Developer Brandon Thomas has expanded his open-source Craft software lineup with three projects aimed at Microsoft Office: WordCraft for Word documents, GridCraft for spreadsheets and DeckCraft for presentations. The Rust-based applications are described as clean-room implementations, with no Microsoft code used, and their source code is available on GitHub.
| Application | Microsoft Office counterpart | Supported file format |
|---|---|---|
| WordCraft | Microsoft Word | DOCX |
| GridCraft | Microsoft Excel | XLSX |
| DeckCraft | Microsoft PowerPoint | PPTX |
WordCraft includes a ribbon interface, styles, tables, Track Changes, comments, references and mail merge. It can open and save DOCX files, and is available for Windows, macOS, Linux and BSD, with a browser-based WebAssembly version as well.
GridCraft is the most extensive of the three on paper. Its developers list more than 500 functions, along with PivotTables, dynamic formulas, LET, LAMBDA, charts and XLSX support. They also estimate that it currently covers about 65% of what an advanced Excel user needs in practice, a notable limitation for complex spreadsheet workflows.
DeckCraft brings themes, layouts, images, tables, charts, transitions and animations to a PowerPoint-like editor, with the ability to open and save PowerPoint files. The project remains in alpha.
Thomas previously released free, open-source alternatives targeting parts of Adobe’s Creative Cloud portfolio, including tools for photo, video and vector editing. The newer Office-focused applications were also developed with help from Claude, according to Tom's Hardware. Thomas, who has about 15 years of software experience, has pushed back against characterizations of the work as "vibe coding."
Office-format support does not by itself establish full compatibility with complex files, macros, add-ins, fonts, automation or long-established document workflows. Those gaps matter particularly for organizations that depend on document fidelity, collaboration, security and Microsoft 365 integration.
The projects sit within the ArtCraft Launcher, which now lists 12 Craft applications. That catalog also includes CADCraft, positioned as an AutoCAD-style alternative, and SoundCraft, aimed at Pro Tools-style audio production. The key question for the new Office tools is how quickly their feature coverage and file compatibility can progress beyond their current early-stage status.
