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The ChatGPT/Codex app bundles a full copy of LibreOffice

simonwillison.net

31–40 of 277 posts

Re: The ChatGPT/Codex app bundles a full copy of LibreOffice

#31

Is that what it is using to render and manipulate MS Office documents? That'd explain the poor rendering of some of my files. Bundling all of LibreOffice seems like a pretty huge dependency.

Just the headless version looks to be bundled. The title as posted might be incorrect.

Re: The ChatGPT/Codex app bundles a full copy of LibreOffice

#32
post #7

Is that what it is using to render and manipulate MS Office documents? That'd explain the poor rendering of some of my files. Bundling all of LibreOffice seems like a pretty huge dependency.

> Bundling all of LibreOffice seems like a pretty huge dependency What's the alternative library you see?

pandoc

Re: The ChatGPT/Codex app bundles a full copy of LibreOffice

#33

Someone may need to explain to me what is wrong with this sorry. Is it because it bloats the app with functionality that some users will never use? I feel like that is fairly usual for productivity/business apps generally.

Actually, people do use and require the functionality, which is the point. The title as posted might be incorrect.

Re: The ChatGPT/Codex app bundles a full copy of LibreOffice

#34
post #29

Someone may need to explain to me what is wrong with this sorry. Is it because it bloats the app with functionality that some users will never use? I feel like that is fairly usual for productivity/business apps generally.

I don't see anything wrong with it, I just think it's interesting.

I think it's overbloating my computer

Re: The ChatGPT/Codex app bundles a full copy of LibreOffice

#35
post #7

Is that what it is using to render and manipulate MS Office documents? That'd explain the poor rendering of some of my files. Bundling all of LibreOffice seems like a pretty huge dependency.

> Bundling all of LibreOffice seems like a pretty huge dependency What's the alternative library you see?

[flagged]

Re: The ChatGPT/Codex app bundles a full copy of LibreOffice

#37
post #29

Someone may need to explain to me what is wrong with this sorry. Is it because it bloats the app with functionality that some users will never use? I feel like that is fairly usual for productivity/business apps generally.

I don't see anything wrong with it, I just think it's interesting.

It does, however, introduce a potentially enormous attack surface into ChatGPT, along with creative opportunities for less security conscious individuals and LLMs.

Re: The ChatGPT/Codex app bundles a full copy of LibreOffice

#38
post #26
post #19

Does that really mean that it's bundling those apps from the start or did it just download and install them at some point to do some local work on some prompt or job you ask it to? I don't see it making much sense to bundle it. I'm sure a LOT of LLM prompts are related with docs, excels, powerpoints etc, etc but don't really see it worth it for it to be bundled on the codex app from the get go, because otherwise, why…

I'm not sure. Someone who hasn't installed the ChatGPT (or Codex) apps yet could confirm this by installing the apps, seeing if that ~/.cache directory exists, then try running a prompt that needs Python or Node.js or LibreOffice and see if it downloads them when needed.

I've never installed the ChatGPT app on my Mac until today. I ran the app, signed in, and I see the same.

% ls ~/.cache/codex-runtimes/codex-primary-runtime/dependencies/native/libreoffice-headless

libreoffice manifest.json

Re: The ChatGPT/Codex app bundles a full copy of LibreOffice

#39

Is that what it is using to render and manipulate MS Office documents? That'd explain the poor rendering of some of my files. Bundling all of LibreOffice seems like a pretty huge dependency.

Yes. If you have word you can instruct to use word via com or AppleScript.

Re: The ChatGPT/Codex app bundles a full copy of LibreOffice

#40
post #6

And wait till you find out about @oai/walnut

do tell!

Walnut is the .NET and OpenXML backend. I think the point parent was trying to make it that it shouldn't be surprising Codex bundles runtimes for damn near everything.
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