OpenOffice For OS X Finally Arrives

by , 7:00 AM EDT, July 26th, 2002

OpenOffice.org has released OpenOffice.org Office Suite Alpha for OS X version 1.0. This first release, which is officially being referred to as a developer release, is a major step in porting OpenOffice to OS X, something for which many Mac fans have been longing. OpenOffice is an open source productivity suite that stemmed from Sun Microsystems making the code for its Star Office open source. OpenOffice directly competes with Microsoft Office. Here's the scoop from OpenOffice.org:

The OpenOffice.org community today announced the availability of the first milestone build of the Mac OS X port of the OpenOffice productivity suite. This build uses the X11 Windowing System from XFree86.org to run on either Mac OS X or Darwin, and is available today for developers interested in helping finish the port.

"Apple encourages Open Source development, and supports the open source community through the Darwin Project," said Ron Okamoto, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "Apple is delighted that a Mac OS X port of the major open source office suite, OpenOffice.org 1.0, has progressed so far so quickly."

Earlier this month, the OpenOffice.org community announced OpenOffice.org 1.0, the open source office suite, developed over a period of 18 months through the global, collaborative effort of many thousands of volunteers. The OpenOffice.org 1.0 office suite features key desktop applications, & including word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and drawing programs – in more than 25 languages.

The code for the Mac OS X port of OpenOffice.org has been in development by the community since April 2001, when the code base was released by Sun Microsystems, Inc. The current release, a pre-alpha release is targeted to developers familiar with developing for the Mac OS X platform.

The OpenOffice.org 1.0 software runs stably and natively on multiple platforms, including Linux, PPC Linux, Solaris, Windows and other flavors of Unix. The Mac OS X developer release uses a ZeroG installer. The OpenOffice.org community wishes to thank ZeroG in this key contribution to delivering this port.

The Max OS X build is currently available as an alpha release in English only, although the OpenOffice.org 1.0 is currently available in more than 25 languages. It is only a matter of time, once this port is completed, that the OpenOffice.org community will implement the localizations.

Developers interested in contributing to making this exciting port a part of the standard OpenOffice.org suite offering can find the tools and resources on the OpenOffice.org site. The next step, now that the port has advanced to this stage, is to create a beta release using the Aqua interface for end users to help finalize. And the OpenOffice.org community is willing to make it happen.

You can find more information and download links for OpenOffice.org Alpha for OS X version 1.0 at the company's Web site.

Please note that this version of OpenOffice will not run in Aqua natively, you must use an X server like XDarwin.

The Mac Observer Spin:

With ThinkFree, this makes two office suites that may actually allow you to free yourself entirely of Microsoft, if that's your intentions. Many Mac-heads have been clamoring for OpenOffice and more than a few didn't think it would ever be released. Needless to say, we think this bodes well for OS X in particular, and the Mac community in general.

OPENOFFICE.ORG OFFICE SUITE FOR MAC OS X