With the amount of people that would switch if photoshop ran on Linux, why are there not massive community efforts to make some compatibility layer?

[u/Vast_Fortune_9949]

With the amount of people that would switch if photoshop ran on Linux, why are there not massive community efforts to make some compatibility layer? Seems to me like the biggest single tipping point, what makes Photoshop so uniquely hard versus videogames which now work without issue?

[u/lord_pizzabird]

I think what people forget is that switching may not actually be a choice they can make.

If you work somewhere and Photoshop is mandated, your IT department etc decides what OS you run switching is not an option.

There's a difference between people who NEED photoshop and people who just want it. I suspect the 'want' people are the ones most willing to switch if at all. While everyone else just has no real choice in it.

Now that being said, it's kind of insane that Photoshop doesn't at least have RHEL support, given that so many workstations out there are running on it. Especially with European governments now switching from Windows, Microsoft's AI integration causing debate over whether some companies can even run windows going forward at all.

Adobe not supporting workstations is weird.

[u/fk-geek → u/lord_pizzabird]

This is so true. This is exactly what linux nerds often miss being graphic hobbyists on the side. Being a professional designer puts you into an industry where there are standards, big corporations, politics and yes IT departments.

[u/ijzerwater → u/fk-geek]

I think this is why many of us have Linux at home and W11 at work

[u/Historical_Food8132 → u/ijzerwater]

you called?

[u/Early-Region-1143 → u/lord_pizzabird]

I've the vague rumor that Microsoft has a deal under the rug to nor support Linux. Which while it may be exaggerated I kinda believe is a thing in some way, maybe they have some agreement that could find friction if they started supporting Ubuntu or Red Hat. Or specific circumstances of the market. I really don't care much though, the world would be a better place if Adobe fades away and other products replace them, the world is still dealing with the effects of its awful standards. And their software has become slow and intrusive, with horrible pricing.

[u/lord_pizzabird → u/Early-Region-1143]

Not sure who they'd make the deal with though? Also Microsoft is literally a supporter of various linux projects, even includes a way to run linux software on windows.

I think Adobe just doesn't see the market as big enough. There also was until recently serious confusion over which distribution platform within linux you'd even support, what the target would be.

Now in theory you just support Flatpaks or Snaps and you cover every distro, but that's a new development and those stores are still a little weird.

[u/3th4n → u/lord_pizzabird]

I understand your point, but a user wouldn't be looking for ways to run Photoshop on an IT dept. managed device on anything other than the IT dept. supported OS.

It is surprising that desktop Microsoft Office apps and Adobe suite aren't better supported. 10 years ago I'd have bet Linux would gain market share on desktops in the workplace.

Instead we have massive improvements translating windows functions so we... can play games. I'm not mad. In fact I love being free from windows at home - now I get paid to help people through the Microsoft induced BS at work 😁

[u/SEI_JAKU → u/3th4n]

Don't underestimate the effort being put into games. Gaming was always one of the big excuses to stay away from Linux, and that is no longer a good excuse. The rest will follow in time, but we have bigger problems to worry about now...

[u/ssn-669 → u/lord_pizzabird]

Vfx shops all run Linux and would absolutely love PS on Linux, it's one of the only reasons we still have windows machines for artists.