What is the absolute minimum I need to run my Desktop apps in Big Sur?

[debunix]

I was on the phone earlier this morning with Apple support, and and one of the problems we ran into appears to have been caused by Adobe creative cloud extensions (I might be using outdated terminology here to describe them):  Adobe Desktop Service, Core sync,  CCLibrary, CCXProcess.  I do not need or want anything to do with the Cloud aspect of Creative Cloud--I just need Photoshop, Lightroom, and Bridge to work on my Mac as a standalone machine.  I tried 'uninstall creative cloud' but it says

"Couldn’t uninstall creative cloud for desktop. You still have creative cloud applications installed on your computer that require it."

I suspect this means it will not uninstall itself unless I uninstall Bridge, Lightroom and Photoshop first.

I do not mind the apps phoning home from time to time to be sure  I'm not logged in and working on multiple machines with one license, but this other stuff burning CPU and crashing or delaying other apps needs to stop.

Is there anything here can I hunt down and delete while preserving the functions of the Apps I actually use? 

[John T Smith]

https://community.adobe.com/t5/creative-cloud-services/how-can-i-disable-core-sync-and-updaters/td-p...

[debunix]

helpful, thank you

[debunix]

And I don't need CCXProcess or CoreSync....but if I kill those, I kill the ability to use LR, Bridge, PS?

[John T Smith]

I am on Windows and use a different process to stop programs from running... so I can't answer that question

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

Creative Cloud Desktop App is NOT optional.  You must have CC app to a) verify subscription status, b) download & manage your various CC apps & services and c) receive updates.   Without the CC desktop app your subscription is useless. 

Please ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements to run Creative Cloud + OS + all other apps you use. Check each one.
- https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/system-requirements.html
- https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html

- https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/system-requirements.html
- https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html

Also refer to this help article about support for Big Sur.

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/macos-big-sur.html

[debunix]

The majority of the processes that these application support items perform or actually not things that I use—templates, tutorials, cloud services of any kind aside from authentication of my programs. I would be happy to kill them it sounds like the ecosystem is designed to force me to have these running at all times wasting CPU & ultimately wasting energy.

The last link about Big Sur support likely provided the key that was screwing up my new Big Sur Mac, and disabling CoreSync appears two have helped. 

I should look again at the capability of programs that do not force such program bloat onto my computer.