There Are Free, Open-Source Versions of Microsoft Office Apps Thanks to AI
The suite is open source, but some generative-AI features require paid subscriptions, and critics question whether one developer can keep pace with updates.
- Software engineer Brandon Thomas released AI-built, open-source clones of Microsoft Office, branding them WordCraft, GridCraft, and DeckCraft to replicate Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint functionality for free.
- Earlier this month, Thomas debuted ArtCraft, an open-source suite mirroring Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop and Premiere, reverse engineered using Anthropic's Opus 5.5 LLM to provide free alternatives to premium software.
- Critics questioned Thomas's reliance on Vibe-coded methods rather than supporting established open-source projects like LibreOffice, GIMP, and Thunderbird; Thomas defended his approach, stating "AI models enable me to work as an entire company."
- Online reaction remains divided, with some calling the software "game-changing" while others warn "no job is safe." Thomas offers a Max subscription for generative AI features, currently discounted by 20%.
- Skeptics question whether a single developer can maintain these projects and implement necessary bug fixes, noting that free alternatives like Google Docs have existed for years without damaging Microsoft Office sales significantly.
15 Articles
15 Articles
One Engineer’s AI-Powered Assault on Microsoft Office and Adobe Subscriptions
Software engineer Brandon Thomas used Anthropic's Claude to build open-source clones of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. WordCraft, GridCraft and DeckCraft read native Microsoft formats and run across platforms without subscriptions. His blunt criticism of existing open-source tools adds fuel to the debate over AI-assisted development.
Adobe software dupe maker takes on Microsoft Office, releasing free versions of Word, Powerpoint, and Excel
AI vibecoded apps are challenging big legacy software. Will AI vibecoded apps soon displace paid legacy software like Photoshop and Microsoft Word? Or will the deluge of apps spun up by AI models show that those legacy apps are superior products?Earlier this month, Reddit user u/ai_art_is_art, who Tom's Hardware revealed to be a software engineer …
There Are Free, Open-Source Versions of Microsoft Office Apps Thanks to AI
Brandon Thomas, the experienced software engineer behind the AI-assisted reverse engineering effort to rebuild open-source versions of Adobe's Creative Suite applications, including Photoshop, Premiere, and Lightroom, is setting his sights on another oft-maligned set of software: Microsoft Office.
Developer who vibe-coded free Adobe clones reveals apps to take down Microsoft Office next — and says 'there is no reason to save broken software'
A 'game-changing' moment for the software industry? Vibe-coded clones of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint have popped up online.
Software engineer Brandon Thomas develops free, open-source applications that attempt to resemble Microsoft's ...
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