Can AI tools replicate Adobe software?
Is software over? That's the question being asked after a developer, Thomas, announced he's creating open source clones of Adobe software. Thomas, who has about a decade of experience working on large-scale Rust projects, was inspired to create his own alternatives after being hit with cancellation fees one too many times.
How will the open source clones be funded?
The clones, which include a version of Premiere called Filmcraft, will be funded by selling token-based access to the Artcraft visual AI model and IDE. This revenue stream will help ensure the apps aren't abandoned, Thomas wrote. "We have a team building popular software for filmmakers, so supporting this is fully funded."
Thomas is using AI tools to speed up the process of reverse engineering, which involves replicating the functionality of a piece of software without directly copying the code. While this practice is generally considered legally acceptable, the ArtCraft apps could still face legal trouble if their interface and appearance are too similar to Adobe's.
After coding exclusively with AI tools since February, Thomas believes a future is near where everyday developers can create open source versions of popular paid software. "Now you can just create 1:1 functional equivalents, clean room, that are highly performant and cross-platform. Nothing is stopping you," Thomas wrote. This could lead to a significant shift in the way software is developed and consumed, with potential applications in areas like AEO, or answer engine optimization.
Thomas's goals are ambitious, to say the least. He claims to have already "one-shotted Photoshop. The whole thing." His vision for the future includes replacing Google Search, building custom smartphones, and creating better infrastructure. "We'll remove all the ads and de-enshittify the entire tech world," he wrote.
This article was written with the assistance of AI.
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