OpenOffice

OpenOffice
Name	OpenOffice
Developer	Apache Software Foundation; originally Sun Microsystems; later Oracle Corporation
Released	2002 (as a successor to StarOffice)
Programming language	C++, Java
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Solaris
Genre	Office suite
License	Apache License 2.0; formerly LGPL, proprietary (StarOffice)

OpenOffice is a cross-platform office productivity suite providing word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing, and database tools. It originated from a commercial package and later became a community-driven project maintained under different stewardship models, interacting with major entities in the software ecosystem such as Sun Microsystems, Oracle Corporation, and the Apache Software Foundation. The project influenced and intersected with many notable projects and institutions including LibreOffice, IBM, Novell, and various national administrations.

History

The codebase began as StarOffice, developed by StarDivision and later acquired by Sun Microsystems. After acquisition, Sun released the suite's source code and initiated the OpenOffice.org project, engaging contributors linked to IBM, Novell, and academic institutions like University of Cambridge and University of Oxford. The project navigated governance and licensing changes when Oracle Corporation acquired Sun, prompting community responses that involved entities such as Red Hat, SUSE, and members of the Apache Software Foundation. A significant schism led to the creation of a prominent fork supported by many contributors and organizations including The Document Foundation and companies like Collabora and SUSE. Subsequent stewardship under the Apache Software Foundation marked a new governance model emphasizing permissive licensing and incubation processes similar to those used by projects such as Hadoop and Tomcat. Throughout its history OpenOffice intersected with government deployments in countries such as Germany, Brazil, and India, and engagements with standards groups including OASIS and ISO.

Features

OpenOffice provides several integrated applications analogous to suites such as Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. The word processor component competes with products originating from Microsoft Word and has been used in environments alongside software from Adobe Systems and Apple Inc.. Spreadsheet functionality drew comparisons with Microsoft Excel during benchmarks involving contributors from Intel and research groups at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The presentation module addressed needs similar to PowerPoint and was used in educational settings associated with institutions like Harvard University and Stanford University. Graphics and diagram capabilities paralleled features offered by projects such as Inkscape and were integrated into workflows involving GIMP in creative departments at places like The Museum of Modern Art. Database connectivity enabled interoperability with systems pioneered by Oracle Database and MySQL installations at enterprises including Facebook (historically using MySQL). Extensibility through extensions and macros involved technologies from Java and libraries that referenced work by projects like Apache Ant and NetBeans.

File Formats and Compatibility

OpenOffice supported a range of file formats including the ISO-standardized OpenDocument Format and legacy formats from proprietary suites such as Microsoft Office. Compatibility efforts were frequently discussed in forums involving standards bodies like OASIS and contributors from IBM and Oracle Corporation. The suite imported and exported files linked to formats used by Apple Pages, Lotus 1-2-3, and older packages like WordPerfect, with interoperability tests conducted by groups at European Commission digital initiatives and national archives such as the National Archives (UK). Adoption of OpenDocument Format influenced policy decisions in municipalities like Munich and national efforts in Brazil and Spain that referenced interoperability guidelines from organizations such as ISO.

Development and Governance

Development transitioned through multiple governance models: corporate stewardship under Sun Microsystems, ownership by Oracle Corporation, and community-led management at the Apache Software Foundation. Contributor dynamics included corporate sponsors like IBM, Novell, and Red Hat, who collaborated with volunteer developers and academic contributors from institutions such as University of Toronto and École Polytechnique. The project's licensing evolution—from decisions reminiscent of those made by entities like Mozilla Foundation and GNU Project—affected code contributions and downstream forks. Governance debates paralleled discussions in other open-source projects such as Linux kernel and LibreOffice, with incubation, meritocratic committees, and foundation oversight shaping release cycles and security policies.

Adoption and Reception

OpenOffice saw adoption in public administrations and educational institutions, with deployment examples involving municipal programs in Munich and national policies in Brazil. Reviews from technology publications compared it against Microsoft Office and web-based competitors like Google Docs, with commentary from outlets connected to Wired and The Guardian. Academic evaluations from Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology research groups analyzed performance, security, and accessibility relative to suites used at United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations like Red Cross. Reception varied: praised for cost savings and standards support by advocates at institutions such as European Union and criticized for compatibility gaps by enterprise users at firms like Goldman Sachs and media organizations such as BBC.

Forks and Related Projects

A major fork produced a widely adopted project supported by The Document Foundation and contributors from Collabora, SUSE, and Red Hat. Other related efforts included integrations and ports by companies such as IBM (notably in historical collaboration projects) and community-driven ports targeting Linux distributions like Debian and Ubuntu. The ecosystem featured adjacent tools and projects like LibreOffice, extensions maintained by communities connected to SourceForge and GitHub, and interoperability initiatives involving standards bodies such as OASIS and ISO. The project’s lineage influenced proprietary and open-source offerings used in corporate environments by entities including SAP and Oracle Corporation.

Category:Office software