Creator of free Adobe clones unveils open-source Microsoft Office Excel, PowerPoint, and Word replications — Autodesk instruments and different subscription-based providers could come subsequent
Brandon Thomas, developer of ArtCraft, a set of open-source artistic instruments meant to duplicate Adobe functions without cost, has now introduced apps to interchange Microsoft Office instruments reminiscent of Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, respectively, named GridCraft, DeckCraft, and WordCraft, which might be created with Claude. Thomas has shared his new clones to ArtCraft GitHub, making them free for all to obtain.
After our previous story covering ArtCraft, we’ve got since found that u/ai_art_is_art is Brandon Thomas, a extremely gifted software program engineer with 15 years of expertise below his belt. After his ArtCraft venture grew to become standard, many criticisms adopted about vibecoded software program and AI slop, to which Brandon responded on his X account, saying that he does know how you can code.
One of the most important ache factors for these software program applications is OS compatibility, whereas Adobe runs on MacOS and Windows, Linux requires extra compatibility layers and Windows emulation to work. One of ArtCraft’s largest promoting factors is with the ability to run all of the software program throughout all three platforms whereas nonetheless giving an similar consumer expertise no matter OS — that is additionally a part of the parity that ArtCraft needs to realize. While Google supplies these instruments without cost with Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides obtainable on all platforms via a browser, the online-only mannequin takes away the possession facet of the software program, fearing that in the future the instruments would instantly require a subscription and customers wouldn’t have any say in it.
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Microsoft sits among the many most criticized firms for its commerce practices, just like Adobe. What was as soon as a one-time buy now comes as a subscription package deal with varied instruments that many don’t want; many even have overlapping options and makes use of, primarily losing a few of the subscription worth. It appears that Brandon Thomas isn’t solely creating open-source alternate options, however can also be making a focused protest in opposition to these practices.
ArtCraft’s Discord group can also be rising in a short time, with fixed suggestions of different software program they wish to see, with CADcraft being generally mentioned amongst 3D printing and engineering lovers who don’t like Autodesk, just like Microsoft and Adobe. As many free alternate options as there have been earlier than the rampant vibecoding, plainly this rising assortment of instruments isn’t solely practical, however a message to the big firms as effectively. Most of those apps are nonetheless removed from what they intend to interchange, nonetheless, so we’ll should see how deep this message cuts.
