Applixware

Spec sheet

What it does

Applixware is an integrated office and application-development suite built around the ELF programming language.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Headquarters

West Hollywood, California, USARead 4 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Company formation

An SEC filing says VistaSource was established in April 2000 from Applixware and CoSource.com assets to target Linux and open-source markets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sec.gov

Current versions

VistaSource lists Applixware 6.2 for Linux and 6.1 for Windows and Linux as current downloads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Database interface

A database-interface component is included for office and custom applications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Developer tooling

The ELF guide covers a macro editor, compiler, debugger, dialog and bitmap editors, and Builder application development.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Documentation breadth

The download page links Builder, ELF, Words, Spreadsheets, Graphics, Mail, Macro Editor, Data and Communications manuals and help files, plus example macros.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

ELF reference depth

The Generic ELF Help reference is 364 pages and documents hundreds of functions covering files, arrays, user interfaces, shell execution and networking.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Extensibility

A Linux Journal review reports ELF has an interpreter, compiler, debugger, more than 3,300 macros, menu/dialog/bitmap editors, TCP/IP sockets and SQL interfaces.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linuxjournal.com

Financial-data integrations

Version 6.1 supports Reuters RMDS, Bloomberg, Reuters Triarch, TIBCO Rendezvous and TIBCO CI Server engines on specified Solaris, Windows and Linux builds.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Historical price

Linux Journal listed Applixware 4.2 at USD $495, with a USD $79.95 student price, in 1997.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linuxjournal.com

Installation footprint

Release notes specify about 175 MB for the suite and 60 MB for documentation; Windows installs range from 75 MB compact to 250 MB custom.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

License technology

Applixware uses Macrovision FLEXlm for node-locked and network licensing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Limit: database compatibility

Linux Journal reported that Applix Data could not open standard dBase III or IV files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linuxjournal.com

Limit: file imports

Linux.com reported that, apart from graphics, imports were largely limited to Applixware's native formats.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linux.com

Limit: legacy interface

Linux.com criticized the Motif interface, lack of GNOME/KDE integration, absent font anti-aliasing and non-standard keybindings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linux.com

Limit: modern Linux support

The 2006 Linux.com review said Applixware did not recognize Linux kernels newer than 2.4.18 and required a manual CUPS printcap link on Debian.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linux.com

Limit: presentation compatibility

Linux Journal testing found PowerPoint and Freelance imports failed and that Presents handled only simple slide presentations well.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linuxjournal.com

Limit: product age

The Linux.com reviewer judged the product to appear near the end of its life cycle.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linux.com

Limit: spreadsheet export

Spreadsheet exports to Excel or Lotus formats could lose embedded graphs and some formatting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linuxjournal.com

Maker address

The maker is identified as Parallax Capital / Vistasource, Inc., at 8605 Santa Monica Blvd., PMB 24128, West Hollywood, California 90069-4109, USA.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Multiprocessor limitation

The release notes call Applixware non-multithreaded and recommend assigning its main process to one CPU on multiprocessor systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Owner transaction

Applix announced that Parallax Capital Partners completed its purchase of the VistaSource subsidiary on March 30, 2001.Read 15 Oct 2026 · applix.com

Praise: document exchange

Linux Journal found Word and RTF import/export largely successful in Applix Words.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linuxjournal.com

Praise: documentation

Reviewers highlighted clear task-oriented online help, context-sensitive assistance and Builder tutorials.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linux.com

Praise: startup speed

Linux.com measured the main menu opening in under two seconds and applications launching in roughly three to four seconds, faster than OpenOffice on its test machine.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linux.com

Praise: usability

A Linux Journal reviewer described Applixware as powerful, inexpensive and generally easy to learn.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linuxjournal.com

Redundant licensing

A redundant setup uses three license servers; all must start and any two can maintain service, while loss of two stops licensing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Self-hosted licensing

Customers can run the license manager themselves on Windows with lmtools or on Unix/Linux with axnlmgrd, distributing keys through axlicensedat or LM_LICENSE_FILE.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Spreadsheet

Its spreadsheet is described as real-time and event-driven.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Supported systems

Release notes cover Solaris 2.6–10, Red Hat Linux 7.x–9 and Enterprise, SuSE 8.x–10, and Windows 2000, XP and Vista.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Vector graphics

Applixware provides a programmable vector-graphics tool.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Word processor

The suite includes a word-processing module called Applix Words.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vistasource.com

Plans and prices

Every Applixware plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Office Suite Software#3 of 168.9