Craft Apps GuidePresentations and slide shows · In development
DeckCraft: Free Open-Source Microsoft PowerPoint Alternative
Looking for presentations and slide shows tools? DeckCraft is a free Rust app from the ArtCraft team. Check its documented capabilities and gaps before relying on it for your work.
What is DeckCraft?
Its README describes a clean-room Rust reimplementation of the Microsoft PowerPoint workflow. The official listing describes the apps as free, open source and built from scratch in Rust.
GitHub license metadata: Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0). The README documents a choice of MIT OR Apache-2.0; GitHub's single-license field does not show that full choice. Read the repository license and asset notices.
GitHub stars: 2,164 at the 2026-10-12 snapshot. Official one-line description: Build and deliver dynamic slide presentations, in pure Rust.
Source: official apps listing
Key features
Build your slides
Use masters, layouts, themes, sections, notes and comments. Shapes, pictures, tables, charts and basic SmartArt can be combined with formatted text.
Present and animate
The README describes transitions, motion paths, by-paragraph animation, presenter view, media playback and rehearsal timing. AutoRecover preserves unsaved work.
File formats
| Format | Documented behavior |
|---|---|
| .pptx | Open/save. |
| Export slides, notes pages and handouts. | |
| PNG/JPEG | Export. |
| MP3, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, Ogg, Opus, WAV, AIFF | Add audio content. |
| H.264, HEVC, VP9, AV1 | Add video content. |
Outline export is also listed, without a specific filename extension in the supplied feature summary.
Status and limits
The official listing says In development; the README describes an alpha heading toward beta. It links a roadmap and gap assessment but does not reproduce the complete shortfall list. This guide does not turn the maintainers’ breadth estimates into a claim of complete compatibility or professional readiness.
Download and install DeckCraft
Start at DeckCraft on getartcraft.com or the official GitHub Releases page. You can also use ArtCraft Launcher to install the desktop apps.
Naming difference in the snapshot: repository metadata points to /apps/slidecraft; the README points to /apps/deckcraft. We retain both official URLs without assuming why they differ.
The latest snapshotted release is v0.5.0, published . These are exact asset names from that release; download them on the official Releases page.
Windows
Match x64, arm64 or x86 to your computer. The MSI is an installer; the portable ZIP is the alternative for running an unpacked build. Follow the README for permissions and portable settings.
Show 6 Windows release files
deckcraft-0.5.0-windows-arm64-portable.zipdeckcraft-0.5.0-windows-arm64.msideckcraft-0.5.0-windows-x64-portable.zipdeckcraft-0.5.0-windows-x64.msideckcraft-0.5.0-windows-x86-portable.zipdeckcraft-0.5.0-windows-x86.msi
Windows troubleshooting
The README documents graphics-driver startup problems and a backend override. Read its full warning before using the following verbatim commands.
$env:WGPU_BACKEND = "vulkan"
& .\deckcraft.exe
Remove-Item Env:WGPU_BACKEND # restore the default for later launchesAn explicit `gl` override can bring the driver crash back on affected systems.
Official README, Windows downloads
See the README for additional shader-compiler and renderer-fallback notes, where documented.
macOS
The universal DMG is the desktop app for Apple silicon and Intel. The README labels it signed and notarized. A separate CLI ZIP, where listed, contains the command-line tool.
Show 2 macOS release files
deckcraft-0.5.0-macos-universal.dmgdeckcraft-cli-0.5.0-macos-universal.zip
Linux
Choose the package for your architecture: AppImage, Debian/Ubuntu DEB, Fedora/RHEL/openSUSE RPM, sandboxed Flatpak or a tarball. RISC-V support and runtime requirements are package-specific. Read the README installation notes.
Show 13 Linux release files
deckcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.AppImagedeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.AppImage.zsyncdeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.debdeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.flatpakdeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.rpmdeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.tar.gzdeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-riscv64.tar.gzdeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.AppImagedeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage.zsyncdeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.debdeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.flatpakdeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.rpmdeckcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.tar.gz
FreeBSD
The README provides tarball instructions and required runtime libraries. Read those before unpacking into system directories.
Show 1 FreeBSD release files
deckcraft-0.5.0-freebsd-x86_64.tar.gz
Web (WebAssembly)
A web ZIP contains a static WebAssembly build to host on a static server. The official listing also labels browser support.
Show 1 Web (WebAssembly) release files
deckcraft-web-0.5.0.zip
Verify your download against SHA256SUMS.txt from the same official release. Compare a locally calculated SHA-256 digest with the entry for the exact file you downloaded. See the checksum guide.
Build DeckCraft from source
The following first-run block is copied verbatim from the official README. Run it from the repository checkout; commands without a clone step assume you already have the code. Read the README for Rust toolchain requirements, operating-system dependencies and optional fonts.
git clone https://github.com/storytold/deckcraft
cd deckcraft
cargo run --release -p deckcraft-cli -- render --sample --all --scale 1 out/DeckCraft vs Microsoft PowerPoint
The comparison here covers only DeckCraft's documented capabilities. Its README positions it against Microsoft PowerPoint; the official apps listing labels it In development. The feature summary describes documented tools, and status and limits records the gaps. File support is scoped by the format table.
This is a documentation-based review, not a hands-on test or a guarantee of replacement readiness. For your workflow, test a copy of a representative file and check the result before moving important work.
Agent, CLI and MCP features
The DeckCraft README documents a command-line tool, a JSON control channel and an MCP server. These expose app operations to scripts and agents; the exact commands and protocol depend on the repository. Read the official automation documentation ↗
Frequently asked questions
Where can I download DeckCraft?
Use its official getartcraft.com page or the storytold GitHub Releases page. This guide links to official sources and does not distribute installers.
Is DeckCraft safe?
This guide has not audited the binaries. Use official releases, verify the published SHA-256 checksums and read the documented platform warnings. Early software can have bugs.
Which platforms does DeckCraft support?
The official listing documents macOS, Windows, Linux, Web. Check the download section for the packages in the latest research snapshot.
Does DeckCraft open PPTX files?
Yes. The README documents opening and saving .pptx, with PDF and PNG/JPEG export. It describes the app as alpha, so test the fidelity of your own decks.
Is DeckCraft free?
Yes. It is part of the free, open-source Craft apps. GitHub records Apache-2.0; the README offers MIT OR Apache-2.0.