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gai.ra.III
Participant
August 30, 2012
Open for Voting

Adobe, Linux Support, and the Linux Foundation.

  • August 30, 2012
  • 803 replies
  • 76579 views

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.

 

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803 replies

Webduelist
Participating Frequently
August 3, 2026

There are now more Linux Desktops than MacOS (not OSX tho), Linux support would be amazing for my workflow.   

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 4, 2026

@Webduelist 

 

mac penetrance is 3-4 times linux.

Webduelist
Participating Frequently
August 4, 2026

That is actually factually incorrect by the numbers, 

The core numbers are
9% Linux Globally
7.61% MacOS
12.81% OSX

Meaning that its actually only 2 times for All Apple Desktop OS vs Linux, and 18% less when we narrow it to supported OS. 

when measuring active supported desktop platforms rather than legacy unsupported installs, Linux has surpassed macOS. Apple’s reported desktop share includes a significant number of legacy OS X installations that are no longer supported by Apple. Removing those EOL systems changes the comparison substantially and places Linux ahead of supported macOS installations making it the second largest Supported Desktop OS. 

You also need to factor in rate of change, Linux OS Family adoption is up 240% since year low (at new all time high),  MacOS is up 146% from year low (at new all time high), and Windows is Down 8.74% (down from year high, 1% above all time low)

as far as pertinence which I believe what you were trying to say. 

74 - 78% of developers work on Linux, We are also seeing Gamers are starting to move to Linux. Who uses Adobe Products?, Developers for assets, and Streamers / Youtubers for video editing, thumbnail creation. So Linux support is no longer a “no one uses linux” argument. 
 

Participant
July 22, 2026

I’ve reached the point where I’m switching to Linux, with or without Adobe. 

Participant
July 22, 2026

Now, especially after this: https://www.pcmag.com/news/a-hackers-arrest-reveals-microsoft-can-track-users-via-a-windows-device

I can’t continue running a Windows machine just for the sake of having access to Adobe products. If Adobe still refuses to port its software to Linux, I think the most sensible path for all those who don’t use MacOS, are on Windows, care about privacy and still need access to tools like Adobe, is to completely rip the band-aid off and just look for other alternatives. That is what I am about to do, I won’t jeopordise my privacy just because a multi-billion company refuses to entertain the idea of Linux compatibility,

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 22, 2026

good luck!

Chetan_Narasimha2464
Participant
May 31, 2026

we need Linux support. Hope you guys give us the support. 

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 31, 2026

@Chetan_Narasimha2464 

 

posting here doesn’t affect adobe..

Derek Dalton
Participant
May 22, 2026

Please make this available. Too many of us are tired of M.S. using thier tools to spy on us and truthfuly I can say that by now Windows could most likely be free due to that fact that M.S. gets so much revenue from salling our information through all of the data minning crap. So, please make this available for Linux users. 
Thanks.

Derek D.
Community Manager
April 11, 2026
The following idea has been merged into this idea:

All the votes have been transferred into this idea.
agile_Hummingbird5FB7
Participant
April 23, 2026

Hey hey there, for this specifically opening Linux support natively would be a good business move. Currently there’s 66 million Linux users, and this number is rising due to Proton support on Steam. I would hedge a bet that if Adobe were to drop native support on Linux you’d have a decent influx of people switching OS just purely out of the hatred that Microsoft is garnering at the moment and the fact Linux is feeling way more reliable without anywhere as much bloat. 

Pass this comment onto your marketing team, and ask them to run a survey to find out about peoples desires on OS system usage. A lot of people need Adobe CC for work so they’re forced into MacOS or Windows which is a bit bleh and I can promise you people would switch if there was other options. 

If you have a look at the most downloaded apps on the Flatpak store on Linux GNU Image Manipulation Program is on the most popular page constantly because it’s the best viable at the moment but if Adobe gets native support it would absolutely dwarf the numbers it gets. 

Webduelist
Participating Frequently
April 24, 2026

I would even settle for a Proton Like compatibility layer bundled with the CC launcher like Steam does with Proton. Then they only have to maintain 2 version Mac and Windows. 

Community Manager
April 11, 2026
The following idea has been merged into this idea:

All the votes have been transferred into this idea.
Community Manager
April 11, 2026
The following idea has been merged into this idea:

All the votes have been transferred into this idea.
Known Participant
October 21, 2025

@WaywardHam This guy gets it.

 

@MesumHussain21879351h77v 

You make some valid points about younger generations, but are missing some crucial ones.

The rules and policies of professional business aren't arbitrary and just becuase some young kids are finding success doesn't exclude them from coming to the same conclusions the corporations and professionals come to with how these tools should be used.

As for webkit, yes, they come a long way but are completely useless when it comes to workflows and storage requirements, especially for video.

 

I think everyone is going to realize sooner or later that the cloud has been and always will be a potential bait/switch where you're suckered in with a sweet deal just to find out you're paying more than you would have manging your data internally. Not just that, but you've lost your privacy, control and potentially your own data to anothe entity all together.

 

Why should the poeple in your example, who are not using Adobe tools at all, even be part of this conversation.

People who need to use these tools, who are customers, who see the direction Apple and MS are taking with their OS. We want an alternative. That's the ask.

Participating Frequently
October 21, 2025

@WaywardHam thanks for your detailed respons. 

 

I do think you are drastically underestimating the capabilities and openness of people nowadays when it comes to software. One of the reasons Linux is becoming popular nowadays is that people are not clinging to Windows (the traditional OS) and more open towards alternatives. 

 

Same applies to Adobe. People are very open to alternatives which works cross platform. Especially if they offer a free tier for basic users. That includes a huge number of Youtubers and Social Media Influencers (they don't want to spend money until their account is very popular). Those are the kind of people by the way, who would rather pirate Adobe apps if they don't want to learn a new app which is free (but I think most are open to trying out free alternatives). And replacing Adobe apps is much easier compared to replacing Windows (which is an OS), if people are ditching Windows then just imagine how irrelevant Adobe is becoming nowadays.

 

You are saying that most new users are taught Adobe by default. Well most users grew up using Chromebooks in their schools and iPads at their homes. They didn't had Adobe to play around with as kids, they already learnt skills like video editing or photo editing on other apps which are available as mobile apps or webapp and run on Chrome OS, iOS and Android. 

 

And those tools are not bad. With WebAssembly you can literally make webapps as good as native apps, using any language you want. Those webapps are competent enough to rival Adobe head on. 

 

So seeing the current market, I would say most of the creative people are from the younger generation making content on social media (as opposed to old people working in companies with strict rules on file types). These are the people who grew up using Chromebooks and iPads and open to other alternatives than traditional ones if they offer better value. 

 

By not taking iPad OS, Chrome OS (Webapps which can run on any OS including Linux) and Android seriously over many years, I think Adobe has already set itself into a place where it will become less relevant over the coming years.

 

As far as your dismissal of Android Laptop is concerned, we should remember that it's the spiritual successor of Chromebooks. Kids are already well accustomed to Google ecosystem on Chromebooks. I am very positive that it's not gonna fail. Ignoring it would be a big mistake, considering that it's users are going to be the future workforce.