. We're used to it.

Report · Feb 15, 2016

in general virtualization does not work well with things like video editing; after effects does not last I checked.

there are specialized virtual environments for this specific task, but they are more intended for enterprise applications.

Standard virtualization might be worth a shot still, but you'll take a big performance hit.

If you are a student or not using video editing professionally, there is Nuke Studio (i think NukeNon-commercial is available for Linux, the Student version should be). The Studio edition has an editor.

There is also Lightworks, I don't know much about it.

And Blender. But is a learning curve there.

Report · Feb 16, 2016

It's simple. Adobe won't support Linux because its too hard. They got rid of most of their Linux developers many years ago.

The responses here from those supposedly in the know (if their post count is to be believed) also showcase why Adobe will never be capable of supporting Linux. Having read their many responses, these are the people who would still claim that Windows 8 is good or Vista was just misunderstood. They miss pre-tabbed browsing and probably still install floppy drives on new systems, you know "just in case".

Lets face it, would you let a monkey poo in your system?

Linux terrifies Adobe, they don't understand it which is why you hear statements like:

"there's no money in Linux"

"Linux is for hobbyists"

"there is no standard method of installation"

"take be back to windows 8. I need to look at some squares"

Report · Feb 17, 2016

Adobe said it was not profitable to do so. That I can believe. I've toyed with Linux for decades. While there are great distros to serve the needs of basic computing, (Mint 17.3 is really nice). Twenty years later and there has yet to be a solid foundation for multimedia for professional work. Adobe, like Blackmagic and their editor, would have to create a custom distro and/or force users to switch to one. Not to mention all third party plugins and tools that need porting as well. It's extra baggage they don't need. They solved issues with Window's 10 and 7 has five years of support remaining.

That said. The world is eventually heading to 100% mobile. Since last year mobile has exceeded desktops in search, accounts and sales. Google only needs to add multitasking and desktop features to android to nail the expensive applications on big PC's coffin shut. When my workstation expires in the next five years, I doubt I'll fork over another 10K to replace it. Even today I can do short, cuts only projects, with 4K media on a cell phone with a $5 app. That includes transitions, music and titles. Some of that media has would up as B-roll in my larger projects. It's not prime time, but give it some time, it will be. Therefore, I'm playing and using those tools now as the clock is ticking.

Adobe already has a mobile apps for android, such as "Adobe Clip". However, it's limited to 720p. We complained about it and Adobe responded that a 1080p solution is forthcoming. Does that sound like a stubborn company with it roots soley in Windows?

Report · Feb 17, 2016

I will talk about just by myself, i don't know the other guys, but i really don't think Adobe is so stubborn, since what the most of us is trying here, is to make a point to make Adobe to change its mind about Linux users. That said, i also want to thank your language, since it is more properly to start a real discussion instead to receive a rain of "You, childish/foolish Linux users that are not surrendered to Windows/Mac or other commercial stuff do not deserve any attention whatsoever", so i wanted to start thanking your manners.

After that, whether or not is profitable can be arguable, since the tools/libraries that Adobe need to port code on Linux are very similar to those used to port code to Mac (Mac is Unix), and also, it appears that Android is a reduced version of Linux (sarcasm apart), it should not be very difficult to do ports on other distros, since all of them have more or less the same common elements for the standard libraries. Otherwise and on top of that, one could do the same as it has been performed with Libreoffice (just to name one example, although i could be mistaken you could find easily another different), which had 2 versions: one the source code that you could compile yourself, and another compiled version with the executables precompiled in such way that it includes many of the libraries it needs inside the package for the installation, so it can be loaded on almost any Linux machine. My point is beyond this example: There are many options to port/create/translate/profit from packages in Linux... you got the idea, don't you? Recall that to make a package to work on Linux is not necessary to have the GNU/GPL license, nor being open source. All of this with almost no additional cost/effort for Adobe.

