The complexity of the OOXML format is linked to its design and was deliberately created to make the format more difficult for non-Microsoft software developers to implement. Compatibility issues are caused by a veritable “maze” of tags used even for the simplest content, which binds users to the Microsoft ecosystem in the first example of standard-based lock-in.…
03 Oct 2025
The artificial complexity of OOXML files (the DOCX case)
02 Oct 2025
LibreOffice Podcast, Episode #5 – Accessibility in Free and Open Source Software
LibreOffice strives to be accessible for people with special needs or limitations, such as visual impairment or limited motor abilities. How does the software work towards this? What accessibility features are in the pipeline? And how can all users help out? We talk to Michael Weghorn about these topics – and more. (This episode is also available on PeerTube.)…
01 Oct 2025
Join the LibreOffice Team as a Paid Developer focusing on the Base database application, preferably full-time, remote (m/f/d)
Love LibreOffice development? Want to turn your passion into a paid job? We are The Document Foundation (TDF), the non-profit entity behind LibreOffice. We’re passionate about free software, the open source culture and about bringing new companies and people with fresh ideas into our community.
To improve the Base database application of LibreOffice, the office productivity suite for over 200 million users around the globe, we’re searching for a developer (m/f/d) to start work (from home) as soon as possible.…
30 Sep 2025
Austria’s military switches from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice
Like we’re seeing in Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark and many other government bodies and organisations, the Austrian military (Bundesheer) has migrated 16,000 PCs from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice.
As Heise reports, the main reasons behind the switch are to:
- strengthen digital sovereignty
- maintain independence of IT infrastructure
- ensure that data is processed in-house
The initial plan to move to LibreOffice was formed in 2020, and detailed planning and training of internal developers for improvements began in 2022.…
28 Sep 2025
LibreOffice turns 15: a celebration of freedom, collaboration and open technologies and standards
Fifteen years ago, we announced our ambitious plan to provide the world with a fully free and open office suite created by and for the community. Today, we are celebrating 15 years of LibreOffice — a milestone not only for the software itself, but also for the global movement that it represents.
LibreOffice was born on 28 September 2010 when it was launched as a fork of OpenOffice.…
27 Sep 2025
The artificial complexity of OOXML files (the XLSX case)
The post, published on 18 July 2025, which explained why an artificially complex XML schema, such as that used by Microsoft 365 (formerly Microsoft Office) files, is in fact a subtle tool for locking in users because it is invisible and impossible to detect without in-depth study, was picked up by various IT media outlets. This was probably because it explained a problem that everyone faces without having the tools to solve it in a way that was accessible to everyone.…