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Weka

weka.waikato.ac.nz

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Spec score 8.2 #10 of 37 in Predictive Analytics Software

What it is

Weka is open-source machine-learning software for building and evaluating models, with support for forecasting and time-series modeling. It is available free under the GNU General Public License, with Weka 3.8 as the stable release and 3.9 as the development version. The stable branch receives fixes and feature updates intended to preserve compatibility; development builds may introduce breaking changes. Weka provides a Java API, Javadoc for its API and command-line parameters, and can also be used through Jupyter notebooks. Official releases require Java 8 or later. Downloads are listed for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, with Intel and ARM options. Both branches include a package manager for community extensions, though installing packages requires internet access. The software includes built-in help and a comprehensive manual, with additional assistance through documentation, mailing list archives, forums, and a mailing list. Distributed derivative works must use the GPL; commercial projects needing Weka code in a non-GPL program may be able to obtain a suitable license. Models serialized in version 3.7 are incompatible with 3.8, and the migrator has an exception for RandomForest.

Spec sheet

What it does
Weka is a Java machine-learning workbench for data preparation, classification, regression, clustering, association-rule mining and visualization.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.ac.nz
Purpose
Weka is open-source machine learning software issued under the GNU General Public License.Read 3 Oct 2026 · weka.waikato.ac.nz
Headquarters
Hamilton, New ZealandRead 28 Sep 2026 · weka.waikato.ac.nz
Association rules
Weka contains association-rule mining functionality for discovering relationships in transactional data.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.ac.nz
Classification
Weka includes algorithms for assigning records to classes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.ac.nz
Clustering
The workbench supports unsupervised clustering analysis.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.ac.nz
Commercial licensing
Commercial redistribution that cannot comply with GPL may require a separate licence from relevant copyright holders.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Community support
The project directs users to documentation, mailing list archives, community forums, and a mailing list for help and bug reports.Read 3 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Compatibility limit
Serialized Weka models created in version 3.7 are incompatible with version 3.8, and the documented migrator has at least one exception: RandomForest.Read 3 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Data preparation
The software provides tools for preparing and transforming datasets before modeling.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.ac.nz
Database integration
Weka can work with transactional database data through database connectivity and JDBC drivers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Desktop platforms
Downloads are listed for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, with Intel and ARM options for each.Read 3 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Documentation depth
Documentation includes a built-in manual, free book appendix, Javadocs, package documentation, videos, slides and a long-running mailing-list archive.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Extensibility
New classifiers and filters are implemented by deriving classes from Weka classifier and filter base classes, and packages can expose them in the GUI.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
History
Weka development began in 1993 at the University of Waikato and its first public release was in 1996.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.ac.nz
Included documentation
Weka includes built-in help and a comprehensive manual.Read 3 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Java API
The distribution exposes Java classes that developers can call from their own programs, with Javadoc and API articles available.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Java requirement
The latest official Weka releases require Java 8 or later.Read 3 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Jupyter integration
Official documentation describes using Weka through Jupyter notebooks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Licence
Weka is GPL software; Weka 3.6 uses GPLv2 while versions later than 3.7.5 use GPLv3.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Limit: documentation and integration
Software Advice reviewers mention limited documentation, a learning curve, an uncommon file format and difficult Python integration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
Limit: GPU support
The FAQ says GPU acceleration is only possible through particular approaches or packages rather than being a universal built-in path.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Limit: interface age
G2 reviewers repeatedly complain that the graphical interface looks dated, rigid or insufficiently interactive.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: large datasets
G2 reviewers report that Weka can be slow, lag while loading data and crash on very large files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: model compatibility
The official wiki warns that serialized models made with Weka 3.7 are incompatible with 3.8, with some exceptions such as RandomForest.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Maker location
Weka was developed at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Notebook use
The Weka API guide says Weka can also be used through Jupyter notebooks.Read 3 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Package ecosystem
Weka 3.8 and 3.9 include a package manager that lets community developers add functionality.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Praise: algorithm breadth
SourceForge reviewers praise Weka as a comprehensive suite with many machine-learning algorithms and quick prototyping support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Praise: ease of learning
G2 reviewers repeatedly describe Weka as easy to learn and useful for rapid experimentation without writing code.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: education
Software Advice reviewers repeatedly praise Weka as a free and effective tool for teaching introductory data mining and machine learning.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
Programming interface
Weka provides a Java API, and its documentation includes Javadoc for API and command-line parameters.Read 3 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Python integration
Python users can access Weka through python-weka-wrapper3, sklearn-weka-plugin, Jython, JPype or related bridges.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Rating on Capterra
4.4 out of 5 from 15 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on G2
4.3 out of 5 from 13 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on Software Advice
4.4 out of 5 from 15 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
Rating on SourceForge
4.9 out of 5 from 51 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Regression
Weka includes regression methods for predicting numeric outcomes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.ac.nz
Release model
Weka 3.8 is the stable branch and Weka 3.9 is the development branch, with stable releases focused on compatible fixes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Release versions
Weka 3.8 is the latest stable version and Weka 3.9 is the development version.Read 3 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Scale claim
The University reports more than 10,542,000 Weka downloads and over 18,000 research and applied-data-science citations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.ac.nz
Security statement
The University describes its open-source AI tools, including Weka, as supporting fast, reliable and secure development tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.ac.nz
Source availability
Release distributions include the source in weka-src.jar and the project maintains a public Git repository.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Stable updates
The stable version receives bug fixes and feature upgrades that do not break compatibility with earlier releases.Read 3 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Support channels
The project directs users to mailing-list archives, help forums, bug reporting and an IRC channel.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Supported desktop systems
Official downloads provide Windows Intel and ARM installers, macOS Intel and ARM disk images, and Linux Intel and ARM archives.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
System requirement
Current official releases require Java 8 or newer, while Windows HiDPI displays may need Java 9 or later.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Visualization
The product includes graphical visualization tools for inspecting data and model results.Read 15 Oct 2026 · waikato.ac.nz

Plans and prices

Weka 3.8 Stable Free Open-source software under the GNU General Public License Read 3 Oct 2026 · weka.waikato.ac.nz
Weka 3.9 Development Free Development version; may include features that break compatibility with earlier releases Read 3 Oct 2026 · waikato.github.io
Weka open-source software Free Desktop Java workbench · stable and development branches · package manager requires internet Read 15 Oct 2026 · weka.waikato.ac.nz

Every Weka plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free software under the GNU General Public License
  • Java API and Jupyter notebook use
  • Windows, Mac OS, and Linux downloads
  • Built-in help and comprehensive manual

Limits

  • Package installation requires an internet connection
  • Official releases require Java 8 or later
  • Version 3.7 serialized models are incompatible with 3.8
  • GPL applies to distributed derivative works

Who it suits

Weka suits users who want free machine-learning software with Java and notebook access, extensible packages, and built-in documentation. Its GPL terms and model-version compatibility limit matter for teams distributing derivative works or migrating saved models.

Verdict

Weka offers a free, extensible machine-learning environment with API and notebook options. Check licensing terms and model compatibility before integrating it into a project.

Where Specifiction places it

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