Published Updated
Latest version 0.14.0, released 2026-10-28
designcraft-0.14.0-windows-x64.msi · 97.3 MB
designcraft-0.14.0-macos-universal.dmg · 135 MB
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage · 116 MB
Windows
designcraft-0.14.0-windows-arm64-portable.zip
SHA-256 da3cfc290be9a35adc849c5eae634e93285524adf8f197d5e8d107c9531d3ea6
designcraft-0.14.0-windows-arm64.msi
SHA-256 a98db5fb9059f9c6f7e951a656b2ed778b502fca418fb9b813547b2b2608a2d5
designcraft-0.14.0-windows-x64-portable.zip
SHA-256 4e06b9f60fa98326902994cc76945f1cd0c331b64f66b2a685b05da5db120eed
designcraft-0.14.0-windows-x86-portable.zip
SHA-256 eecac1ddee926028a07d46459970b6b9727fa92a6ddc804ade15e2fdd89c8556
designcraft-0.14.0-windows-x86.msi
SHA-256 a59368f0c843014877c123dcc88fc17e6efc47db02adb3019056fa4729b93d97
macOS
designcraft-cli-0.14.0-macos-universal.zip
SHA-256 6e35a9e2661349b32f1e3f76bc0f98deb22d2fe71d82ae15105451e4f50bc78b
Linux
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-aarch64.AppImage
SHA-256 aa342edb6543487290e81a63d61fd3c31fc038875f77e2c786d84419cb45d045
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-aarch64.deb
SHA-256 42cbac249626517afd567d8e5dff9739dcd7ea3a2f2bc9977dba654af9019822
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-aarch64.flatpak
SHA-256 85f78ee1aec7cbe210b1099aa78322f79439112c36308862e60366da72e7fce5
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-aarch64.pkg.tar.zst
SHA-256 92c6ab5c7fbd7adb95e0ddc047bc2f0ecbdf995b4bf53bb47b67f7f27b12f807
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-aarch64.rpm
SHA-256 991c39dea60a2448edaf9d483b288c115a8180f6570ea01bffea18bb130bd1a1
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-aarch64.tar.gz
SHA-256 81bfc265d5e353ca5fe6be3dc18db0383526c3cdbc7328f4c85a44f2c3d0d046
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-riscv64.deb
SHA-256 1868297d1ee0a30a40fd8d7bfbb1a29dad3f1eca0e2426d00b6386410d02c3aa
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-riscv64.rpm
SHA-256 b555413c46797129415ff5d9e015499faadacd097bcf123cd257e3fb35024a15
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-riscv64.tar.gz
SHA-256 9e310646920d136fc741c7af403624bdd783b0e28e2f0af105ba005ec4925bbd
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-x86_64.deb
SHA-256 ca03e4d4aa662844fa6ecaee1ec8f8d72940c576b90503777c761d34b930ebb7
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-x86_64.flatpak
SHA-256 e50028fdbe23dd7ec8406c070361a6d1c33fd6ccebda4e116837021bdb43bd03
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
SHA-256 76770d5b0794fe6415e3181067af61dbbb4ad8228868b5bc65dcc4554f91e49a
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-x86_64.rpm
SHA-256 249c94bab639583c215a0efe695af3642600a58ffb0366d766c398f62b72c49d
designcraft-0.14.0-linux-x86_64.tar.gz
SHA-256 25c87be759d35a81ca44e1f625ed4304b16e5aab6a03a1051bca498a81bfc547
FreeBSD
designcraft-0.14.0-freebsd-x86_64.tar.gz
SHA-256 ca5f4503a57a0ffde5cb213b02492b7e63f361e2d98698f75df0af97190b810e
Web
designcraft-web-0.14.0.zip
SHA-256 7d7e5f24d49b07be6c21d9b571f7edd3763bc9f9dd72a9a1dcc61ebd63bcc6bb
Every button downloads the official file from the project's GitHub release. GenGrades does not host or change it.
How to installAll versions and release notes on GitHubAll checksums (SHA256SUMS.txt)
In one or two sentences, before anything else.
DesignCraft is a free, open-source page layout and publishing app from the ArtCraft team that reimplements the Adobe InDesign workflow from scratch in Rust. It has builds for Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD plus a web version, and the project gives its stage as pre-alpha.
What it can do, one sentence each, and whether we actually tested it.
InDesign's layout, tools, menus, panels and shortcuts: spreads and parent pages, frames and threaded stories, the Control panel, paragraph and character styles, swatches and text wrap.
The project's gap list counts 151 of 482 in-scope InDesign menu items with no match yet (measured 2026-10-10).
