The Cost of Freedom: Open Source Value, Support & Risk
Open source is “free”—so why do serious teams pay for it? In this episode, Eloy Crespo breaks down the real value behind paid open-source offerings: support, SLAs, performance, security, compliance, integrations, and long-term sustainability. We cover: • “Free as in beer” vs. “free as in freedom”—what businesses actually buy • Why support, SLAs, and accountability matter at scale • Interoperability, open standards, and avoiding vendor lock-in • Real-world examples of starting…
Responsive Layout & Screen Resize in Collabora Online #FeatureFriday
Today we’re exploring one of those subtle but powerful features in Collabora Online — the responsive layout. It automatically adapts to any window size, so your tools and workspace always stay comfortable and easy to use. Whether you’re editing on a large monitor, a laptop, or working split-screen next to another app, Collabora keeps everything clear, smooth, and organised. Free demo: https://www.collaboraoffice.com/collabora-online Community: https://collaboraonline.github.io/ Follow us on…
Shapes and Connectors in Collabora Online #FeatureFriday
Create clean, connected diagrams and engaging slides with Shapes & Connectors in Collabora Online. In this Feature Friday, we show how to add, style, and link shapes in both Draw and Impress, using connectors that automatically stay attached as you move things around. Whether you’re mapping workflows or designing presentations, Collabora Online makes visual communication clear, dynamic, and easy to collaborate on. Free demo: https://www.collaboraoffice.com/collabora-online Community:…
Beyond Microsoft Office: The Rise of a Sovereign openDesk
Markus Gürtler, Senior Technology Evangelist at B1 Systems, shares his perspective on openDesk—a sovereign, modular workspace solution designed for the public sector. With Collabora Online as a key component, openDesk integrates leading open-source tools like Nextcloud, XWiki, and OpenProject to deliver a trusted alternative to proprietary office suites. From his years of working with Collabora to his vision for digital sovereignty in Germany, Markus highlights how openDesk is growing fast and could…
Watermarks in Collabora Online #FeatureFriday
Watermarks have long been used to mark documents as Draft, Confidential, or simply to add clarity. With Collabora Online, you can apply them digitally to keep your files clearly identified. The watermark remains in place while editing, exporting to PDF, or printing — ensuring your documents always look professional, secure, and easy to understand. Free demo: https://www.collaboraoffice.com/collabora-online Community: https://collaboraonline.github.io/ Follow us on Social Media…
Collabora Online & XWiki: Seamless Integration, Strong Partnerships
At COOL Days in Budapest, Lavinia from XWiki shares how Collabora filled the missing piece in their platform - bringing fully featured document editing directly into wiki pages. After two years of smooth integration, the collaboration continues to grow through workshops, best practices, and ongoing support. It’s a partnership where everyone wins: XWiki users enjoy powerful editing, and both teams thrive through shared knowledge and innovation.
Print Media vs. Open Source: Lessons in Survival and Sustainability
What does the decline of print journalism have to do with the future of open source software? In this episode of Open Matters, we’re joined by Neil Mohr, former editor of Linux Format, to explore surprising parallels between the world of magazines and the challenges facing open source today. We talk about: How print journalism lost its business model to the internet — and what that might mean for open source. Paywalls, ad blockers, affiliate marketing, and the rise of AI “schlop.” Digital…
When Open Source Companies Merge: Joining Forces with 20 Years of Open Source Experience
“It’s almost like coming home.” Thorsten Behrens, former Managing Director of allotropia, shares his excitement about officially joining Collabora Productivity after decades of collaboration. Having worked with some colleagues for over 20 years on LibreOffice and other open-source projects, this merger brings unmatched expertise to the Collabora team - especially in Germany’s influential market. With digital sovereignty gaining massive momentum in Europe, this union is set to strengthen and…
Copy & Paste Slides Across Presentations #FeatureFriday
Need to reuse a slide? With Collabora Online Impress, you can copy entire slides — design, layout, and content included — in just a click. No rebuilding, no extra work. Save time, keep your style consistent, and bring slides from one presentation to another with ease. Free demo: https://www.collaboraoffice.com/collabora-online Community: https://collaboraonline.github.io/ Follow us on Social Media https://twitter.com/CollaboraOffice https://mastodon.social/@CollaboraOffice…
Why the European Commission Chose Collabora Online
In this interview, Francesco Sardara — an ARHS Group, Accenture developer contracted to the European Commission — shares how and why the Commission is integrating Collabora Online to power secure, collaborative document editing across multiple EU agencies. Learn how Collabora Online met strict requirements around data sovereignty, interoperability, accessibility, and open source principles, making it the perfect fit for one of the world’s most demanding public institutions.
Form-Filling API in Collabora Online #FeatureFriday
Filling out documents just got smarter with the new Form Filling API in Collabora Online! This powerful feature lets you generate and populate documents automatically, saving time and eliminating manual errors. Whether you’re working with invoices, product sheets, or simple forms, this API streamlines your document workflows at scale. Free demo: https://www.collaboraoffice.com/collabora-online Community: https://collaboraonline.github.io/ Follow us on Social Media https://twitter.com/CollaboraOffice…
Digital Sovereignty or Digital Colony? A Wake-Up Call for Europe
“Without radical measures to reduce dependency on digital monopolies, the digital future of Germany and Europe is lost.” —Prof. Dr. Harald Wehnes In this episode of Open Matters, we speak with Prof. Dr. Harald Wehnes, Chair of Computer Science at the University of Würzburg and spokesperson for the German Informatics Society’s Working Group on Digital Sovereignty. Prof. Wehnes shares his perspective on: What digital sovereignty actually means Why he believes Europe is becoming a "digital…