I see the efforts in the grounds of Windows but that is not enough, since many of the mobile users prefer Android rather than windows mobile (i do not need to be a genius on mobile market management and business in order to make this guess), and thus, as i said above, mobile users are also a part of the Linux family. On the other hand, even though many people is buying mobile phones it is yet hard to do some office work on a tablet/phone, but just small things or small editing of music and/or video. The hard work is preferable to be carried out, in a short and long period, in a desktop machine (or a laptop, as you wish). Of course you can do even graphic design on mobiles, but not in the same way as you can do it in a desktop machine, and you by yourself can tell the difference.

On the other hand, i work in research and we don't think to put altogether in a cellphone is a good idea, since to do numerical simulations is hard to do in a machine with limited resources regardless it has 4/8 processors (sometimes, one or two good processors is better than to have many of them running in a machine that is already running many other unnecessary stuff to reach your goal: Do you know that once upon a time when there were farms of playstation 1 running calculations??).

Report · Feb 17, 2016

That is literally the stupidest thing I have ever read for so many reasons. The least of which is the fact that the US government has wide-spread applications already running Linux.

Report · Mar 16, 2016

So I don't know how interested the government is in actually running adobe products on Linux computers. Of course having the option for CC on Linux would be awesome because I could run Photoshop on my Chromebook, but I wont cancel my subscription service, because I just love the products.

Having CC for Linux would simply bring a benefit concerning speeds as Linux is a lot better for productivity and speed in general. It would probably allow faster rendering of photos and videos for general optimization. Microsoft is slowly ruining their market with Windows 10 and many people are moving to Linux, so having a version for Linux might be a good idea.

Unfortunately, we as users must face the possibility that Adobe will never make a Linux version, whether it may profitable, or not....

Report · Mar 16, 2016

Jumping in the thread here, hey everyone!

As far as I know the developer can still license their software the way they want. Just because it's compiled for linux doesn't mean it has to be a free license (like the GPL or Apache). I haven't read all 11 pages of this thread but I'm not sure if it was mentioned.

I understand if Adobe doesn't want to release linux versions because it would be too hard to support. They have a hard enough time releasing mostly bug free software for Windows / Mac and usually fall short. They also have a massive library of applications to port over. I would suggest they focus on a few core apps that bigger studios that use Linux would benefit from, like Photoshop. Really all I want is AE and PS to run semi-natively (a custom WINE build would be totally fine). The future is very much headed to linux. Artists are being pushed out of the Apple market and they begrudgingly go to Windows. I know a handful of artists that moved to Windows and every time they talk about it they seem to be depressed. Linux is the viable alternative. It's fun, it's stable, and it's fast. Adoption will pick up exponentially.

Something to note is that the list of applications that don't run on linux is becoming much smaller. There are plenty of compositing applications and 3D tools that run natively (and beautifully) on linux. I've never run into any problems installing them and I've used alot of distro's (even Arch!). Some even have a UI installer that makes the whole process as easy as a Mac install. Adobe will quickly find itself being pushed into the pro-sumer and eventually the toy market if it doesn't adapt.

Adobe - Start with Photoshop, release for one specific distro (Rhel 7), and see how it goes.

I'm seriously considering cancelling my CC subscription this May because this is a feature I really need. I might be able to live without my annual subscription but I definitely can't go back to Windows.

Report · Mar 16, 2016

I mean whats wrong with windows though? I really hate windows 10 (like no arguments there), but you can try something like a hackintosh.

As for Linux, I really was looking forward to Photoshop seeming as I can run that on my Chromebook if it runs on Linux. I am a high school student and often do graphics for our newspaper and I usually have to do that at home, because we just do not have the resources to get creative cloud via the school. Not saying my Chromebook is ultra powerful (which it definitely isn't), it is just about that versatility factor. Most users find that macs run faster than windows computers and that is simply, because of optimization and the removal of all that crap you don't need that Windows has running.

Mac and Linux are similar on the basis that they are both Unix systems. Big corporations are beginning to go away from the decreasing quality of macs and windows desktops. Most of my friends are telling me to switch to Linux, but the only reason I hang on to windows is compatibility. Honestly, for a software called "Creative Cloud", I think it should be universally compatible, they even have android apps! I totally agree with the fact that they should start with a simple Photoshop beta for Linux. They will certainly find the support among their consumers to test it out. I will certainly be among them.

