# darktable

Application: darktable team

Also called dark table, darktable raw

darktable team, Creative

An open-source raw developer. darktable.exe is the process. It is not Lightroom.

## What you need to know

darktable is a free raw developer. It is not Lightroom.

darktable.exe develops raws with XMP sidecars. Lightroom is Adobe's catalog. They are not the same library.

- **What is it?**: Open-source raw developer

  **Still current?**: Yes, see Current status

  **Official download?**: Use the vendor link in this article

Feex says

If darktable.exe is the process, that is the GPL raw developer, not Lightroom. I would not hunt Lightroom.exe to explain a darktable library.

## What is darktable?

darktable is an open-source raw processor and library. The Windows executable is darktable.exe.

## If you have never used it

darktable is a free raw developer. darktable.exe is the process. It is not Adobe Lightroom. Lightroom is a Creative Cloud catalog. darktable uses a library plus XMP sidecars. Download from darktable.org/install.

## What is it used for?

**Lighttable library**

Browse a folder-based library. Lightroom Classic uses .lrcat. This is darktable.

**Darkroom develop**

Scene-referred modules. Lightroom has a different tone engine.

**XMP sidecars**

Edits can live next to the raw. Cloud Lightroom syncs through Adobe instead.

## Who is it for?

- Photographers who want a free raw app
- People leaving Lightroom
- Anyone who opened Lightroom looking for darktable modules

## Current status

darktable (2009) is a current open-source raw developer from darktable team. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.darktable.org/install/.

## How old is it?

darktable started in 2009 as a Lightroom-like open-source developer. Lightroom itself shipped in 2007 and later split into cloud Lightroom and Classic. darktable is still the GPL app.

## Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Current Windows build

## System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

### Minimum

| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| RAM              | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.          |

## Resource profile

- **CPU demand**: Follows what you open inside the app

  **RAM demand**: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

## Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

| darktable.exe | Main Windows executable |
| ------------- | ----------------------- |

## Startup components

darktable does not need to start with Windows.

## File locations

| Typical install | C:\Program Files\darktable\\ |
| --------------- | ---------------------------- |

## File formats

RAW, DNG, XMP, JPEG

## Common problems

### Expected Lightroom presets

Modules and styles are different. Import is not 1:1.

### GPU OpenCL off

darktable documents OpenCL. A driver issue looks like a slow export.

## Getting unstuck

### Confirm darktable.exe

Program Files\darktable is the app. Lightroom.exe is Adobe.

### Install from darktable.org/install

Windows packages are listed there.

### Start with OpenCL disabled as a test

darktable CLI flags are documented. This is not Lightroom GPU.

## Alternatives

Lightroom, RawTherapee, and Capture One overlap. Lightroom does not replace a darktable library.

## Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

| Download      | [www.darktable.org/install/ ](https://www.darktable.org/install/)Official installer or vendor page |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help          | [docs.darktable.org/ ](https://docs.darktable.org/)Vendor support                                  |
| Official site | [www.darktable.org/ ](https://www.darktable.org/)Start here, not a random exe host                 |

## Related hardware

darktable wants RAM for raws and a GPU if you enable OpenCL. It is not a Feex sensor.

## Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[Adobe Lightroom: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/adobe-lightroom)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [darktable official site ](https://www.darktable.org/)· Vendor product page
- [darktable help ](https://docs.darktable.org/)· Vendor support
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

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Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Developer**: darktable team

  **Category**: Open-source raw developer

  **Process**: darktable.exe

  **License**: GPL-3.0

  **First released**: 2009

  **Official site**: [darktable.org](https://www.darktable.org/)

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

---

Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/darktable/)

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