Your office, on your computer. Free, open source, and fluent in Arabic.

Maktab brings Qalam, Jadwal, Sard, Saboura, Waraq and Barid to macOS, Windows, Linux and ChromeOS as native desktop apps. They open your files directly, work without an internet connection, and treat Arabic and right-to-left text as first-class alongside English and French.

Download Maktab Source code on GitHub

Version 0.1.1 · Beta · Released 4 November 2026

Included

Six apps in one download

The installer lets you choose which apps to install. Each one also exists as a web app in Woosool, so you can move between the desktop and the browser.

Why Maktab

Built to run well on your own computer

01
Native and fast
Written in Rust and drawn directly on screen, with no browser engine inside. The apps start quickly and stay light.
02
Arabic and right-to-left
Bidirectional text, proper Arabic shaping and a fully mirrored interface, in English, French or Arabic.
03
Works offline
Your files stay on your computer. Nothing needs an internet connection except mail and updates.
04
Offline translation
Built-in machine translation that runs on your computer, so the text you translate never leaves it.
05
One suite
The apps share fonts, dictionaries, themes and interface languages, and look and behave the same way.
06
Free and open source
MIT licence, free for personal and commercial use. The source code is public on GitHub.

Beta

Still in development

Maktab is in beta. It is ready to try, but some features are still being built and you may find problems. Please report them on GitHub.

Qalam: fields, editing headers and footers, multiple sections, charts, equations and spell checking
Code-signing certificates for macOS and Windows (until then, the system asks you to confirm the first launch)

Report a problem on GitHub

Woosool Maktab

Questions and answers

Is Maktab free?

Yes. Maktab is open source under the MIT licence and free for personal and commercial use.

Do I need a Woosool account?

No. The apps open and save files on your computer. Barid works with any mail account that supports IMAP and SMTP, including Woosool Barid.

Why does my computer warn me when I open it?

The apps are not signed with paid certificates yet. On macOS, open the app once, then go to System Settings › Privacy & Security and choose Open Anyway. On Windows, choose More info › Run anyway. Installing with the command line avoids the warning.

How do updates work?

Each app checks woosool.com for a new version and can update itself (Check for Updates… in the app’s menu). Downloads are verified with SHA-256 before they are installed.

Which systems are supported?

macOS on Apple silicon and Intel, Windows on 64-bit PCs, Linux (Debian, Ubuntu and derivatives) on x86_64 and ARM, and ChromeOS with Linux turned on.

Download Maktab

One download with all six apps. Pick the package for your computer, or install from the command line.

Download Maktab Source code on GitHub