However, I do agree that the very basis for Linux is open source and that is definitely not adobe's style. But bringing out major windows software for Linux has proven to be a great success in the past such as steam for Linux. The truth is that Linux is very limited in the apps they offer. The best art program they offer is gimp and that is free! By being the first Linux, Adobe is finding its way into a market before other companies like smith micro, avid, or coral do.

Its not about having all those Adobe apps on Linux, its all about starting small and Photoshop is the push that will get people back to CC again.

Report · Mar 16, 2016

I can tell you what is wrong with windows. I have a full license to windows 7. Every time I change the slightest thing, like add ram or a HD to it it says my copy is pirated and I have to reactivate. Also it is constantly asking to upgrade to Windows 10. If I want to upgrade, I will upgrade. I don't need a daily reminder from the OS that I paid money for!

No to Hackintosh. Mac file system is terrible for one. And then there are stability issues. I've run a Hackintosh before. I would worry it would try to update itself and just destroy the OS. I've woken up to a non-booting Hackintosh more than once.

CentOS is amazingly stable and is available right now.

Report · Mar 16, 2016

I have never had the pirated issue, but windows 10 really is stupid, I agree with you on that. I usually stick to xubuntu, might try out CentOS now. Thanks for the suggestion!

As for hackintosh, I personally haven't used it either, just heard of it.

Report · Mar 16, 2016

Centos is a Red Hat clone without the branding. It's now owned by Red Hat, oddly enough. Every pro app that has a linux version officially supports Red Hat. So that is why I say start on RHEL or Centos. Ubuntu (and flavors) has a huge adoption and nothing beats it as far as simplicity and ease of use. I would be fine with any distro being chosen really.

Just throwing my voice out there for Adobe to hear. Linux isn't going to get less popular. It only makes sense to port and release for a Linux desktop.

Report · Mar 16, 2016

>constantly asking to upgrade to Windows 10

That is because Microsoft "snuck in" https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3035583

Do a search on how to uninstall that windows update, and then hide the update so it doesn't show up again, and you will no longer have the "Get Win10" program running to keep reminding you

Report · Mar 16, 2016

‌Yes, I could do that OR I could stop booting into Windows.

It's a very bad judgement call for Microsoft. I think it's really the thought that upsets me most.

Report · Mar 17, 2016

It has been years now and I am still coming back to this thread. I still use Linux (Windows can be a nightmare for coding) and the Creative Suite is still one of the few reasons I have to run a Windows License in Dual Boot. I know that developing for a diverse plattform as Linux and maintaining service for it can be work for Adobe, but the number of people who code and do graphical stuff at the same time (and not stick to OSX) is growing.In the meantime I happened to replace a few Adobe applications already with stuff that works on Linux. AFX with Blender, Nuke and Blackmagic Resolve, Krita is way better for digital painting than Photoshop (sadly lacks some other things though), Inkscape can be used instead of Illustrator, Scribus instead of InDesign.. Sadly those alternatives lack one or two professional features.

Not to speak of all the legacy stuff I have to carry with me in order to open up old Adobe projects.

But well. If Adobe would bring CC for Linux I would go for it. Would make my life a lot easier.

Report · Mar 17, 2016

It's a BS argument from Adobe and let's be honest, they're just being a set of c***s about it and are clearly in the back pockets of Apple and Microsoft and are too weak to stand up to them. The excuse that it's not financially viable is a complete crock when you have companies like Blackmagic buying up software like Fusion, building a Mac version from scratch and giving it away for free. Blackmagic realise that if they get people using their free software they are more likely to upgrade to paid versions later on and are also more likely to buy their hardware as well. Shame adobe don't have the same belief system. Rather than creating software for professionals, they are much more keen on bloating their software with useless tools which make it easier for the casual hobbyist to turn out crap for youtube. If there was a viable alternative to After Effects I would have ditched them years ago.

