Speaking from macOS and iOS use, Orion’s great in terms of performance and efficiency in my testing, and I’m excited to see what all can be done on Linux.

Okay. You’re now the second person I’ve seen to have Linux issues. It sounds like it’s much more optimized for macOS and Windows for now, as everything worked well with macOS and Windows 11 (the latter in a virtual machine via VMware Fusion) on a 16 GB M4 MacBook Air. You might just want to submit an issue for optimized Linux support. The developer’s still focusing on building out core functionality, but optimization is definitely key.

Could be. Full file format support is hit-or-miss with newer programs – even if it can read and write the data, it may not be able to fully interpret it. Try running through *Adobe DNG Converter or converting it to a TIFF, then see if that works any better, perhaps? Also check if there’s already a “full resolution editing” suggestion on the GitHub, and if not, make one! I’m away from my computer right now, but if you find/make one, please link it here so I can also share it.

*Adobe DNG Converter is the one Adobe tool I do use since it’s 100% free and offline. It JUST converts images to “standard” DNG files or JPEGs, and I do this for iPhone ProRAWs or other unsupported images when trying to edit in Darktable. I had to make some “iPhone DNG presets” and all since ADC removes the Apple DNG-specific data, but it works well beyond that.

That’s definitely odd. I mean, it is still definitely WIP (even core-functionality wise), but at least on macOS (via M4 MBA with 16 GB RAM) and Windows 11 (via VMware Fusion with 8 GB RAM and 3D Acceleration on the same ARM Mac, mind you), RapidRAW ran well with my test 48 MP shot and some quick edits.

1. I think you have to release (or hold the mouse still) on an adjustment to see it rather than instant live previews, but aside from that, things generally worked pretty well in my testing. That might be the “issue” with it being “slow,” but if you mean just general scrolling around, that might be an actual bug or lack of Linux optimization yet.
2. The proxy resolution cap is definitely understandable, at least while the program’s still heavily WIP and probably not fully optimized for Linux (hence not being available as a Flatpak or AppImage which would be universal).
3. The highlights “falling apart” sounds like a bug. I know there was one bug where the slider directions for two things (possibly highlights and shadows) were accidentally reversed, so it might be worth looking into that, and if this is another issue, report it to the developer’s GitHub.

I’m with you though – Darktable’s an excellent piece of software, but I’d love a “Lightroom-esque” program and this looks promising!

You’re entitled to your opinion about the interface (I personally think it’s quite sleek, especially for a user coming from Lr or other simpler editors but not wanting to get into Dt-levels of complexity), but it’s not intended to compete against Darktable in the first place. I would argue that it looks more like Adobe Lightroom (its actual competitor, as stated even in the developer’s ReadMe) than anything.

Keep in mind:

• Adobe Lightroom is the lighter, more streamlined editor with more of the ease-of-use. This is closer to what RapidRAW is trying to achieve. This is shown in the more lightweight interface with fewer options and controls.
• Adobe Lightroom Classic is the heavier, more powerful editor that tries to have all the features. That’s more of Darktable’s area. This is shown in the more detailed interface with more options and settings.

↑ LrC vs Lr interface

Not everyone needs both programs – most people would probably be fine with just Lightroom and don’t need the power/want to deal with the initial complexity of LrC. For people who want those programs without the Adobe, however, that’s where RapidRAW and Darktable come in.

Could someone test this with programs like GIMP, Darktable, and Inkscape? I’m curious about the potential of the Android phone as PC, particularly with the merging of Android and Chrome OS. If Android’s desktop mode progresses enough to a level of maturity to run Linux programs sufficiently, this combined with the general Linux on ARM efforts of Asahi and others could prove to be THE solution. Just imagine one of those tri-folding phones unfold to a tablet size with a folio-style keyboard and trackpad, then plugging the tablet-phone into a monitor and desktop setup to “get real work done.”

In all fairness, RapidRAW still wouldn’t solve this person’s needs (a mobile editor with desktop sync) even if it didn’t flag their suspicion, and vibe-coded programs rightfully should warrant a bit more investigation. They are still a relatively new phenomenon and malicious programs DO exist. From my (admittedly somewhat brief) research, RapidRAW’s developer seems to be credible, though I understand caution.

On iOS and iPadOS, I usually resort to Snapseed, though that is also where one of Adobe’s few free editors exist in the form of Lightroom mobile. I’d love it if Darktable or RapidRAW got a mobile port, but at least here in the US where sideloading is still not the most accessible and the alternative is a paid developer account to be available in the App Store, I can understand where they’re coming from.

