ByThe Long-Standing Challenge of Linux and Professional Tools
We all know that the Linux operating system symbolizes stability, security, and open-source freedom. Despite this, a major drawback has always been the lack of native support for professional tools like Adobe Creative Cloud. This has remained a serious obstacle for graphic designers, video editors, and UI/UX professionals.
Now, this situation is rapidly changing. With new patches for Wine, a historic achievement is being made: the Adobe Creative Cloud installer is now running on Linux. This is not only significant from a technical standpoint but also brings Linux closer to being a viable platform for professional workflows.
What is Wine and Why is it Important for Linux?
Wine (Wine Is Not an Emulator) is a compatibility layer that enables Windows applications to run on Linux. It translates Windows API calls into Linux system calls.
Until now, Wine has primarily been used for Windows games and some business applications. However, complex and modern applications like the Adobe Creative Cloud installer have always posed a significant challenge for Wine.
The Contribution of “Fialbasement”: A Major Breakthrough
We believe that the contribution of “Fialbasement” is crucial to this progress. The patches they provided fixed a critical bug in Wine that was preventing the Adobe installer from working correctly.
This problem was primarily related to JavaScript and XML handling, where the Adobe installer uses JavaScript to communicate with the operating system.
What was the actual problem with JavaScript and XML handling?
The Adobe Creative Cloud installer is designed for Windows. Windows’ XML parsing behavior is lenient, while libxml2, used in Linux, adheres to much stricter validation.
Main technical obstacles:
JavaScript OS interaction
Strict validation of XML data
Incorrectly delegated IDs
Event handling limitations on Internet Explorer
All these checks were not working correctly.
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Using CDATA tags: The solution
We see that the patch implemented a very effective solution – wrapping some of Adobe’s XML data in CDATA tags.
This gave the Linux XML parser no reason to reject the code, and the Adobe Installer could proceed without issue.
Event handling, like Internet Explorer 9
Another significant change was forcing Wine to handle events like Internet Explorer 9.
The Adobe installer still relies on several legacy behaviors that are not present in modern environments. This patch implemented the same behavior.
Adobe Photoshop on Linux: The real experience
Photoshop 2021 performance
According to Photoshop, Photoshop 2021 runs smoothly on Wine. Features like FX editing, layers, pictures, and export work without major problems.
Drag-and-drop issue
However, some issues were encountered with the drag-and-drop feature. This is believed to be related to the Wayland display server.
Photoshop 2025 compatibility
It’s also worth mentioning that Photoshop 2025 is also compatible, suggesting that future versions may also work on Linux.
WineHQ vs. ValveSoftware: Why upstream is important
Initially, this code was submitted to the ValveSoftware/Wine GitHub repository. However, the patch correctly suggested that it should be submitted upstream to WineHQ.
Advantages of Upstream Submission:
Benefits all Wine users
Not limited to Steam/Proton
Permanent solution
Open-source ecosystem contribution
We believe this step is extremely prestigious for the Linux brand.
Steam Proton, Office 365, and now Photoshop: The unique landscape of Linux
Today on Linux:
Thousands of Windows games via Steam Proton
Office 365 video available
Adobe Photoshop is possible with Wine
With all these advancements, it would be wrong to call Linux “only for development” anymore.
Linux: A new hope for old hardware
After Windows support ends, millions of systems become e-waste. But with Linux:
Efficient resource utilization
Long-term updates
Now professional software support
This is also a big step towards a shift in digital sustainability.
Linux is rapidly gaining ground in professional workflows
We can clearly see that Linux is no longer just an alternative but is becoming a viable professional platform.
The Adobe Creative Cloud installer running on Wine is a gradual turning point in this direction.
Conclusion: A new era for Linux and the creative industry
We believe this development is not just a technical achievement, but a strong signal towards establishing Linux in the mainstream professional industry.
As Wine improves in the future, running creative workflows on Linux will become even more seamless, stable, and efficient.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Question 1: Is Adobe Creative Cloud officially available on Linux?
No, Adobe Creative Cloud is not officially available for Linux. However, thanks to new patches in Wine, its installer can now be successfully run on Linux, making it possible to use tools like Photoshop.
Question 2: What is Wine, and how does it run Adobe software?
Wine is a compatibility layer that helps run Windows applications on Linux. It translates Windows API calls into Linux system calls, allowing software like the Adobe Creative Cloud Installer to run.
Question 3: Why didn’t the Adobe Creative Cloud Installer work on Linux before?
The main reasons were:
Problems with JavaScript and XML handling
The strictness of Linux’s XML tools (libxml2)
Incorrect delegation of some IDs by Wine
These issues caused the installer to crash.
Question 4: What improvements were made in the new Wine patches?
The new patches:
Wrapped Adobe’s XML data in CDATA tags
Forced Wine to adopt event handling similar to Internet Explorer 9
These changes allow the installer to work correctly.
Question 5: Which Adobe software is currently working on Linux?
Currently:
Adobe Photoshop 2021 runs with good performance
Adobe Photoshop 2025 installs successfully
Continuous testing and improvements are ongoing for other Adobe tools.
Question 6: Why doesn’t drag-and-drop work correctly in Photoshop?
The drag-and-drop issue is believed to be related to the Wayland display server. This is not a fundamental Wine problem and is likely to be fixed in the future.
Question 7: Why is it important to submit the patches to WineHQ?
If the patches remain only in ValveSoftware’s fork:
Only Steam/Proton users will benefit
Upstream submission to WineHQ will:
Provide lasting benefits to all Wine users
Strengthen the Linux ecosystem
Question 8: Does this make Linux better for professional creatives?
Yes, absolutely. Now on Linux:
Windows games (via Proton)
Office 365 (in the cloud)
Photoshop (via Wine)
The availability of these applications brings Linux even closer to a professional workflow.
Question 9: Can Adobe be used on older computers with Linux?
Yes. Linux runs well on older hardware, even after Windows support ends, and with the availability of Adobe tools, it is becoming a viable solution.
Question 10: Could Adobe officially support Linux in the future?
While there has been no official announcement from Adobe, the progress made by Wine and the Linux community suggests that using professional software on Linux will become even easier in the future.
Source: Neowin.net
