04 / LightCraft · In Development (v0.4.0)Alternative to Adobe Lightroomgithub.com/storytold/lightcraft
Your photos. Your pixels.
Your machine.
An open-source photo library and RAW developer that runs entirely on your local computer. Manage 100,000+ photos, rate, cull, and develop RAW files without subscription locks or cloud upload hostage situations.
01 / 100% Local-First
Zero Cloud Extortion
Your original RAW files and edits never leave your machine. No monthly cloud storage fees, no terms-of-service image scraping, and 100% air-gapped workflow support.
02 / Zero-Lag Culling
Instant Preview Demosaicing
Flip through 50,000 photos with zero rendering lag. Embedded camera JPEG previews render instantly while background worker threads handle deep RAW demosaicing.
03 / Open XMP Sidecars
Non-Destructive Recipes
Non-destructive adjustments saved in standard XMP sidecar files. If you ever switch software, your star ratings, color labels, and crops follow your files.
02 / Breakdown
LightCraft vs. Adobe Lightroom
| Metric | LightCraft (Pure Rust) | Adobe Lightroom |
|---|---|---|
| License Cost | 100% Free Forever (Open Source) | $119.88 / year photography plan |
| Catalog Lock-in | Standard XMP sidecars & file folders | Proprietary locked .lrcat databases |
| 50,000 Photo Culling | Instant hardware-accelerated scroll | Noticeable catalog rebuilding latency |
| Privacy | Zero cloud uploads; 100% offline | Mandatory cloud sync & telemetry |