Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
LibreOffice
Free and open-source office software suite From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
LibreOffice (/ˈliːbrə/)[12] is a free and open-source office productivity software suite developed by The Document Foundation (TDF). It was created in 2010 as a fork of OpenOffice.org, itself a successor to StarOffice. The suite includes applications for word processing (Writer), spreadsheets (Calc), presentations (Impress), vector graphics (Draw), databases (Base), and formula editing (Math). It supports the OpenDocument format and is compatible with other major formats, including those used by Microsoft Office.
LibreOffice is available for Windows, macOS, and is the default office suite in many Linux distributions.[13] LibreOffice Online, an online office suite, offers browser-based versions of Writer, Calc, and Impress.
TDF describes LibreOffice as a "community edition" intended for individual users, and encourages enterprises to obtain the software and technical support services from ecosystem partners such as Collabora. TDF states that most development is carried out by these commercial partners in the course of supporting enterprise customers.[14] This arrangement has contributed to a significantly higher level of development activity compared to Apache OpenOffice, another fork of OpenOffice.org,[15] which has struggled since 2015 to attract and retain enough contributors to sustain active development and to provide timely security updates.[16][17][18]
LibreOffice was announced on 28 September 2010, with its first stable release in January 2011. It recorded about 7.5 million downloads in its first year,[19] and more than 120 million by 2015, excluding those bundled with Linux distributions.[20] As of 2021, TDF estimated around 200 million active users.[21] The suite is available in 120 languages.[22]
Remove ads
Features
Summarize
Perspective
Included applications in LibreOffice
.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
Impress and Math, version 7.1.2 (released in April 2021, running on Linux with default theme and icon set)
Operating systems and processor architectures
LibreOffice 5.3 Writer using the MUFFIN interface running on Ubuntu 16.04
LibreOffice Viewer on Android
LibreOffice is cross-platform software. The Document Foundation officially supports Microsoft Windows (using the IA-32 and x86-64 architectures), macOS (ARM64 and x86-64), and Linux (ARM64, IA-32, and x86-64).[29][30] Ports also exist for operating systems and architectures, supported by either commercial vendors like Collabora or community members, as is the case for BSD (FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD) and OpenIndiana.[31][32][33][34]
Historically, earlier versions of LibreOffice and its predecessors such as StarOffice supported platforms including Solaris on SPARC hardware. These versions are no longer maintained.
LibreOffice development has also extended to mobile and cloud platforms. A beta document viewer for Android was released in January 2015,[35] followed by a version with basic editing support in May 2015.[36] In 2020, Collabora released officially supported mobile versions for Android and iOS under the Collabora Office brand.[37] A version for ChromeOS was released in 2020 as well.
The Impress Remote app is available for multiple mobile platforms and allows users to control LibreOffice presentations remotely.
LibreOffice Online
LibreOffice Online is the web-based version of the LibreOffice office suite, allowing users to view and edit documents through a web browser using the HTML5 <canvas> element.[39] Development began in 2011, with contributions from Collabora and IceWarp.[40][41] A preview of the software was demonstrated in 2015,,[42] and in December 2015, Collabora and ownCloud released a technical preview called Collabora Online Development Edition (CODE).[43] The first source code release of LibreOffice Online occurred alongside LibreOffice version 5.3 in February 2017.[44][45]
The Document Foundation does not plan to offer a hosted cloud solution similar to commercial offerings like Google Docs or Microsoft 365, due to the prohibitively high cost of running the platform. Instead, development and deployment of online solutions are handled by third-party ecosystem partners and cloud providers. TDF has expressed openness to a public LibreOffice Online service provided by a charitable organization.[46][47]
Therefore the task has been left to ecosystem partners, like Collabora and CIB. The first enterprise version, Collabora Online 1.0, was released in July 2016.[48] In the same month, Nextcloud partnered with Collabora to integrate CODE for its users.[49] In 2019, CIB announced that it would offer a version, branded as "LibreOffice Online powered by CIB".[50]
Supported file formats
As its native file format to save documents for all of its applications, LibreOffice uses the Open Document Format for Office Applications (ODF), or OpenDocument, an international standard developed jointly by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). LibreOffice also supports the file formats of most other major office suites, including Microsoft Office, through a variety of import and export filters.[51][23]
Miscellaneous features
LibreOffice can use the GStreamer multimedia framework in Linux to render multimedia content such as videos in Impress and other programs. Visually, LibreOffice used the large "Tango style" icons that are used for the application shortcuts, quick launch icons, icons for associated files and for the icons found on the toolbar of the LibreOffice programs in the past,[74][75] and used on the toolbars and menus by default. They were later replaced by multiple icon themes to adapt the look and feel of specific desktop environment, such as Colibre for Windows, and Elementary for GNOME.[76]
LibreOffice also ships with a modified theme which looks native on GTK-based Linux distributions. It also renders fonts via Cairo on Linux distributions; this means that text in LibreOffice is rendered the same as the rest of the Linux desktop.[77] With version 6.2, LibreOffice includes a ribbon-style GUI, called Notebookbar, including three different views.[78] This feature has formerly been included as an experimental feature in LibreOffice 6 (experimental features must be enabled from LibreOffice settings to make the option available in the View menu).[79]