Fair point on the AI caution. The author actually shares a similarity to myself with my own “LaunchBack” Launchpad revival app which was also a good amount vibe-coded in the initial version. To quote the developer’s ReadMe,

I developed this project as a personal challenge at the age of 18. My goal was to create a high-performance tool for my own photography workflow while deepening my understanding of both React and Rust, with the support from Google Gemini.

The thing is, “vibe-coded” doesn’t always have to mean some terrible project stealing data with a million backdoors. From the looks of his GitHub page, he’s made a fair share of programs and contributions already, and he’s done a good amount of improvement and updates since the first release. Utilizing AI in development isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Now, as far as programs that sync between mobile AND desktop in this category, I’m afraid those are more sparse outside of Adobe’s offerings, and credit where due – Adobe does a good job of that.

I only dislike Adobe because it can be SO inaccessible for people just wanting to learn some photography, forcing them to think “I have to dedicate ##% of my salary to this program, even if I’m just learning things as a beginner.” That’s the primary reason I stand with FOSS and all, as any option that allows people to work without needing to subscribe to closed-source companies (that are most likely using your data ALSO to train AI models and whatnot) is a win, and you seem to understand that. I’m just suggesting that this app being largely vibe-coded doesn’t have to be a bad thing, y’know?

Understandable sentiments. I’m a MS Edge user, for instance, and despite slowly switching almost all my other services, MS Edge just gets it all right. Brave’s featureset is basically a lesser version, and Firefox is getting better, but Microsoft (of all companies) genuinely made a great browser.

I second this. I’m on Stable and have had basically no issues, though I did experience a few that only resolved after disabling Decky when I temporarily tested SteamOS Beta.

Just to make things simple regarding the Mac apps and tweaks, imma just go ahead and forward my “Mac app recommendation suite.” of course, not everyone needs all of these apps, and this isn’t over every use case, but this is just about every program I have on my system. You can check these out and determine if anything sounds like it could be beneficial for you. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pSsLcM4lVnqGt68yu-GgKFApOJBv2aIzMmUs_8iT_2c/edit?usp=drivesdk

Now then, specifically regarding window management and multitasking, I have a few key tips:

1. Learn to utilize the App Expose, Mission Control, and true full screen app switching. macOS inheritly handles things differently from other Operating Systems. The sooner you get a grasp on that, the sooner you may start to appreciate it, or determine what other apps and programs you may want to add with it. Don’t start just adding a bunch of apps and programs before you determine what all you need. For most people, just this and macOS’s built in tiling is enough… but from the looks of things, you and I would not be “most people,” so if you would agree, read along.
2. If you’re on a trackpad or Magic Mouse, you can enable and configure the settings easily within the System Settings application, and I’d argue macOS has the best trackpad experience in these regards.
3. If you’re on a non-Magic Mouse, get an app like Mac Mouse Fix. It is absolutely amazing and legitimately has become part of my essential application suite anytime I use a non-magic mouse. You can download the latest 2.x version on the developer’s GitHub (which yes, does work on Tahoe) to use it free forever, configure individual app settings for things like smooth scrolling, and my personal recommendation: Map the multitasking features with extra buttons on your mouse and/or gestures. Previously, I couldn’t use any regular mouse with macOS as it felt clunky and cumbersome, but now I’m just as eager to use one as I am my trackpad, and I don’t miss the Magic Mouse one bit.
4. Set apps to minimize into their application windows, then get an app like DockDoor to show window previews like Windows and most other operating systems.
5. DockDoor also has a pretty basic Alt Tab-style window switcher which could be enough for some, but the dedicated “AltTab” application is a lifesaver with the right tweaks and setups for you. You can set multiple shortcuts to show different things like only app windows on that virtual desktop, windows from a certain app, non-minimized windows, and so on.
6. You already said Rectangle, which I use as well. Just a general improvement over the built-in macOS window snapping (that only finally released in Sequoia or Sonoma).
7. Supposedly apps like BetterTouchTool and Swish are “essentials” for many, but for me, even across my sometimes-quintuple monitor setup, the things I recommended there are about all I really need. My advice? Don’t treat macOS like a tiling manager system. it likes to have virtual desktops and different full screen windows, so utilize those. Sure, supplement the OS with nice modifications from other Operating Systems if you like, but you don’t HAVE to use those. About the last program I use is just one called Dockey that wraps a GUI around a terminal command to make the dock animate faster so I can get more out of my screen, but that’s it. Let me know if you have any other questions. I am a power user, but I also do enough tech support that I try not to become too far removed from stock so that I can help others as well. More powerful window, tiling management apps and features definitely exist, and I’ve used a few here and there, but those are the ones that work for my use case.

