I switched from Windows 11 to Fedora yesterday. Found out about this and try it out. Unfortunately it’s very slow compared to Libreoffice. Anyone else got the same experience? Any tips to speed it up?
I had to install it with the terminal on LinuxMint. With the download Mint didn't like it.
But it looks good for now.
I already use it on my Androidphone. On my phone LibreOffice doesn't work that great.
I used the steps on this website: https://ostechnix.com/collabora-office-linux-desktop-release/
But I heard that somenone installed it with "easy flatpak", so you can try that first.
This is a think wrapper around the Collabora Online web UI for the LibreOffice engine. It has less functionality and less desktop integration than the LibreOffice desktop UI.
I guess a lot of this is actually the LibreOffice backend. Though, on GNU/Linux, since there is not really an OS-provided web engine that they can rely on, there is probably a bundled copy of Chromium or WebKitGTK that also blows up the size.
I tried using Collabora on the phone this summer. The impression was... let's call it unsatisfactory. Would be great to see their new project to work better.
Curiously enough, Linux users are supposed to directly download a .flatpak file from Collabora website. These people seem to be fans of uncommon solutions in general.
It will be added to flathub ASAP, but there were some issues with how the flatpak is bundled that need to be resolved. I'm sure it will become available using other means (distribution repositories) over time, but we have to start with something.
Especially for people who have been used to the current Office 365 user interface, which is where OnlyOffice and the new Collabora Office has an edge over LibreOffice (I know that there is a tabbed interface for LibreOffice, but it still has some stark differences). Also, it seems like Collabora removed Java from being a dependency, which could reduce the overall footprint.
I'll probably give it a try, as I currently have both LibreOffice (bundled with Fedora Workstation) and OnlyOffice (via Flatpak) installed. I tend to use the former, but still give the latter a try so I can get more familiar with it.
People don't realize how huge this is. If you want to use libreOffice but hate the UI this is literally libreoffice with a good UI. Yes it's a shame it's a web app but this is the easiest way have one codebase for your online and desktop offering.
Just tried it and the first impressions are very good. I'm using GNOME Wayland session with fractional scaling and UI elements don't look distorted (like some icons and heading style previews on LibreOffice), pinch-to-zoom trackpad gestures work (unlike on OnlyOffice, which is still an X11 application), and scale factor of the app responds to the one system-wide one (again, unlike OnlyOffice, which sets itself to 150 %, despite the rest of my system being 125 %). And finally, smooth typing and scrolling with no lag on a Linux Office suite! OnlyOffice was quite choppy with big documents and LibreOffice is downright unusable with large documents and fractional scaling.
What does it have to do with GNOME? OnlyOffice is simply another crappy Electron wrapper that hasn't even been updated in ages to use Wayland. As a result, it misinterprets the system wide scaling request and sets itself to 150 % instead of 125 % on my laptop. Both on GNOME and Plasma. You just came here to rant about GNOME without having any idea what my comment was about.
This is just Collabora Online wrapped into some Electron-like solution (but apparently not Electron, but something that supports "your system’s native browser engine (like WebKit, Chromium, etc.)" according to their blog post).
Under the hood, it uses LibreOffice's core technology, but the interface is where things get interesting. Instead of relying on VCL, they built it with JavaScript, CSS, WebGL, and Canvas.
There is no Java dependency either. The result is a smaller download that installs cleanly. Everything you need comes in one package.
The UI is based on Collabora Online instead of standard LibreOffice, like previous Collabora Office (now CO Classic).
It feels weird to me after using LibreOffice for many years now.
It does, but the interface is much more "modern" and in line with Microsoft Office. LibreOffice has the tabbed interface but still looks pretty rough and dated, especially on GTK.
They had a Linux version already which was practically a rebranded LibreOffice, but unlike Windows and Mac version it didn't have support, neither localization. Now they call that version Collabora Office Classic, and CO Desktop is the new one.
Technically, it's a fork, but its objective is making LibreOffice useful in a web/collaborative environment instead of replacing it in total or part. The main difference is that you do need a license if you want them to host the service as an Enterprise customer.
To me the most impactful contribution is the improved user experience. There was a conversation about this some time ago, and I think it is important to address this issue if we want LibreOffice to succeed.
Ideally, I would prefer this would come from the open source organization itself, to prevent potential commercial takeovers like might happen with OnlyOffice of this Collabora.
It is good that things are moving, but the open source ecosystem can be fragile and vulnerable, so I'm always concerned.
I installed the flatpak file (no debian file available) and I can tell its not ready for primetime. I also went to go remove it and it wont uninstall (maybe I'm missing a command but I tried with standard flatpack uninstall -
Collabora have been around for decades in the open source world. I'm sure Aaron Seigo worked for them at done point, as have many other Linux alumni. This is good to see!
Intriguing, I'll have to try this. LibreOffice has felt stale (and honestly still a bit unstable) for a long time. OnlyOffice would be the obvious alternative but I'm not a huge fan of the Russian corporate affiliation and the way they try to hide it.
MarcelP102@reddit
I switched from Windows 11 to Fedora yesterday. Found out about this and try it out. Unfortunately it’s very slow compared to Libreoffice. Anyone else got the same experience? Any tips to speed it up?
