OpenCloud brings test version for sovereign file sharing

OpenCloud has released the first version of its open-source cloud application for file management and collaboration, one month after the company was founded. It already includes a basic range of functions. In the coming months, it will be developed into a ready-to-use product. OpenCloud is asking for feedback from users: "We will continue to develop it together with the community", says CTO Klaas Freitag.

OpenCloud relies on Collabora for Office integration

In the first version of OpenCloud, users can save, manage and share files in the cloud. The cloud application also has granular user and rights management. OpenCloud relies on the integration of Collabora Online for editing Office files. This also allows users to work together on files in real time. Collabora Online is a version of LibreOffice adapted for cloud operation and is also used in services such as Nextcloud and Moodle.

Although OpenCloud can already be installed, the program is not yet suitable for use in productive operation. It is currently a test version that is to be developed together with the community. To this end, the company is asking for feedback on the GitHub project page. Users can report bugs, submit suggestions or contribute to the development with code, translations and themes. New versions are currently released in a three-week cycle as rolling releases.

Kiteworks wants to sue OpenCloud

Last month, OpenCloud was created as an independent company to further develop ownCloud Infinite Scale (oCIS), a file-sharing platform. More than a dozen employees then moved to OpenCloud. According to the employees, there had been a lack of perspective since the takeover of ownCloud by Kiteworks. Although oCIS is an open source application, Kiteworks CEO Jonathan Yaron announced legal action against OpenCloud, as the product design and management are the intellectual property of his company.

With its cloud service, OpenCloud aims to be a GDPR-compliant alternative to applications such as Microsoft Sharepoint and Google Drive. It is aimed at companies striving for digital sovereignty, as well as the education and research sector and public authorities. In the future, the application will be available as a service via third-party providers (SaaS) and for operation on in-house hardware. OpenCloud has announced a commercial offering for next March.

(sfe)