OpenOffice

Overview

Apache OpenOffice (AOO for short) is a free open source office suite maintained by the Apache Software Foundation (ASF). It originated from StarOffice and later developed into OpenOffice.org. It provides six major components: word processing (Writer), spreadsheet (Calc), presentation (Impress), database management (Base), vector drawing (Draw) and mathematical formula editing (Math). It supports multiple languages (about 120), runs cross-platform on Windows, macOS and Linux (such as openSUSE, Fedora), and is an open source alternative to Microsoft Office. As an important project in the FOSS community, Apache OpenOffice adopts Apache License 2.0, emphasizing openness and flexibility. In 2025, the latest version is 4.1.15 (2023-12-22), which is suitable for individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises with its lightweight and stability.

History and Development

The development of Apache OpenOffice reflects the evolution of open source office software:

• Origin:

  • 1999: Sun Microsystems releases StarOffice, part of the code is open source OpenOffice.org (2000).
  • 2002: OpenOffice.org 1.0 is released, supporting OpenDocument Format (ODF) and Microsoft Office formats.
  • 2010: Oracle acquires Sun, causing the community to split, and some developers form The Document Foundation to create LibreOffice.
  • 2011: Oracle transfers OpenOffice.org to the Apache Software Foundation, and the project is renamed Apache OpenOffice.

• Key Milestones:

  • May 2012 (3.4): The first Apache version, supporting ODF 1.2, improved encryption and CSV import.
  • April 2014 (4.1): Enhanced Writer's title styles, Calc's charting features, and supported Windows XP.
  • August 2015 (4.1.2): Added a sidebar (inspired by LibreOffice) and optimized macOS compatibility.
  • November 2018 (4.1.6): Fixed security vulnerabilities and improved PDF export stability.
  • May 2020 (4.1.7): Improved DOCX compatibility and supported high-resolution displays.
  • December 2023 (4.1.15): Latest version, fixed CVE vulnerabilities, and optimized Windows 11 and macOS Ventura compatibility.

• Release strategy:

  • Non-fixed cycle: Unlike LibreOffice's semi-annual releases, AOO versions are updated more slowly, focusing on stability and bug fixes.
  • Community driven: ASF volunteers and IBM (contributing Symphony code) maintain it, and the code is hosted in Git (https://gitbox.apache.org/repos/asf/openoffice).
  • Current situation: The development activity is lower than LibreOffice, the community is small, and some functions have not been followed up (such as WebP support).

Main features

Apache OpenOffice provides the following core functions to meet basic office needs:

1. Rich components:
   • Writer: Word processing, similar to Microsoft Word, supports DOC, ODT, RTF, has style management, directory generation and mail merge.
   • Calc: Spreadsheet, similar to Excel, supports XLS, ODS, provides pivot tables and basic charts.
   • Impress: Presentation, similar to PowerPoint, supports PPT, ODP, including slide transitions and animations.
   • Draw: Vector drawing, similar to Visio, supports flowcharts and PDF editing.
   • Base: Database management, similar to Access, integrated with HSQLDB, supports SQL queries and forms.
   • Math: Mathematical formula editing, similar to LaTeX, embedded in Writer or Impress, supports MathML.
2. Format compatibility:
   • Supports ODF 1.2, Microsoft Office (DOC, XLS, PPT), PDF, HTML, etc.
   • DOCX/XLSX compatibility is inferior to LibreOffice, suitable for older formats (such as DOC).
3. Cross-platform support:
   • Runs on Windows XP/7/10/11, macOS 10.7+, Linux (openSUSE, Fedora, Ubuntu).
   • No official Android/iOS version, but can be viewed through third parties (such as AndrOpen Office).
4. Multi-language and localization:
   • Supports about 120 languages, including Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, and provides spell checking and localized interface.
5. Extensibility:
   • Support for plugins (e.g., templates, dictionaries) and macros (partial VBA compatibility).
   • Extensions center (https://extensions.openoffice.org) provides additional features.
6. Security:
   • Support for document password protection, regular fixes for CVE vulnerabilities (e.g., security patches for 4.1.15).
   • No OpenPGP encryption (introduced in LibreOffice 6.0).
7. Accessibility:
   • Support for screen readers (e.g., NVDA) and high contrast mode, partial compliance with WCAG 2.1.
   • Keyboard navigation is relatively basic, less optimized than LibreOffice 25.2.
8. Latest features (4.1.15):
   • Fix for Windows 11 font rendering issues.
   • Optimize macOS Ventura compatibility.
   • Improved CSV import and PDF export stability.

Advantages and limitations

Advantages

• Free and open source: Apache License 2.0 allows free modification and distribution, and the code is transparent (https://gitbox.apache.org/repos/asf/openoffice).
• Lightweight and stable: Low resource usage, suitable for old devices (such as Windows XP), 4.1.15 is stable on low-end hardware.
• Basic compatibility: Supports ODF and old Microsoft Office formats (DOC, XLS), suitable for simple document processing.
• Cross-platform ecosystem:
• On openSUSE Leap 15.6 (KDE Plasma), the Qt interface is well integrated with Writer.
• On Fedora 40 (GNOME), RPM installation supports basic functions.
• Community support: ASF provides forums (https://forum.openoffice.org) and documents (https://www.openoffice.org/support), with wide localization coverage.
• Enterprise-friendly: Lightweight design suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises to handle basic office tasks.

Limitations

• Slow update: The development speed is much slower than LibreOffice. The last major update (4.1) was in 2014, and 4.1.15 is only a maintenance version.
• Format compatibility: DOCX/XLSX/PPTX support lags behind LibreOffice and Microsoft Office, and complex files may have format errors.
• Missing features: Lack of new features (such as WebP support, 16k columns, OpenPGP encryption), unable to meet advanced needs.
• Online collaboration: There is no official cloud collaboration solution (such as LibreOffice's Collabora Online), which limits team use.
• Old interface: The UI is not modernized, lacking LibreOffice's sidebar (partially introduced in 4.1) and HUD search.
• Community size: ASF has fewer volunteers, low development activity, and forum response is slower than LibreOffice.

Summary

Apache OpenOffice is a lightweight open source office suite that includes six major components: Writer, Calc, Impress, Base, Draw, and Math. It supports ODF and older Microsoft Office formats and runs cross-platform on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Originated from OpenOffice.org in 2000, it was handed over to ASF in 2011 and maintained under Apache License 2.0. The latest version 4.1.15 (2023-12-22) optimizes compatibility and stability. Although it performs well in terms of lightness and basic functions, its slow updates and limited functions make it more suitable for simple tasks rather than complex enterprise needs. In the openSUSE and Fedora ecosystems, OpenOffice is an alternative for low-end devices, but LibreOffice is more recommended for modern scenarios.