OpenOffice.org released version 1.0, the first stable version of the software.

OpenOffice.org, often affectionately known simply as OpenOffice, holds a significant place in the history of personal computing as a pioneering open-source office suite. An office suite is a collection of productivity software designed for common office tasks, typically including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. While its active development as OpenOffice.org has since been discontinued, its legacy lives on through various successor projects, profoundly influencing the landscape of free and open-source software. It emerged as a viable alternative to proprietary software, particularly aiming to provide a robust competitor to Microsoft Office.

The Origins: From StarOffice to OpenOffice.org

The story of OpenOffice.org begins with StarOffice, a proprietary office suite developed by the German company StarDivision. In 1999, the technology giant Sun Microsystems acquired StarDivision and its StarOffice suite. Sun initially intended to use StarOffice primarily for internal purposes and to integrate it into its own software ecosystem. However, a pivotal decision was made in July 2000: Sun Microsystems announced it would release the StarOffice source code under an open-source license, thus giving birth to the OpenOffice.org project. This strategic move was driven by a desire to challenge the then-dominant market position of Microsoft Office, fostering innovation through community collaboration and offering a free, high-quality alternative to users worldwide. After considerable development effort by the nascent community, OpenOffice.org version 1.0 was officially released on May 1, 2002, marking a major milestone in the open-source movement.

A Comprehensive Suite of Tools

OpenOffice.org was designed as a full-featured productivity package, offering a range of applications comparable to its commercial counterparts. This integrated suite provided users with all the essential tools for daily office tasks, including:

Interoperability and Open Standards

A cornerstone of OpenOffice.org's philosophy was its commitment to open standards and interoperability. Its default file format was the OpenDocument Format (ODF), an XML-based file format for office applications. ODF was not just any proprietary format; it was developed by OpenOffice.org and later became an ISO/IEC international standard (ISO/IEC 26300). This standardization was crucial, promoting vendor neutrality and ensuring long-term accessibility of documents, free from reliance on specific software. Beyond its native ODF, OpenOffice.org was also highly adept at reading and writing a wide array of other file formats, with particular attention paid to seamless compatibility with documents created in Microsoft Office (e.g., .doc, .xls, .ppt). This capability was vital for user adoption, allowing individuals and organizations to transition to OpenOffice.org without losing access to their existing files or disrupting collaboration with others still using Microsoft Office.

Cross-Platform Availability and Licensing Model

From its inception, OpenOffice.org was developed with cross-platform compatibility in mind, a significant advantage for users across diverse computing environments. It was primarily engineered for deployment on Linux, Microsoft Windows, and Sun's own Solaris operating system. Over time, its reach expanded to include OS X (now macOS) and various other operating systems through community-driven ports. This broad availability underscored its mission to be accessible to as many users as possible. The suite was distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 3 (LGPLv3), an open-source license that grants users the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software, while allowing it to be linked with proprietary applications. Notably, earlier versions of OpenOffice.org were also available under the Sun Industry Standards Source License (SISSL), reflecting Sun's initial licensing strategy before the broader adoption of LGPL.

The Evolution and Enduring Legacy: Oracle, Apache, and Successors

The trajectory of OpenOffice.org took a significant turn in 2011. Following Oracle Corporation's acquisition of Sun Microsystems in 2010, Oracle inherited the OpenOffice.org project. After evaluating its strategy, Oracle announced that it would cease offering a commercial version of the suite and subsequently donated the project to the Apache Foundation. This move led to the software being renamed Apache OpenOffice, and it continued under the stewardship of the Apache Software Foundation. However, before this donation, a substantial portion of the OpenOffice.org development community, concerned about Oracle's commitment to the project, had already forked the codebase. This fork resulted in the creation of LibreOffice, which quickly garnered widespread community and developer support. Today, LibreOffice stands as the most actively developed and widely used successor to OpenOffice.org, continuously releasing new features and improvements. Another notable successor is NeoOffice, a commercial offering specifically tailored for macOS users, demonstrating the enduring impact and diverse adaptations stemming from the original OpenOffice.org codebase. Though OpenOffice.org itself is discontinued, its spirit of open-source innovation and its foundational code continue to empower millions through these vibrant successor projects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was OpenOffice.org?
OpenOffice.org, or simply OpenOffice, was a pioneering open-source office suite that offered a free alternative to proprietary software like Microsoft Office. It included applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, drawing, formula editing, and database management.
Is OpenOffice still actively developed?
The original OpenOffice.org project was discontinued in 2011 after its donation to the Apache Foundation, becoming Apache OpenOffice. While Apache OpenOffice is still maintained, it receives less frequent updates compared to its most active successor, LibreOffice.
What is the difference between OpenOffice and LibreOffice?
LibreOffice is a direct descendant, or "fork," of OpenOffice.org. It was created by a group of developers who left the OpenOffice.org project before its donation to Apache. LibreOffice is now the most actively developed and widely used successor, boasting more frequent updates, new features, and broader community support than Apache OpenOffice.
Why was OpenOffice.org open-sourced?
Sun Microsystems open-sourced the StarOffice suite (which became OpenOffice.org) in 2000 primarily to compete with Microsoft Office, foster innovation through community development, and promote open standards.
What is ODF?
ODF stands for OpenDocument Format. It is an XML-based, international standard (ISO/IEC 26300) file format for office documents, which originated with OpenOffice.org. It promotes vendor neutrality and ensures long-term accessibility of documents.
What happened to OpenOffice.org after Sun Microsystems was acquired?
After Oracle Corporation acquired Sun Microsystems, they initially took over the OpenOffice.org project. In 2011, Oracle decided to cease commercial development and donated the project to the Apache Foundation, where it was renamed Apache OpenOffice. However, much of the developer community had already moved on to create LibreOffice.