A Knuth–Plass paragraph composer plus a single-line composer, dictionary hyphenation, word, letter and glyph-scaling justification, keeps, optical margin alignment, columns, baseline grid, tabs, rules and shading. Line breaks are the same on screen and in PDF.
Hyphenation patterns exist only for English, Spanish, Portuguese and Norwegian so far.
Opens and saves IDML; the roadmap says its IDML files open in InDesign 2026 and that it reads IDML exported by InDesign.
InDesign's own .indd files can't be opened yet, and IDML round trips haven't been measured on real documents.
Exports PDF (PDF/X-4 and PDF/A-2b), PNG, EPUB and editable PowerPoint files.
PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3 and Adobe PDF presets are listed as missing.
The README says there is no subscription, no licence server and no telemetry.
File → New → Sample Document opens a magazine that DesignCraft laid out itself, with threaded columns, a wrapped pull quote, styles, parent-page folios and swatches.
Every menu item, tool gesture, panel control and dialog can be driven over a JSON control channel and an MCP server; the command-line tool renders pages to PNG without a window and runs command scripts.
The web build has no control channel.
The same app runs in a browser on WebGPU, falling back to WebGL2. Open and Place use the browser's file picker, and Save and Export download the file.
You host the web build yourself on a static web server.
The people it helps and the problems it solves, and where it ranks.
Built for
Problems it solves
What the project's documentation says you can do with it.
Case 1
Input
File → New → Sample Document, or starting the app with --sample
What the docs say
The README says every page of the sample was laid out by DesignCraft from code and exported by its own renderer: a cover, a feature opener with styles, three threaded columns around a pull quote, and a swatch page. Caveat: it shows the app with its own file, not with yours.
Case 2
Input
A brochure saved from InDesign as brochure.idml, then File › Export PDF with PDF/X-4
What the docs say
The README lists IDML import and export and PDF export to PDF/X-4 and PDF/A-2b. Caveat: the project's gap list says IDML round trips aren't proven on real files, and an opened IDML can reflow with different line breaks and page count.
Case 3
Input
designcraft-cli run --sample --all-pages out/
What the docs say
The README's quick start shows the command-line tool rendering every page to PNG without a window, and says every menu item, tool gesture, panel control and dialog can be driven over MCP. Caveat: the web build has no control channel.
What it does badly, with the evidence, and what we could not settle.
Weak
Pre-alpha: don't use it yet for paid layout work or deadlines.
Evidence: The README gives the stage as pre-alpha (ROADMAP.md). docs/gaps.md lists an open alpha blocker: Primary Text Frame autoflow adds pages users can't delete (#165).
Can't open InDesign .indd files.
Evidence: docs/gaps.md (#2): INDD, INDT, INDB and INDL reading is missing, so for now every job starts with asking for an IDML.
Basic editing fails for some users.
Evidence: docs/gaps.md (#1): object copy and paste on Windows and Linux, Paste in Place, right-click menus that don't open and character formatting set at a caret being discarded; 16 issues from 2026-10-05 to 2026-10-10.
No Chinese, Japanese or Korean input method on the canvas.
Evidence: docs/gaps.md (#8) and docs/localization-parity.md: no canvas IME (#322); the CJK interface font isn't embedded in release builds, so Linux can show boxes (#332).
Printing goes through PDF.
Evidence: docs/gaps.md (#10): Print exports the pages as PDF and hands it to CUPS on macOS and Linux or the PDF raster spooler on Windows; PostScript, printer-driver options, separations to device, print presets and trapping are missing.
Start-up crashes on some graphics hardware.
Evidence: docs/gaps.md (#5): Metal device lost on Intel Macs, an AMD OpenGL driver crash on Windows and other launch failures; a backend fallback landed on 2026-10-10 but the reporters haven't confirmed it.
Uncertain
How faithfully real IDML files survive import and export.
Why unsure: docs/gaps.md (#3) says importer coverage is broad on synthetic files but nothing has been measured on real documents, and we have not opened any.
Whether line breaks and page counts match InDesign's.
Why unsure: docs/gaps.md (#4) says composition hasn't been compared with InDesign yet; one known difference is optical kerning falling back to metrics, so imported text sets wider.
Whether it runs well on your Windows or Linux computer.
Why unsure: docs/gaps.md (#14) says Windows and Linux are thinly tested, with reports of installer confusion and panels that can't scroll on Linux Mint.
