The “Command Line Warriors” blog takes a look at programming language libraries available for ODF and MSOOXML.

Of Python, Perl, Ruby, PHP, Java and C#, all six have libraries ready-to-go for ODF. Only one has libraries to work with MSOOXML, though projects have been started for two more.

From this loose litmus test, ODF is clearly far ahead in this contest. And as we have heard from Ballmer himself, developer interest is extremely important, because it results in usable products and services for end users. And thus adoption by those end users.

My prediction is that web-based document production will heavily favor ODF, as it’s technically much better adapted to the environment. And with a robust set of desktop editing options available too, users will find it an easy transition. ODF will also naturally flow back toward the desktop as it becomes firmly established on the web, getting some synergies from being strongly competent in both environments.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 at 12:57 pm and is filed under ODF. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.