Component Comparison Matrix
5 min readBy openDesk Edu
Components
Stablecomparisonoverview
openDesk Edu combines 10 base services from openDesk Community Edition with 15 education-specific Beta services and 11 scientific computing tools from the Collab Services suite, delivering a comprehensive digital workplace tailored for schools, universities, and research institutions. All 36 services integrate through Keycloak SSO (SAML 2.0 / OIDC) and are accessible from the unified Nubus portal.
Services within the same category may serve as alternatives to each other ā for example, you can choose between Jitsi and BigBlueButton for video conferencing, or between OX App Suite, SOGo, and Grommunio for groupware. Beta services are fully functional but still under active development; they may change in future releases. Planned services are on the roadmap and not yet available in production.
Scientific Computing & Research
| Service | Type | Status | License | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JupyterHub | Interactive Notebooks | Stable | BSD-3-Clause | Multi-user notebooks (Python, R, Julia, SageMath, Octave), native OIDC |
| RStudio Server | R IDE | Beta | AGPL-3.0 | Shiny apps, workspace management, OpenCloud WebDAV sync |
| Overleaf CE | LaTeX Editor | Stable | AGPL-3.0 | Real-time collaborative LaTeX, version history, template gallery |
| code-server | Browser IDE | Stable | MIT | Full VS Code in the browser, extension marketplace, built-in terminal |
| Slidev | Presentations | Beta | MIT | Markdown-to-slides, code highlighting, KaTeX math, Mermaid diagrams |
| Open WebUI | LLM Chat Interface | Beta | MIT | ChatGPT-like UI, model switching, native OIDC, document upload |
| Ollama | LLM Backend | Beta | MIT | Local open-source LLMs (llama3.2, Mistral, Gemma), REST API |
| ttyd | Browser Terminal | Stable | MIT | Full Linux terminal in browser, clipboard support, session persistence |
| KasmVNC | Remote Desktop | Beta | GPL-2.0 | Full Linux desktop in browser, GPU acceleration, audio support |
| Dask Gateway | Distributed Computing | Planned | BSD-3-Clause | On-demand parallel clusters, Python-native, job queue |
Communication & Collaboration
| Service | Type | Status | License | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element (Matrix) | Chat / Messaging | Stable | Apache 2.0 | Real-time messaging, rooms, file sharing, Nordeck education widgets, federation |
| Jitsi | Video Conferencing | Stable | Apache 2.0 | Browser-based meetings, screen sharing, background blur, dial-in via SIP |
| BigBlueButton | Virtual Classroom | Beta | LGPL-3.0 | Session recording, interactive whiteboard, breakout rooms, polling |
| Etherpad | Collaborative Editing | Beta | Apache 2.0 | Real-time co-editing, color-coded authors, plugin system, export to multiple formats |
Email & Calendar
| Service | Type | Status | License | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OX App Suite | Groupware | Stable | Proprietary (CE) | Full webmail, shared calendar, contacts with LDAP, task management |
| SOGo | Lightweight Groupware | Beta | LGPL-2.1 | Fast webmail, CalDAV/CardDAV, ActiveSync, low resource footprint |
| Grommunio | Microsoft 365-compatible Groupware | Beta | AGPL-3.0 | ActiveSync 16.1, Outlook/Thunderbird compatibility, MariaDB backend |
File Management
| Service | Type | Status | License | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nextcloud | Cloud Storage | Stable | AGPL-3.0 | File sync/share, external storage mounts, version control, Collabora integration |
| OpenCloud | Lightweight Cloud Storage | Beta | Apache 2.0 | CS3-based storage, per-course sharing, WebDAV access, low resource usage |
Office & Productivity
| Service | Type | Status | License | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collabora | Online Office | Stable | MPL-2.0 | DOCX/XLSX/PPTX editing, real-time collaboration, format compatibility, browser-native |
| CryptPad | Privacy-first Office | Stable | AGPL-3.0 | End-to-end encryption, collaborative editing, integrated diagrams.net, drive |
| Notes | Note-taking | Stable | MIT | Fast distraction-free editor, markdown support, simple organization |
| Draw.io | Diagramming | Beta | Apache 2.0 | Extensive shape libraries, export to PDF/VSDX/SVG, import from Lucidchart/Gliffy |
| Excalidraw | Whiteboard | Beta | MIT | Hand-drawn style, real-time collaboration, shape recognition, instant loading |
Learning & Education
| Service | Type | Status | License | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILIAS | Learning Management System | Beta | GPL-3.0 | Course management, assessments, SCORM compliance, forums, wikis |
| Moodle | Learning Management System | Beta | GPL-3.0+ | Course builder, assignments, gradebook, workshop peer assessment, plugin ecosystem |
| XWiki | Enterprise Wiki | Stable | LGPL-2.1 | Structured content, WYSIWYG editor, scripting, extension marketplace |
Project & Knowledge Management
| Service | Type | Status | License | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenProject | Project Management | Stable | GPL-3.0 | Agile boards, Gantt charts, time tracking, built-in wiki, bug tracking |
| Planka | Kanban Board | Beta | AGPL-3.0 | Drag-and-drop boards, real-time updates, labels, checklists, due dates |
| BookStack | Documentation Wiki | Beta | MIT | Shelf/book/chapter hierarchy, WYSIWYG + markdown, full-text search, role-based permissions |
IT & Administration
| Service | Type | Status | License | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nubus | Portal & IAM | Stable | Apache 2.0 (Keycloak) | Unified portal, SAML 2.0/OIDC, user provisioning, role-based access control |
| Zammad | Ticket System | Beta | AGPL-3.0 | Multi-channel support, workflow automation, knowledge base, SLA management |
| LimeSurvey | Survey Platform | Beta | GPL-2.0+ | Rich question types, conditional logic, quota management, multi-language surveys |
| TYPO3 | Content Management System | Beta | GPL-2.0+ | Multi-site management, flexible content modeling, frontend editing, extensibility |
| LTB SSP | Self-Service Password | Beta | GPL-2.0+ | Password reset via email, security questions, account unlock, LDAP backend |