The facts, each with its source and the date we checked it.
| Spec | Value | Note and source |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 0 USD | Free and open source Source: github.comchecked |
| License | MIT or Apache-2.0 | Dual-licensed, at your option; GitHub's license detection shows Apache-2.0 Source: github.comchecked |
| Written in | Rust | Source: github.comchecked |
| Stage | Pre-alpha | Source: github.comchecked |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, web browser | Each release ships builds for all five Source: github.comchecked |
| Windows builds | x64, ARM64 and 32-bit x86, each as an .msi installer or a portable zip | Installers and executables are code-signed Source: github.comchecked |
| MacOS build | Universal .dmg for Apple silicon and Intel | Signed and notarized Source: github.comchecked |
| Linux packages | AppImage, Flatpak, .deb, .rpm and tarball, for x86_64 and ARM64 | Plus a cross-compiled RISC-V build that needs glibc 2.39 or newer Source: github.comchecked |
| File formats | Native format and IDML (open and save); exports PDF (PDF/X-4, PDF/A-2b), PNG, EPUB and editable PowerPoint | Source: github.comchecked |
| Chinese interface | Partial: menus, panels and most dialogs in Simplified Chinese | No Chinese input method on the canvas yet Source: github.comchecked |
Answer first, then why, an example, the limits and what to do next.
Yes, DesignCraft is free and open source, licensed under MIT or Apache-2.0 at your choice. The README also says there is no subscription, no licence server and no telemetry.
Limits
The ArtCraft name and logos are trademarks and are not covered by the open-source license.
The official DesignCraft builds are signed: the README says the Windows installers and programs are code-signed and the macOS app is signed and notarized.
Why
The download buttons on this page link straight to the files on the project's GitHub releases, and every release includes SHA256SUMS.txt with a checksum for each file.
Limits
We have not audited the code or the builds ourselves.
Next step
Download only from this page or from github.com/storytold/designcraft, not from re-upload sites.
DesignCraft opens and saves IDML files, but it can't open InDesign's own .indd files yet.
Why
IDML import and export are in the README; reading .indd is listed as a blocking gap in docs/gaps.md.
Limits
An opened IDML can reflow, with different line breaks, page count or overset text, because composition hasn't been compared with InDesign yet.
Next step
Ask whoever sends you the file for an IDML export instead of the .indd.
DesignCraft has builds for macOS, Windows, Linux and FreeBSD, plus a web build that runs in a modern browser.
Why
The Mac build is one universal app for Apple silicon and Intel. Linux gets AppImage, Flatpak, .deb, .rpm and tarball builds for x86_64 and ARM64.
Limits
The project's gap list says Windows and Linux are thinly tested so far.
Typing Chinese, Japanese or Korean directly on the DesignCraft canvas doesn't work yet, because the canvas has no input method (IME) support.
Why
The project's localization notes list the missing canvas IME as issue #322. The Simplified Chinese interface covers menus, panels and most dialogs.
Limits
On Linux the Chinese interface can show boxes, because release builds don't embed a CJK interface font yet (#332).
DesignCraft copies InDesign's layout, tools and shortcuts, but the project calls it pre-alpha and its own gap list names problems that stop professional work.
Why
Styles, threaded text, the paragraph composer, tables, IDML and PDF/X-4 export already exist, according to the README and roadmap.
Limits
Opening .indd files, reliable copy and paste on Windows and Linux, printing beyond PDF, a canvas IME and compatibility with InDesign scripts are missing.
Step by step for each system, plus the fixes the project documents for common problems.
designcraft-<version>-windows-x64.msi, which fits most Windows PCs with an Intel or AMD processor..msi file and follow the installer's steps.designcraft-<version>-windows-arm64.msi or designcraft-<version>-windows-x86.msi from Other downloads instead.designcraft-<version>-windows-x64-portable.zip) from Other downloads, unzip it and start DesignCraft from the folder.If something goes wrong
WGPU_BACKEND to dx12, vulkan or gl. To start afresh, delete gpu.json in %APPDATA%\DesignCraft\.%APPDATA%\DesignCraft\logs\designcraft.log to your bug report. The previous run's log is kept as designcraft.1.log, so the log of a crashed run survives the next start.designcraft-<version>-macos-universal.dmg, one build for both Apple silicon and Intel Macs..dmg file and drag DesignCraft to your Applications folder.designcraft-cli-<version>-macos-universal.zip under Other downloads, is a separate download. You only need it for scripts or AI agents.If something goes wrong
~/Library/Application Support/DesignCraft/logs/designcraft.log to your bug report. The previous run's log is kept as designcraft.1.log.designcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.AppImage, which runs without installing. ARM64 computers use the aarch64 AppImage from Other downloads.chmod +x designcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.AppImage, then ./designcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.AppImage..deb from Other downloads instead: sudo apt install ./designcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.deb..rpm: sudo dnf install ./designcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.rpm.flatpak install --user designcraft-<version>-linux-x86_64.flatpak..zsync files published next to it.If something goes wrong
WGPU_BACKEND=gl (or vulkan). To start afresh, delete ~/.config/designcraft/gpu.json.~/.config/designcraft/logs/designcraft.log (or $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/designcraft/logs/designcraft.log) to your bug report. The previous run's log is kept as designcraft.1.log.designcraft-<version>-freebsd-x86_64.tar.gz. There is an x86_64 build only./usr/local: tar -xzf designcraft-<version>-freebsd-x86_64.tar.gz --strip-components 1 -C /usr/local.designcraft.designcraft-web-<version>.zip. This is a static website you host yourself, not a ready-made online editor..wasm files as application/wasm.https:// (or on localhost). Elsewhere WebGPU isn't available and the app falls back to WebGL2.DesignCraft's README gives its stage as pre-alpha. It already has InDesign's main building blocks: spreads and parent pages, frames and threaded stories, the Control panel, paragraph and character styles, swatches and text wrap. The type engine uses a Knuth–Plass paragraph composer with dictionary hyphenation, justification, optical margin alignment, columns and a baseline grid, and line breaks are the same on screen and in PDF. It imports and exports IDML, and it exports PDF (PDF/X-4 and PDF/A-2b), PNG, EPUB and editable PowerPoint files. A sample magazine, opened with File → New → Sample Document, shows threaded three-column text, a wrapped pull quote and parent-page folios, all set by DesignCraft itself.
