What can you do with Lightroom catalog files if Adobe stops support for Lightroom?

Question

What can you do with Lightroom catalogs if Adobe shuts down support for Lightroom? Is there any other software compatible with Lightroom catalogs? I don't have Lightroom, this is one of the things that will make my decision.

Answer 1

I won't speculate too much about Adobe's future plans, but I think it would be highly unlikely for them to stop supporting LR anytime in the near future.

However, if you wanted to use your LR catalog in another program there is a workaround.

1) Your first step would be to make sure you are organizing your LR catalog using folders not collections.

2) Make sure you are saving your metadata to XMP on every single file (this will lock in your editing and also all your keywording, etc)

3) Backup your entire folder structure onto an external drive or another source.

In this way, you'll have created a clone of your catalog without actually using the LR system. To "read" your catalog in a different program, simple import it into that program using the existing folder structure and XMPs and you are all set!