Software engineer Brandon Thomas has released free open-source clones of Microsoft Office applications Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, named WordCraft, GridCraft, and DeckCraft. Built using Anthropic’s Claude AI, the new software follows Thomas’s earlier release of free Adobe Creative Suite replicas under the ArtCraft banner.
Following a wave of attention for recreating signature Adobe apps like Photoshop and Premiere, developer Brandon Thomas is expanding his sights to productivity software. The engineer has published WordCraft, GridCraft, and DeckCraft on GitHub, offering free, open-source alternatives to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The tools are designed to run across Windows, macOS, and Linux with a consistent user experience regardless of the host operating system. Microsoft sits among the most criticized companies for its business practices, similar to Adobe.
Brandon Thomas Uses Claude AI to Build ArtCraft Suite
The developer behind the ArtCraft project was revealed as software engineer Brandon Thomas, posting under the Reddit username u/ai_art_is_art, who has 15 years of experience under his belt. Thomas utilized the Anthropic AI model Claude to assist in writing the code for his growing software lineup. Utilizing the Rust programming language and artificial intelligence assistance, Thomas successfully rebuilt After Effects, Photoshop, and Adobe Premiere. And Thomas has released them all as free, open-source tools.
Thomas pushed back against online criticisms regarding automated software generation, pointing to his technical background.
My guy, I can code In college I was building laser games on skyscrapers and cloning the luciferase-luciferin system into plants via agrobacterium-mediated transfection AI models enable me to work as an entire company.
Brandon Thomas, Software Engineer
Criticisms and Protests Against Subscription Models
The rapid rollout of these tools has sparked debates across Reddit and other online platforms. Some commentators worry about cybersecurity and the ethical implications of AI-generated code, while others view the project as a direct form of consumer protest. Major software vendors like Microsoft and Adobe have drawn criticism for moving away from traditional purchases toward subscription packages that bundle features many users do not need. Yet, a distinct contrast separates the two: Adobe requires payment for access, whereas ArtCraft does not.
Admirers of Thomas view his software drops as a rebellion against ongoing subscription fees, highlighting how cloud-dependent software environments erode personal control and expressing anxiety that necessary applications might abruptly lock behind paywalls without user consent. At the same time, the developer has expressed strong disdain for existing open-source options, writing bluntly on social media about why he chose AI development over traditional alternatives.
“GIMP sucks. It has always sucked. There is no reason to save broken software.”
Brandon Thomas, Software Engineer via TechRadar
Thomas also shared a personal frustration with existing tools, noting that an encounter with LibreOffice killed a 40-page essay I wrote the week it was due, during finals.
Community Growth and Future Outlook on GitHub
While the newly released office clones are not yet as advanced as the software they aim to replace, ArtCraft’s Discord community is expanding rapidly with users requesting additional tools, such as CADcraft alternatives for 3D printing and engineering enthusiasts. Thomas has made the entire suite available free for all to download on the ArtCraft GitHub, inviting community contributions as the project scales.