LibreOffice has a feature similar to WordArt called Fontwork.[80] LibreOffice uses HarfBuzz for complex text layout, it was first introduced in 4.1 for Linux and 5.3 for Windows and macOS.[81][73] Fonts with OpenType, Apple Advanced Typography or SIL Graphite features can be switched by either a syntax in the Font Name input box,[82] or the Font Features dialog from the Character dialog. LibreOffice supports a "hybrid PDF" format, a file in Portable Document Format (PDF) which can be read by any program supporting PDF, but also contains the source document in ODF format, editable in LibreOffice by dragging and dropping.[83]
Licensing
The LibreOffice project uses a dual LGPLv3 (or later) / MPL 2.0 license for new contributions to allow the license to be upgraded.[84] Since the core of the OpenOffice.org codebase was donated to the Apache Software Foundation, there is an ongoing effort to get all the code rebased to ease future license updates.[85]
Scripting and extensions
LibreOffice supports third-party extensions.[86] As of July 2017[update], the LibreOffice Extension Repository lists more than 320 extensions.[87] Another list is maintained by the Apache Software Foundation[88] and another one by the Free Software Foundation.[89] Extensions and scripts for LibreOffice can be written in C++, Java, CLI, Python, and LibreOffice Basic. Interpreters for the latter two are bundled with most LibreOffice installers, so no additional installation is needed. The application programming interface for LibreOffice is called "UNO" and is extensively documented.[90]
LibreOffice Basic
LibreOffice Basic is a programming language similar to Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) but based on StarOffice Basic. It is available in Writer, Calc and Base. It is used to write small programs known as "macros", with each macro performing a different task, such as counting the words in a paragraph.[91]
Remove ads
History
Summarize
Perspective
Background
From the inception of the OpenOffice.org project in 2000, Sun Microsystems indicated that the project would eventually be managed by an independent foundation.[92][93] However community members frequently expressed concerns over the Sun's control of the project, especially as the company's involvement diminished over time,[94] and was slow to accept patches or external contributions, even from corporate partners.[95][96]
To address some of these challenges, Ximian, and later Novell, maintained a patch set called ooo-build, led by developer Michael Meeks. Its goal was to simplify building OpenOffice.org on Linux and to incorporate community-submitted improvements that had not been accepted upstream by Sun.[97] Most Linux distributions used ooo-build as the default method for packaging OpenOffice.org,[98] and some distributions contributed directly to its development.[99]
In 2007, Novell released ooo-build as a separate product called Go-oo.[100] Go-oo featured enhancements not present in the main OpenOffice.org distribution and adopted more inclusive contribution policies. These changes foreshadowed those later implemented by LibreOffice.[101]
In early 2010, Sun was acquired by Oracle Corporation. This raised new concerns among contributors, who were wary of Oracle's broader stance on open source projects, including its lawsuit against Google over Java,[102] its apparent withdrawal of developers from OpenOffice.org,[103][104] and the restrictions it placed on another open source project from Sun, the OpenSolaris operating system.[105][106][107][108]
This prompted growing discussions about forking the project.[109]
The Document Foundation and LibreOffice
On 28 September 2010, members of the OpenOffice.org community announced the formation of The Document Foundation (TDF), an independent organization to continue the development of OpenOffice.org under a more open and inclusive governance model.[110] Alongside the announcement, TDF introduced a fork of OpenOffice.org named LibreOffice.
TDF invited Oracle Corporation, then the steward of OpenOffice.org, to participate in the new foundation and donate the OpenOffice.org trademark. Oracle declined, leading TDF to adopt the LibreOffice name permanently.[111] Major contributors to OpenOffice.org, including Novell, Red Hat, Canonical, and Google, shifted their support to the new project.[112]
In April 2011, Oracle announced it would discontinue commercial development of OpenOffice.org and transition the project to a community-based model.[113] Two months later, Oracle donated the codebase and trademarks to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF), where the project was renamed Apache OpenOffice.[114]
Meanwhile, LibreOffice continued to develop rapidly under the stewardship of TDF. It incorporated features from Go-oo and other community-maintained patches, and became the default office suite in many Linux distributions, while also expanding its presence on Windows and macOS.[115] LibreOffice receives regular updates, including new features and security fixes. According to TDF, most development is performed by ecosystem partners such as Collabora, who provide enterprise support and services around LibreOffice.[14]
This commercial support model has contributed to higher development activity compared to Apache OpenOffice,[15] which has struggled since 2015 to attract and retain contributors, and to issue timely security updates.[16][17][18]
In a 2011 interview with LWN.net, Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth expressed criticism of TDF, asserting that its refusal to adopt Oracle's Contributor License Agreement had undermined the OpenOffice.org project.[116] In response, former Sun Microsystems executive Simon Phipps argued that Oracle's decision to end development was a business move unrelated to LibreOffice's creation.[117] LibreOffice is now widely regarded as the most actively maintained and widely used successor to OpenOffice.org.[118][119]
Remove ads
Versions
Summarize
Perspective
Since version 4.2.2, released in March 2014, LibreOffice has offered two concurrently maintained major versions in addition to development versions (such as release candidates and nightly builds).[120] These versions are intended to accommodate different user needs:[121]
- Fresh – the most recent major version, which includes the latest features and improvements. It may contain bugs that have not yet been addressed.
