| Feature | UXP Developer Tools (Free) | ExtendScript (Legacy, free) | CEP (Free) | Figma Plugins (Free) | |---------|----------------------------|-----------------------------|------------|----------------------| | Modern web stack | Yes (ES6, CSS Grid, etc.) | No (proprietary script) | Yes (Chromium 57) | Yes | | Hot reload | Yes (instant) | No | Partial (manual reload) | Yes | | Cross-CC apps | Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD, Premiere Pro | Many but inconsistently | Many | N/A (Figma only) | | Debugging | Chrome DevTools | ExtendScript Toolkit (archaic) | Chrome DevTools | Browser DevTools | | Certification cost | Free (via Adobe) | Free | $0 for dev, $299/year for cert (third-party) | Free |
The key advantage of UDT is that it removes the old burden of buying a code-signing certificate (often $300+/year) which was required for CEP plugins. Adobe now signs all UXP plugins on submission.
Visual learners often find video content faster to absorb than reading docs. adobe uxp developer tools free
Before diving into the tools, let’s clarify what UXP actually is. Adobe UXP is a modern, cross-application extension model that replaces the older CEP (Common Extensibility Platform). UXP allows developers to build plugins using standard web technologies: HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript/TypeScript.
UXP is faster, more secure, and offers better memory management than its predecessor. Most importantly, Adobe has invested heavily in making the developer experience accessible. While enterprise teams might spend money on advanced Redux debuggers or premium UI component libraries, the core toolchain is completely open source and free. Visual Studio Code Extension: If you use VS
Edit the view.html file in VS Code. Save it. Press the refresh icon in UDT. Your changes appear instantly in Photoshop.
Total time to first working plugin: ~10 minutes. Cost: $0. | Feature | UXP Developer Tools (Free) |
You cannot develop in UXP without these. They are open and free to access.