Every app on Earth is now open source... whether it likes it or not

Overview

This episode explores the implications of a developer's bold move to rebuild Adobe's Creative Cloud apps in Rust and open-source them for free. It delves into the challenges of using these alternatives, the rise of reverse engineering tools like Reverse Engineer Anything (REA), and the broader impact on software development and intellectual property.

Notable Quotes

- Virtually every app in the world is now open source, whether it wants to be or not. – On the disruptive potential of reverse engineering tools.

- FilmCraft is just not good enough yet, but I sincerely hope it gets there someday because Adobe. – On the limitations of open-source alternatives to Adobe software.

- I think it’s crazy that any real developer in 2026 is still paying money for developer tools when that money should be spent burning tokens. – On the shift in developer priorities and cost-saving measures.

🎨 Open-Sourcing Adobe Creative Cloud

- Brandon Thomas rebuilt seven Adobe Creative Cloud apps in Rust, naming the project Artcraft, and made them freely available.

- The apps, including alternatives to Photoshop and Premiere, even run on Linux, a platform Adobe has historically ignored.

- Despite the excitement, the apps are currently plagued by performance issues, such as laggy timelines and subpar transitions, making them impractical for professional use.

🛠️ The Power of Reverse Engineering

- Tools like Reverse Engineer Anything (REA) can decompile native binaries, making proprietary software effectively open-source.

- REA supports a wide range of executable formats, from stripped ELF files to bare-metal firmware, enabling developers to analyze and replicate features.

- The host demonstrates using REA to reverse-engineer Adobe Premiere’s timeline integration and reimplement it in Rust, envisioning a Premiere Light tailored to personal needs.

💻 Customizing Developer Tools

- The host critiques the inefficiency of paying for bloated developer tools like Supabase, which offer features many users don’t need.

- By analyzing API interactions and UI changes with REA, the host created Studbase, a streamlined backend tailored for niche applications like Horse Tinder and Donker.

- This approach highlights the growing trend of developers building hyper-specific tools to save costs and improve efficiency.

📉 The Decline of Software Exclusivity

- The rise of reverse engineering tools challenges the traditional software business model, making intellectual property harder to protect.

- Developers are increasingly empowered to create customized, cost-effective alternatives to commercial software.

- This shift could mark the beginning of the end for subscription-based software monopolies like Adobe’s.