Report · Mar 17, 2016

I've been replacing my Adobe apps with alternatives as well. There are a few interesting Photoshop alternatives that arn't GIMP, Pixeluvo – Beautiful Images Made Easy for one. I mostly used AE for compositing but have come to realize that it's pure rubbish for CG comping so made the switch to node based, which Natron is freaking amazing. I'm waiting for Fusion Studio on Linux to hand them my $1000. Krita is great, GIMP is functional, I've used Scribus professionally and Inkcape ain't bad. Lightworks is a compelling video editor and Blender is coming into it's own. I just bought Substance Painter because they announced a Linux version coming in April. I have money to spend on these things... but I'm sitting here wondering why I'm handing over $50 a month to Adobe.

I would think Adobe would want me, the highend professional CG freelancer, on their side to spout the great new features to studio's I visit so they upgrade to the CC. Instead though, I talk about how much better Fusion is than AE for comps and how Natron is going to take over the world soon. Makes me sad, it really does.

Report · Mar 19, 2016

Linux is becoming more attractive to the general population and as Android has smashed IOS because it is open source (and Linux based), given time Linux will do the same with non-open source desktop operating systems. While some Adobe products are great it seems they do have an affinity to Microsoft and Macintosh and they are afraid of the open source future before us.

That being said I would encourage everyone who loves Linux to get behind the Blender project. I have made high quality commercial videos using nothing but Blender. They have already developed a wide range of professional tools including photo realistic 3D graphics modelling, camera tracking, video compositing, special effects and a game engine. This is the future Adobe is trying to suppress, or at least delay. Instead of pledging to drop money on Adobe as soon as they provide Linux compatible products we should deep-six Adobe by dropping money on the development of open-source software which is already on the brink of eclipsing Adobe. If open source software development received funding equivalent to one tenth of 1% of Adobe's revenue (see page 60), Adobe would be gone.

Report · Mar 21, 2016

Well. As of 2015, however, iOS and Android share a similar market share (depending on the chart you're looking at), which is pretty impressive being that only Apple phones support iOS.

But let's be honest here: Most users couldn't care less about the licensing arrangement of their phone's OS, and you cannot really compare a phone with a desktop.

That being said. I definitely want Adobe to support Linux.

Report · Mar 21, 2016

Really? IOS has a similar share as Android?...

"Most users couldn't care less about the licensing arrangement of their phone's OS"

On the contrary. There was a time that everyone had to have an I-phone and anything else simply would not do. That was until other manufacturers started selling Android phones which were just as functional and cheaper because they were not wrapped up into an Apple monopoly and they didn't have to pay for the OS as computer manufacturers have to pay for Windows. I think consumers do care when there's money involved. Furthermore, the number of free apps on Google's Play Store makes the value of an Android-based smart phone even better.

Now we come back to my previous point. If we fund an already great open source software and make it superior to commercial versions which cost thousands, we add to the value of Linux. If consumers have a choice between an free desktop OS and open-source software packages which are as good as if not better that WIndows only software, what do you think they will choose? In my previous post I said "given time" when referring to Linux's eventual domination. I don't pretend the time is now. However, 14 years ago, Blender, which I mentioned previously, was released as open source software. At the time there were other superior products and almost no one in the commercial design and film industries gave serious consideration to it. Over the years Blender has been improved and polished and today it is the most widely used 3D software in the world, rivalling 3Ds Max which costs $1500/year per license. Why is that? Because some people decided that there was an alternative to being at the mercy of Adobe, AutoDesk and others. And rather than begging Adobe to make software which met their requirements, they paid cold hard cash and invested their own time to contribute to something much greater. If you wish to dismiss their contributions as misguided efforts because "you cannot really compare a phone with a desktop" it doesn't change the fact that, given time, the comparison will be obvious and the effects to the market identical.

Report · Mar 22, 2016

Adobe is the only reason that keeps me using Windows. I'm not linux fan boy. Neither Microsoft fan boy and definitely not apple fan boy. I just bought win 10 license to my pc, but it does no mean anything to me, I would rather want to switch to a final solution that is not Microsoft related.