Nearby_Mood3929@reddit
I had to install it with the terminal on LinuxMint. With the download Mint didn't like it. But it looks good for now. I already use it on my Androidphone. On my phone LibreOffice doesn't work that great.
JPSanchez-Pediatra@reddit
Can you tell me the steps you used in Terminal to install Collabora in LinuxMint?
I downloaded the flatpak but it doesn't open.
Thank you.
Nearby_Mood3929@reddit
I used the steps on this website: https://ostechnix.com/collabora-office-linux-desktop-release/ But I heard that somenone installed it with "easy flatpak", so you can try that first.
LowOwl4312@reddit
What's the difference to Libreoffice?
Kevin_Kofler@reddit
This is a think wrapper around the Collabora Online web UI for the LibreOffice engine. It has less functionality and less desktop integration than the LibreOffice desktop UI.
hadrabap@reddit
295MB... Thin...
lillecarl2@reddit
That's several cents worth of high-performance SSD right there, welcome to 2025
Kevin_Kofler@reddit
I guess a lot of this is actually the LibreOffice backend. Though, on GNU/Linux, since there is not really an OS-provided web engine that they can rely on, there is probably a bundled copy of Chromium or WebKitGTK that also blows up the size.
githman@reddit
I tried using Collabora on the phone this summer. The impression was... let's call it unsatisfactory. Would be great to see their new project to work better.
Curiously enough, Linux users are supposed to directly download a .flatpak file from Collabora website. These people seem to be fans of uncommon solutions in general.
quikee_LO@reddit
It will be added to flathub ASAP, but there were some issues with how the flatpak is bundled that need to be resolved. I'm sure it will become available using other means (distribution repositories) over time, but we have to start with something.
Diligent_Caramel6429@reddit
Probably won't ever use this (LibreOffice is more than enough for my uses) but it's always nice to see more software come to Linux.
OddMoon7@reddit
Idk, LibreOffice to me just looks really clunky and messy ui-wise.
HalanoSiblee@reddit
not just the ui
zero optimization
sendmebirds@reddit
I sooooo wish they would upgrade the UI a bit.
cue-ell-pea@reddit
Especially for people who have been used to the current Office 365 user interface, which is where OnlyOffice and the new Collabora Office has an edge over LibreOffice (I know that there is a tabbed interface for LibreOffice, but it still has some stark differences). Also, it seems like Collabora removed Java from being a dependency, which could reduce the overall footprint.
I'll probably give it a try, as I currently have both LibreOffice (bundled with Fedora Workstation) and OnlyOffice (via Flatpak) installed. I tend to use the former, but still give the latter a try so I can get more familiar with it.
Nelo999@reddit
LibreOffice is a direct copy of MS Office before the introduction of the ribbon UI, which plenty of people actually prefer.
People even use it on Windows, certainly I used to do so.
RustySpoonyBard@reddit
Well Libreoffice has some weird quarks. I've not tried it but maybe they can do a better job
Spooked_DE@reddit
People don't realize how huge this is. If you want to use libreOffice but hate the UI this is literally libreoffice with a good UI. Yes it's a shame it's a web app but this is the easiest way have one codebase for your online and desktop offering.
Hot-Macaroon-8190@reddit
The offline (=privacy) spelling and grammar correction is still very bad with these tools, compared to what we have on windows.
What are they waiting for to implement one of the great llms into the word processor?
This would fix spelling, summarizing, rephrasing while preserving the formatting.
Or does anyone know of an alternative (that preserves the formatting)?
AnsibleAnswers@reddit
If you're concerned about privacy, that's certainly a weird request.
Hot-Macaroon-8190@reddit
I think your are confused with online AIs. This is not what I am talking about.
LLMs run completely locally on device, and many are open source.
-> very good for privacy.
BTW: I just found out that Onlyoffice can do it. It has an AI Assistant plugin that connects to your local LLM.
pailanderCO@reddit
Collabora classic interface is almost identical to LO's. However, this new, "online" (=web) interface is mostly stripped down.
Dont_tase_me_bruh694@reddit
Plus I believe you can self host it on a nextcloud server.
tajetaje@reddit
Correct, collabora and onlyoffice are both self hostable
jorgesgk@reddit
Plus it's still open source
sibelaikaswoof@reddit
Just tried it and the first impressions are very good. I'm using GNOME Wayland session with fractional scaling and UI elements don't look distorted (like some icons and heading style previews on LibreOffice), pinch-to-zoom trackpad gestures work (unlike on OnlyOffice, which is still an X11 application), and scale factor of the app responds to the one system-wide one (again, unlike OnlyOffice, which sets itself to 150 %, despite the rest of my system being 125 %). And finally, smooth typing and scrolling with no lag on a Linux Office suite! OnlyOffice was quite choppy with big documents and LibreOffice is downright unusable with large documents and fractional scaling.
Hot-Macaroon-8190@reddit
Wow, thanks for letting me know that after all of these years Gnome is still a misery with fractional scaling.
I wanted to give it a try again. Thanks to you I won't have to waste my time.