- Still – the previous major version, which has received additional bug fixes and is recommended for users prioritizing stability. Was previously called the Stable version.
Since January 2024, beginning with version 24.2.0, LibreOffice adopted a calendar-based versioning scheme. Version numbers follow a three-part format (year.month.patch), with the year and month reflection the initial or future launch date.[122]
Release schedule
LibreOffice follows a time-based release schedule, with major versions released approximately every six months, typically in February and August. These release months are synchronized with other free software projects (such as GNOME) and are scheduled at least one month ahead of major Linux distribution releases.[123]
Minor "patch" updates are issued regularly for both the Fresh and Still versions to address bugs and security vulnerabilities. The Fresh version receives updates every four to six weeks until it transitions to the Still version with the release of a new Fresh version. Once designated as Still, it continues to receive updates every six to seven weeks. A version reaches its end of life roughly nine months after its initial release.[123]
Enterprise support
Commercial distributions of LibreOffice with service-level agreements are provided by partner organizations, the most significant of which is Collabora.[124][125] Since version 7.1, the standard open-source release has said that it is intended for "home users, students and non-profits", to distinguish it from enterprise-targeted versions. The Document Foundation recommends that organizations use commercially supported versions to help sustain development and has expressed concern that enterprise use of the community edition can divert volunteer resources and limit project funding.[14]
In the 2020s, the number of commercial partner organizations decreased. In June 2023, Red Hat announced it would no longer maintain LibreOffice packages in future releases of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.[126] Maintenance of LibreOffice packages for the related Fedora Linux was transitioned to the Fedora LibreOffice Special Interest Group.[127][128] In 2021, CIB spun off its LibreOffice development and support services into a new company, Allotropia.[129] In May 2025, Collabora announced the acquisition of Allotropia, intending to combine Allotropia’s ZetaOffice and WebAssembly with its own Collabora Office and Collabora Online products.[130]
Release history
Legend:
Old version, not maintained
Old version, still maintained
Latest version
_Sifr_välimus,_Stiilid_külgkast.png)
Remove ads
Derivatives
- Collabora Office and Collabora Online are paid enterprise derivatives of LibreOffice. Collabora offers customers technical support, custom features, long-term support (LTS) and support under a service-level agreement (SLA).[199]
- EuroOffice is a derivative of LibreOffice with free and non-free extensions, for the Hungarian language and geographic detail, developed by Hungarian-based MultiRacio Ltd.[200][201]
- NDC ODF Application Tools is a derivative of LibreOffice provided by the Taiwan National Development Council (NDC) and used by public agencies in Taiwan.[202]
- NeoOffice (discontinued 2024) 2017 and later versions are based on LibreOffice.[203] Prior versions included stability fixes from LibreOffice, but were based on OpenOffice.[204]
- OxOffice is a derivative of LibreOffice (originally a derivative of OpenOffice.org[205]) with enhanced support for the Chinese language.[206]
- OffiDocs is a derivative of LibreOffice online developed and supported by the OffiDocs Group OÜ[207][208] with multiple applications to use LibreOffice in mobile apps.[209]
- ZetaOffice is a paid enterprise derivative of LibreOffice. Allotropia (spun off from CIB in 2021) offers it as both a desktop application with LTS as well as an online version based on WebAssembly technology.[210][211] In May 2025, Collabora announced it had purchased Allotropia with the goal of merging ZetaOffice and the WebAssembly technology with Collabora Office and Collabora Online.[212]
Remove ads
Users and deployments
From 2011 to 2018, the estimated number of LibreOffice users grew from 25 million to 200 million. In 2011, The Document Foundation estimated that 10 million users had obtained the software via downloads or CD-ROMs, mostly on Windows, with an additional 15 million users on Linux based on new or updated installations.[213][214][215] By 2013, the user base was estimated at 75 million,[216] increasing to 100 million in 2015,[217] and 120 million in 2016.[218] In 2018, The Document Foundation reported 200 million active users, with approximately 25% being students and 10% using Linux systems.[219] For comparison, Microsoft Office had an estimated 1.2 billion users in 2018.[220]
Remove ads
See also
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads