design system, plugins look like they belong in Photoshop or Premiere Pro. Modern Code:
The possibilities for building custom solutions with Adobe UXP Developer Tools are endless. Here are a few examples of what you can create:
In this post, we’ll explore what the UXP Developer Tool is, why it matters, and how you can get started building the next generation of creative tools.
If you are maintaining legacy CEP panels, you might be asking: Is it worth the migration? adobe uxp developer tools
Open VS Code, go to Extensions, and search for "Adobe UXP." Install the official pack which includes:
The table below provides a quick comparison between UXP and CEP:
The "Adobe UXP Developer Tools" is a collective term for three primary components: design system, plugins look like they belong in
Ready to build? Follow this streamlined workflow to get your first UXP plugin up and running using the official developer tools. Step 1: Install the Prerequisites Open the application. Navigate to the Stock & Marketplace or Developer tab. Search for and install UXP Developer Tools .
Launching the tool for the first time may require Administrator privileges to enable Developer Mode on your machine. Step 2: Creating Your First Plugin
Beyond local development, UXP Developer Tools facilitate the packaging and distribution process. The tool helps manage plugin versions and ensures that the final .ccx files are correctly structured for the Adobe Exchange or for private distribution. This end-to-end support ensures that a plugin is not only well-coded but also ready for the rigorous demands of a professional production environment. If you are maintaining legacy CEP panels, you
Before diving into the tools, it's helpful to understand the platform they serve. The Unified Extensibility Platform (UXP) is Adobe’s next-generation framework for building plugins and integrations. It represents a significant evolution from the older Common Extensibility Platform (CEP). Unlike CEP, which relied on Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) and synchronous APIs that could block the host application's user interface, UXP is built on a modern JavaScript engine and uses asynchronous APIs. This means your plugin's operations won't freeze Photoshop or Premiere Pro, leading to a smoother user experience. It supports modern ES6+ JavaScript syntax, including async/await , and is positioned as the strategic, long-term direction for plugin development across the Creative Cloud ecosystem. For new panel development in 2026, UXP is the recommended path for Photoshop and InDesign, and while CEP is still available for some applications like Illustrator, the migration to UXP is unmistakable.
You don’t need a special SDK license anymore. Everything is free and public.