I'm quite much sure that m and a are both paying to Adobe to not develope Linux systems. I cannot get any other logical reason why wouldn't they do it. This is my first message this thread.

Report · Mar 23, 2016

6 month ago I switched to Linux Mint to avoid upgrading to Windows 10 from 7.

I replaced Fireworks (sorry not supported at all anymore) and Illustrator with Inkscape; Photoshop with Gimp (not very extensive use, so it will do) and Premiere with Blender. I still fire up Windows 7 VM for Illustrator and Fireworks (see old files) and Premiere is way more powerful than Blender for video editing, but I do it less and less.

6 months ago I would gladly pay for Creative Cloud Linux, today I would still pay for it, and I am not sure I would 6 months in the future.

Just my 2c.

Report · Mar 23, 2016

sergemca wrote:

6 month ago I switched to Linux Mint to avoid upgrading to Windows 10 from 7.

Just my 2c.

your 2c wasn't spent wisely as far as I can see because I fail to understand what did you achieve by switching to Mint from Windows 7? what was wrong with Windows 7? you haven't told us anything about it yet. Has your mint got everything you were looking for? just wondered.

I have used XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 and now Windows 10 and I am really enjoying now that my visual Studio 2015 runs faster in Windows 10 and all my creative Cloud Applications are running wonderfully faster.

Report · Mar 23, 2016

Some people switch not because the OS is bad but Microsoft is making terrible decisions for their users. Also Win 7 won't be supported forever. I'm running mint on two machines and Centos on a third. Mint is based on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and so has lots of support. It's really a great distro and has a lovely look/feel.

@sergemca I agree with you. The window for me to keep paying for or to pay for a Linux version is closing rapidly. I keep asking why I pay for it and that's the first step... $1k for Davinci Resolve Studio for a tight editing / coloring / finishing suit and another $1k for a soon-to-be-released Fusion compositor is looking really nice to me. I have the Fusion money set aside already! Maybe I should kill my Adobe subscription and buy Resolve, lol.

Report · Mar 23, 2016

@mytaxsite.co.uk - I have looked through your previous posts and you rarely have anything useful or constructive to say but rather make concerted efforts to assail anyone who expresses an interest in Linux. I switched to Linux 5 years ago and have found exactly what I was looking for: FREEDOM. Can't remember the last time I had to lay down money for software but I am one of Blender's 319 monthly donors. With Linux I lack nothing despite that fact that I do web development, 3D graphics and video for commercial adverts.

My wife uses Windows 10 and all I can say is what a pile of poo. The start menu stops working after every update and she has to restart her computer everyday to avoid sluggish performance. I have been on her machine countless times in the last 3 months fixing Windows problems.

Report · Mar 23, 2016

It's their choice to switch to Mint from Windows 7, and it's entirely reasonable to ask Adobe to support them on their preferred platform. I mean, it's fine to be curious about their reasoning, but still. There's plenty of reasons to avoid Windows 10, and Microsoft is making it increasingly difficult to stay on Windows 7. I've made the switch, which wasn't entirely painless, but others may prefer to spend their efforts trying a wholly new platform.

A more extreme example: I used to use Maya 8, which I bought an educational, perpetual license for in ~2006. After college, ~2010, I wanted to continue in the 3D space. I couldn't use Maya 8 for anything commercial, and new applications were removing support for that old of a version. I had the choice: Spend ~3000$ for a new version of Maya, or learn Blender. I decided that my dollar-per-hour was better spent learning Blender, which was undergoing some major improvements at the time. As of now, I am more comfortable in Blender than I ever was in Maya, and I don't think I would change back, even if Autodesk released it for free. That should be a concern for Adobe.

Personally? I'm using Windows 10, and I've just subscribed to Creative Cloud ~last week (upgraded from CS5.5). That said, Microsoft has been doing some pretty awkward things, especially around developer certification requirements and a hazy future of Win32 API. I might want to switch to Linux at some point, and it would be good to have Adobe come along.

Adobe, Linux Support, and the Linux Foundation.

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