We fortunately have KDE, which scales perfectly, just like Windows.
sibelaikaswoof@reddit
What does it have to do with GNOME? OnlyOffice is simply another crappy Electron wrapper that hasn't even been updated in ages to use Wayland. As a result, it misinterprets the system wide scaling request and sets itself to 150 % instead of 125 % on my laptop. Both on GNOME and Plasma. You just came here to rant about GNOME without having any idea what my comment was about.
Hot-Macaroon-8190@reddit
You talked about problems with LibreOffice.
This is what I responded to.
Onlyoffice is something different.
Kevin_Kofler@reddit
This is just Collabora Online wrapped into some Electron-like solution (but apparently not Electron, but something that supports "your system’s native browser engine (like WebKit, Chromium, etc.)" according to their blog post).
Hot-Macaroon-8190@reddit
Here is what it uses:
https://itsfoss.com/news/collabora-launches-desktop-office-suite
Under the hood, it uses LibreOffice's core technology, but the interface is where things get interesting. Instead of relying on VCL, they built it with JavaScript, CSS, WebGL, and Canvas.
There is no Java dependency either. The result is a smaller download that installs cleanly. Everything you need comes in one package.
skiwarz@reddit
Doesn't collabora use libreoffice as its core? I seem to recall reading that somewhere, but maybe that's just on android?
usbeehu@reddit
The UI is based on Collabora Online instead of standard LibreOffice, like previous Collabora Office (now CO Classic). It feels weird to me after using LibreOffice for many years now.
sibelaikaswoof@reddit
It does, but the interface is much more "modern" and in line with Microsoft Office. LibreOffice has the tabbed interface but still looks pretty rough and dated, especially on GTK.
usbeehu@reddit
They had a Linux version already which was practically a rebranded LibreOffice, but unlike Windows and Mac version it didn't have support, neither localization. Now they call that version Collabora Office Classic, and CO Desktop is the new one.
ntropia64@reddit
I am not familiar with this and even after looking around I'm not sure I know more about it.
Is it a fork or a clone of LibreOffice? Is it really open source?
Any downsides over Libre Office?
Piranata@reddit
Technically, it's a fork, but its objective is making LibreOffice useful in a web/collaborative environment instead of replacing it in total or part. The main difference is that you do need a license if you want them to host the service as an Enterprise customer.
ntropia64@reddit
I see.
To me the most impactful contribution is the improved user experience. There was a conversation about this some time ago, and I think it is important to address this issue if we want LibreOffice to succeed.
Ideally, I would prefer this would come from the open source organization itself, to prevent potential commercial takeovers like might happen with OnlyOffice of this Collabora.
It is good that things are moving, but the open source ecosystem can be fragile and vulnerable, so I'm always concerned.
removedI@reddit
Collabora is a web app for collaborative document editing. At its core it uses LibreOffice code to work with documents but has its own UI.
PercussionGuy33@reddit
I installed the flatpak file (no debian file available) and I can tell its not ready for primetime. I also went to go remove it and it wont uninstall (maybe I'm missing a command but I tried with standard flatpack uninstall -
Ivan_Kulagin@reddit
I see this more as an alternative to OnlyOffice, not LibreOffice
edurbs@reddit
After trying for a long time to use LibreOffice and being very frustrated, I am very satisfied with OnlyOffice.
GeoworkerEnsembler@reddit
Too many alternatives now. We shoud put resources to LibreOffice and make it anreal competitor to Office
ThinDrum@reddit
Collabora Office uses LibreOffice at its core. Collabora is a major contributor to LibreOffice.
Source: the article
GeoworkerEnsembler@reddit
This just adds confusion. More branding, more distribution. Do we want thoushand of office projects just like we have thoushand of distributions?
ThinDrum@reddit
Do you want help moving those goalposts? I know a guy.
Damglador@reddit
Of course it's available only as a flatpak...
Damglador@reddit
And it core dumps on launch...
hadrabap@reddit
LOL 🤣
silenceimpaired@reddit
I’m confused. It’s a local install now… but still web based.
nguyenkien@reddit
Yeah. It's webkit based: https://github.com/CollaboraOnline/online/tree/master/gtk
Prudent_Move_3420@reddit
Since its still qt6 im wondering how hard it would be to make it compile „natively“
Obv Webview is better than Electron but its not great on Linux specifically
itzjackybro@reddit
that requires redoing the entire UI in Qt widgets
Alex_Strgzr@reddit
Giving it a go now. I teach Excel and I am curious how much of the tutorial I can map to Collabora without having to change anything.
Sirusho_Yunyan@reddit
Collabora have been around for decades in the open source world. I'm sure Aaron Seigo worked for them at done point, as have many other Linux alumni. This is good to see!
B1rdi@reddit
Intriguing, I'll have to try this. LibreOffice has felt stale (and honestly still a bit unstable) for a long time. OnlyOffice would be the obvious alternative but I'm not a huge fan of the Russian corporate affiliation and the way they try to hide it.
BlokZNCR@reddit
When MS Office sir?
https://www.reddit.com/r/LinuxCirclejerk/comments/1p6awh8/linux_was_cancer_for_you_and_it_spreads_sir/