# darktable

> darktable is a mature raw developer and photo library for Linux, Windows and Apple Silicon Macs (5.6.2, 4 Oct 2026), GPL-3.0. It needs 4 GB RAM at minimum (8 GB recommended) and runs without a GPU, though one is strongly recommended. Optional AI masks, denoise and upscale are off by default, and its model policy only accepts GPL-compatible weights. The README itself says it is not a free Lightroom replacement: workflows differ.

- Repository: https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable
- Official docs: https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable#readme
- Checked: 2026-10-15

## What it replaces
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Raw photo editing and library (Lightroom) (partial). Mature raw developer and library, but the README says it is not a Lightroom replacement; workflows differ.

## Facts, with sources

| Question | Status | Answer | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on my machine? | Confirmed | Yes, desktop app | https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable#readme | 2026-10-15 |
| Code licence | Partial | GPL-3.0 (copyleft) | https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/blob/master/LICENSE | 2026-10-15 |
| Model weights licence | Confirmed | Optional AI models (off by default) must be under GPL-3.0-compatible licences | https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable-ai#readme | 2026-10-15 |
| Commercial use | Partial | Yes, under GPL-3.0 copyleft conditions | https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/blob/master/LICENSE | 2026-10-15 |
| Paid services needed? | Confirmed | None required | https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable#readme | 2026-10-15 |
| Hardware | Confirmed | 4 GB RAM minimum (8 GB recommended); GPU optional but strongly recommended | https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable#hardware | 2026-10-15 |
| Operating systems | Confirmed | Linux, BSDs, Windows 10+, Apple Silicon Macs on macOS 15+ (no Intel Macs listed) | https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable#supported-platforms | 2026-10-15 |
| Setup effort | Confirmed | Easy; Windows installer, macOS DMG, AppImage or Flatpak | https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable#latest-release | 2026-10-15 |

GitHub: 13281 stars, 1475 forks, last push 2026-10-16, archived: no.
---
Source: RepoQuarry (https://repoquarry.dev/projects/darktable). Data licence: CC BY 4.0. Quotes are from project documentation and belong to their authors.