Outreachy - Introducing LibreOffice

In this post, I'll be introducing the LibreOffice project I've been working on, the community and the organization behind it.

If you're unfamiliar with LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free and open-source office suite that runs on operating systems like Windows, MacOS and Linux and can be used to create and edit documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and more. It is a good alternative for those who want to avoid paying for expensive office software.

LibreOffice office suite contains the following programs:

• Writer: A word processing program for creating and editing documents.

• Calc: A spreadsheet program for creating and editing spreadsheets, including tools for complex calculations, charts, and data analysis.

• Impress: A program for creating and editing presentations.

• Draw: A program for creating and editing vector graphics and diagrams, as well as flowcharts, organization charts, and more.

• Math: A program for creating and editing mathematical formulas.

• Base: A program for creating and managing databases, forms and reports.

These programs can all be used together to create complex documents, such as reports, brochures, and books.

The LibreOffice Community

The LibreOffice community consist of volunteers, individuals, organizations, developers, designers, translators, marketers and other professionals from around the world, who are committed to the project's goals of providing a high-quality, free and open-source alternative to proprietary office software. They work together to improve the LibreOffice software and make it accessible to as many people as possible.

Anyone can contribute to LibreOffice. They welcome contributions from people with various skill sets and experience levels. You can start contributing to LibreOffice by joining the community and participating in the forums, mailing lists, or other communication channels. You can also check the documentation and tutorials on how to contribute.

The Document Foundation (TDF) is the organization behind the development and management of LibreOffice.

My Contribution to the LibreOffice project

I’m currently reworking the LibreOffice Windows Installer. There are several reasons why the LibreOffice installer needs to be reworked. The current installer uses Perl installer which is old and not maintainable. There’s also a minimal customization option. The installer is also buggy and quite difficult to fix. These reasons and more is why the LibreOffice team decided to replace the current installer with a simple installer built with the WiX toolset.

Reworking the installer will improve the user experience and make the installation process more streamlined.