How does HEIC support on Linux compare with Windows and macOS?

1 HEIC Basics

High-Efficiency Image File Format (HEIC) is the file container for images saved in the High-Efficiency Image Coding (HEIC) format. This format provides a modern standard for image compression and is known for its ability to maintain high-quality images at smaller file sizes compared to JPEG. When dealing with HEIC on different operating systems, it's essential to understand that the level of native support can significantly impact your workflow as a software developer.

2 Linux Support

On Linux, HEIC support isn't built-in like it is on Windows and macOS. Instead, you must install additional libraries or software to open and work with HEIC files. For example, you might use the libheif library, which provides a decoder for HEIC files. Software developers often need to compile these libraries themselves or use package managers to install them, which adds complexity to managing HEIC files on Linux systems.

3 Windows Integration

Windows introduced HEIC support starting with version 1803, allowing users to view and edit HEIC files directly in the Photos app and through Windows Explorer. However, you may need to download additional codecs from the Microsoft Store to enable this functionality. As a software developer, you can rely on this support when building applications for Windows that handle HEIC files.

4 macOS Handling

macOS has had robust HEIC support since High Sierra, integrating it across the system in apps like Preview and Photos. As a developer, you can take advantage of the native APIs that macOS provides for working with HEIC files, which simplifies the process of incorporating this format into your applications. The widespread support on macOS means that users can handle HEIC files without any extra steps or installations.

5 Conversion Tools

Regardless of your operating system, you may find yourself needing to convert HEIC files to more widely supported formats like JPEG or PNG. On all three platforms, there are various tools and libraries available for this purpose. In the Linux environment, the conversion process typically involves using command-line tools or scripts that leverage libraries like libheif to convert HEIC files into other formats.

6 Developer Experience

For software developers, the experience of working with HEIC files varies across operating systems. On Linux, the need for manual installation of libraries can be an inconvenience, but it also offers flexibility and control over the components used in your projects. Windows provides a more user-friendly approach with its built-in support, though sometimes at the cost of additional downloads. macOS offers the most seamless experience with its comprehensive integration, allowing developers to focus more on their application logic rather than on supporting the file format.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?