The developer behind a growing collection of free Adobe alternatives is now targeting Microsoft Office. Brandon Thomas has introduced WordCraft, DeckCraft and GridCraft, three open source projects designed for documents, presentations and spreadsheets.
The apps expand his ArtCraft collection and raise a question for anyone tired of software subscriptions: can a small team using AI build credible alternatives to products developed over decades?
The projects are independent applications, not free editions of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Excel. Their familiar approach may make them appealing, but matching an interface is only part of replacing established software.
Meet WordCraft, DeckCraft and GridCraft
WordCraft is ArtCraft’s word processor. Its project documentation describes a familiar document editing workflow, including styles, tables, tracked changes, references and mail merge. The developers also list support for opening and saving Word’s DOCX format.
DeckCraft handles presentations, while GridCraft provides a spreadsheet application. All three have public repositories under ArtCraft’s GitHub organisation and are written in Rust.
Those repositories let developers examine the code, report problems and contribute improvements. They also provide somewhere for prospective users to check installation instructions and the current state of each project.
AI accelerates an ambitious project
According to Tom’s Hardware, Thomas used Anthropic’s Claude to help develop the applications. The publication identifies him as a software engineer with 15 years of experience, rather than someone approaching programming for the first time.
The Office alternatives follow creative tools intended to offer functionality associated with Adobe applications.
That distinction matters in the debate over “vibe coding”, a term often used for building software through prompts to AI. An experienced developer directing and reviewing generated code brings different skills to the process than someone accepting outputs without understanding them.
Even so, faster development does not remove the need for testing, maintenance and careful review.
Why free alternatives attract attention
The appeal is straightforward. People who mainly write documents, prepare slides or manage straightforward spreadsheets may not need every feature in a large commercial suite.
A free application that handles those tasks reliably could reduce costs and give users more choice over how they work.
WordCraft’s documentation also describes offline operation and support across macOS, Windows, Linux, BSD and the browser. Those are developer claims about the project’s capabilities, rather than independently verified results from testing here.
Compatibility will decide their usefulness
The biggest challenge is what happens when real files move between applications.
A document may open successfully while losing precise formatting. A spreadsheet needs to calculate correctly, preserve formulas and handle the features its owner relies on. A presentation must retain its layout when shared with someone using different software.
These are practical tests that matter more than a convincing screenshot.
Before moving an established workflow, users can try copies of representative files and compare the results. A simple letter and a complex report may place very different demands on the same application.
Open source needs ongoing support
Public code makes outside inspection possible, but it does not automatically establish that software is secure or thoroughly reviewed.
Maintaining several ambitious applications also requires sustained effort. Bug reports need investigation, compatibility problems need fixes and updates need testing. Community contributions could help spread that workload, although their long term scale remains to be seen.
ArtCraft’s projects demonstrate how AI can help developers attempt a much broader range of software. Whether they become lasting Office alternatives will depend on reliable everyday use and continued maintenance.