Sorry, that’s on me for not clarifying well enough in my wording. What I mean is that:

• Yes, Firefox sync on iOS DOES work with Zen on desktop, so I could use it even without a dedicated Zen app on iOS.
• I DON’T use Firefox on iOS due to the lack of tab swiping, a major dealbreaker.
• I’d otherwise be fine with using Zen on my computer and Firefox with sync on my phone.

Ahh, very interesting, and excellent point. Thank you for clarifying! I’ve pretty much just used simple extensions like Return YT Dislike and Grammarly, and the few extensions I use that I DO want settings to sync across devices for usually have a setting for it. That’s definitely good to know though, and I’ll keep that in mind for my tech support for the future!

Oh yeah, and there are so many great ways they could implement it, too. I know you said you’re on Android so this is FUNCTIONALLY irrelevant for you, but when you get a chance, check out a video on how Safari handles this on iOS. Legitimately the BEST navigation of mobile browsers, hands-down.

It’s slick and elegant, well-animated, snappy, and functional all in one. You can swipe up on the navigation bar to see all your tabs, then your tab groups are all available via a bar at the bottom to switch between quickly, and if you swipe all the way to the end of your tabs and swipe again, it automatically creates a new one for you. This, and a handful of other cool things, make it legitimately almost convincing enough for me to use Safari just on iOS and set up some complicated syncing method for my desktop and Android browsers, if it only supported extensions. (Orion does all of this + extensions as well and could become a viable alternative once it gets more platforms, if they can get a better implementation of vertical tabs on desktop.)

1. Good to know, at least there is hope for iOS. I absolutely love this feature, especially the way it’s implemented with Safari on iOS where you can swipe up to view all tabs, as well as swipe left on your last tab to create a new one.

2. More or less a convenience thing. It works on my phone, but it’s absent on desktop and makes the experience just a bit more inconvenient. we already suffer from not having true APPS like Netflix or YouTube on most desktop OS, but PWAs at least can lighten that. (And yes, I can use quick launchers like Spotlight, Raycast, Powertoys Command Pallete, Krunner, etc., but that’s still not anywhere near as convenient. I’m literally the dude who made a Launchpad remake for macOS Tahoe; of course I know “better” methods exist, but things like this can still be nice to have IMO.)

3. As I said to someone else, “Built-in browser splitscreen in a browser that handles it well is genuinely game-changing. You can do things like link the Split View (links you click on one side open in the other; excellent for reviews and information gathering), quick window resizing, all your typical tab grouping and collections, and more – all without having to open another window instance.“ And yes, I use macOS (also with Rectangle), Windows, and Linux, and still have this sentiment.

4. I know, right? I think it’s a WIP thing. At least, I hope it is, as the address bar ALSO hides in vertical tab mode if I use true fullscreen, but the sidebar doesn’t. I could be wrong, but I think this is also ONLY the case if vertical tabs are enabled, not just for the usual sidebar with horizontal tabs, but don’t quote me on that.

Ahh, okay, fair enough. That stinks, do I do feel slightly better knowing that it isn’t some major feature I’ve just been ignoring. Not that there ISN’T probably some benefit to it, but it’s just not for me, and I’ve not met anyone so far who prefers them… but then again, I am also THE tech for literally everyone I know 😅

Follow-up: What exactly do you like about tree-style tabs? I’ve not really looked into them before, and even in all my tech-ness (I taught myself macOS, Windows, Linux, and programs like GIMP, Darktable, Inkscape, and a good amount of DaVinci Resolve, for reference)… the two times I tried Vivaldi, I couldn’t quite get it. I mean, it visually makes sense, but why? What are your thoughts as opposed to just tab groups and a single column or row as most browsers do things?

Very cool. Always loved the extent of customization available on Firefox desktop. For me, the current implementation of Firefox’s vertical tabs is “fine” for now, but even Brave’s ultra-basic version of the feature still does it more in line with MS Edge (who does it best, IMO). I’d look into something like this for myself if the iOS app tab swiping got implemented and Zen didn’t handle things better than vanilla Firefox, though. Keep up the great customization work!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally open to forks… if they have all of these. As things stand currently though, I’d have to use Zen OR Floorp to get the features I wanted, and there’s still not a solid Firefox app (original or fork) with the tab-swiping feature so I’d be using a different browser on mobile and desktop. Not IMPOSSIBLE, but less than ideal.

I’ve used Zen before and it came the closest to actually switching browsers since Arc, but as a tech support provider who frequently uses just about EVERY OS except Chrome OS and BSD, I need something reliable and available on everything (which excludes Arc) that also has the features I need for tab swiping and all on mobile (which excludes every Firefox fork… so far.) I’m hopeful, though, that Mozilla will act on what they said here. https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/swipe-on-url-field-to-switch-tabs/idi-p/83548