The project keeps a ranked list of gaps (docs/gaps.md) ordered by how much each one stops an InDesign professional from doing real work. Near the top: InDesign's own .indd files can't be opened, object copy and paste fails for some users on Windows and Linux, IDML round trips haven't been measured on real documents, composition hasn't been compared with InDesign, some graphics hardware crashes at start-up, and installed fonts aren't always found. The canvas has no input method for Chinese, Japanese or Korean yet. Printing exports PDF and hands it to the system's print spooler; PostScript, printer-driver options and separations are missing.
DesignCraft copies InDesign's layout, tools, menus, panels and shortcuts, and the README says that if you know InDesign you already know how to use it. The roadmap's stated aim is full InDesign parity, plus a documented open format, control by AI agents over MCP and a version that runs on the web. The README adds that there is no subscription, no licence server and no telemetry. For now, the gap list warns that professionals will notice reflowed text on the first page of an opened IDML. DesignCraft is an independent project and is not affiliated with Adobe.
Every menu item, tool gesture, panel control and dialog can be driven over a JSON control channel and an MCP server, so Claude and other agents can lay out and edit documents. The command-line tool lists every command, runs command scripts and renders every page to PNG without opening a window.
DesignCraft is one of the Crafting Apps from the ArtCraft team: free, open-source creative tools, each written from scratch in Rust and each usable on its own. The others include PhotoCraft for image editing, VectorCraft for vector illustration, FilmCraft for video, LightCraft for photo libraries, PdfCraft for PDFs and EffectCraft for motion graphics. The code is dual-licensed under MIT or Apache-2.0.
Sources
Changelog
Vector graphics
VectorCraft is a free, open-source vector illustration app from the ArtCraft team that reimplements the Adobe Illustrator workflow from scratch in pure Rust. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD and in a web browser, and its README describes it as alpha software under active development.
Latest version 0.18.0, released 2026-10-28Apache-2.0
Photo editor
PhotoCraft is a free, open-source Photoshop clone from the ArtCraft team (storytold): a clean-room reimplementation of Adobe Photoshop, written from scratch in pure Rust with help from Anthropic's AI model Claude Opus 5.5. It opens and saves layered PSD files and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD and in the browser, but the project calls it early alpha.
Latest version 0.17.0, released 2026-10-28Apache-2.0
Photo editing and organizing
LightCraft is a free, open-source photo library and raw developer from the ArtCraft team (storytold), written in pure Rust as a clean-room reimplementation of Adobe Lightroom. It organizes and edits photos non-destructively on Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD and in the browser; the project says it is still in alpha.
Latest version 0.15.0, released 2026-10-28Apache-2.0
Interface design
FigCraft is a free, open-source interface design app from the ArtCraft team (storytold on GitHub) that rebuilds the Figma workflow in pure Rust: frames, auto layout, components, variables and prototypes in a native app that works offline. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD and in the browser, and is still in alpha.
Latest version 0.12.1, released 2026-10-28Apache-2.0
Word processor
WordCraft is a free, open-source word processor from the ArtCraft team that rebuilds the Microsoft Word workflow from scratch in pure Rust. It opens and saves .docx files and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD and in the browser.
Latest version 0.12.0, released 2026-10-28Apache-2.0
Audio editor
SoundCraft is a free, open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) from the ArtCraft team: a clean-room rewrite of Avid Pro Tools in pure Rust for recording, editing and mixing audio. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD, and in a web browser.
Latest version 0.14.0, released 2026-10-28Apache-2.0