ONLYOFFICE Workspace Community

ONLYOFFICE Workspace Community is a fully self‑hosted collaboration platform that bundles document editing, project management, CRM, shared calendars, and email into a single stack. Built as an open‑source Community Server, it is distributed under the Apache 2.0 license, allowing unrestricted commercial deployment and source‑code modification. The platform exposes a rich set of RESTful APIs, WebSocket endpoints, and SDKs that enable developers to embed document services into their own applications or extend the core features with custom modules.

Technical Stack and Architecture

The core of ONLYOFFICE Workspace is written in Java (Spring Boot) for the backend services and Angular for the web UI. The document editor itself is a separate micro‑service written in C++ and compiled to WebAssembly, which runs inside the browser for real‑time collaboration. Persistence is handled by PostgreSQL (default) or MariaDB/MySQL, with optional MongoDB for NoSQL workloads. The platform follows a micro‑service architecture: each functional area (Docs, Mail, CRM, Calendar) runs as an independent service behind a reverse‑proxy (NGINX or Traefik) and communicates over HTTPS using JSON‑API. Authentication is delegated to OAuth2/OpenID Connect providers, with support for LDAP and SAML.

Core Capabilities & Developer APIs

• Document Collaboration API – Create, edit, and version documents via REST endpoints; real‑time collaboration is achieved through WebSocket-based presence and change streams.
• Connector SDK – Integrate external storage (S3, FTP, SharePoint) via a pluggable connector framework; connectors expose configuration schemas that can be edited through the control panel.
• Webhook & Event System – Subscribe to events such as document creation, user login, or project updates; payloads are JSON and can trigger downstream services.
• Extensibility Hooks – Custom plugins can be added to the UI via Angular modules, or backend services can be extended by implementing Spring interfaces.
• REST API for Users & Groups – Full CRUD operations on users, groups, roles, and permissions; supports granular ACLs for documents and folders.

Deployment & Infrastructure

ONLYOFFICE Workspace can be deployed on any Linux distribution, Windows Server, or via Docker Compose. The official Docker image contains all services and is configured through environment variables; a single docker‑compose.yml file spins up the stack with PostgreSQL, Redis, and NGINX. For production scenarios, Kubernetes manifests are available: the platform scales horizontally by replicating micro‑services and using a headless Service for load balancing. The containerized deployment supports zero‑downtime updates through rolling restarts, and stateful sets preserve PostgreSQL data.

Integration & Extensibility

Developers can embed the ONLYOFFICE editor into their own web pages using an iframe or the JavaScript SDK, passing a signed URL that contains editor mode and permissions. The platform also offers a Connector API for integrating with third‑party services (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox) and a Plugin API for adding custom UI components. Webhooks allow real‑time synchronization with external CRMs or ticketing systems, while the OAuth2 integration supports SSO across corporate infrastructures.

Developer Experience

Documentation is organized into sections such as Installation, Administration, Development, and Connectors. The API reference is auto‑generated from OpenAPI specifications, and the source code follows standard Maven/Gradle conventions. Community support is active on GitHub Issues, Discord, and a dedicated forum; contributors can submit pull requests for new connectors or UI enhancements. The permissive Apache 2.0 license removes licensing friction, making it attractive for commercial projects that require full control over the codebase.

Use Cases

• Enterprise Intranet – Deploy a self‑hosted Office suite that integrates with existing LDAP and SharePoint environments.
• Education Platforms – Provide students and faculty with a collaborative document editor that can be embedded into LMS systems.
• SaaS Providers – Offer a white‑label document editing service as part of a larger SaaS stack, leveraging the connector framework to support customer storage backends.
• Regulated Industries – Use the platform’s audit logs and fine‑grained ACLs to meet compliance requirements while keeping data on-premises.

Advantages Over Alternatives

• Open Source & License Freedom – No vendor lock‑in; Apache 2.0 allows commercial use without royalties.
• Performance & Low Latency – The C++/WebAssembly editor delivers near‑native editing speeds; real‑time collaboration is achieved with minimal round‑trips.
• Modular Architecture – Micro‑services enable independent scaling and easier maintenance.
• Rich API Surface – REST, WebSocket, and SDKs provide multiple integration points for developers.
• Extensibility – Plug‑in and connector systems allow rapid adaptation to custom workflows without core code changes.

In summary, ONLYOFFICE Workspace Community offers a robust, developer‑friendly platform for building self‑hosted collaboration solutions. Its modern stack, comprehensive APIs, and flexible deployment options make it an attractive choice for enterprises, educational institutions, and SaaS providers seeking full control over their document ecosystem.