Open-Source Tools for Portfolio Calculations

Summary

The document considers alternatives to Excel for investment and portfolio coursework on Linux. One answer recommends R for financial analysis, describing it as a different, programming-oriented way of working rather than a spreadsheet interface. Another answer mentions spreadsheet-compatible applications and software that can run Windows programs, while warning that compatibility issues may arise when coursework depends on Excel-specific functions or behavior.

The practical choice therefore depends on whether the user wants a spreadsheet workflow or a more flexible analytical environment. R can support portfolio calculations through code and financial libraries, while a spreadsheet alternative may feel more familiar but may not reproduce every Excel feature exactly. The answers do not demonstrate an optimization method, compare numerical results, or identify particular portfolio algorithms. Their guidance is a brief tool-selection discussion, and the compatibility concerns are anecdotal rather than a systematic evaluation.

Key ideas

• R offers a code-based environment for financial and portfolio analysis rather than an Excel-like spreadsheet workflow.
• Spreadsheet alternatives may be more familiar but can differ in functions and compatibility.
• The best tool depends on whether the task requires Excel-specific features or supports a programming approach.
• The document recommends tools but does not explain or compare portfolio optimization methods.

Tags

# Open source alternative to excel for investment and portfolio calculations


# Open source alternative to excel for investment and portfolio calculations












I am a Linux user, and taking an investment and portfolio management course that uses excel. I was wondering if there are open source alternatives to excel for optimal portfolio calculations? If yes, are they used basically the same way as excel?

## Answer by Patrick Burns (score 6)

https://quant.stackexchange.com/a/1943

One answer is to use R (see the Finance taskview http://cran.r-project.org/web/views/Finance.html ). In this case it does not work like Excel (and that's a good thing).

## Answer by Bob Jansen (score 5)

https://quant.stackexchange.com/a/1942

You can try CrossOver Office or LibreOffice/OpenOffice Calc. And let me qualify that with: Don't go down the LibreOffice road, you run in al sorts of issues such as rounding errors and that one missing function and you will not get any support from your professor.

On a personal note: During college I preferred to dual boot or use a VM.

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