GNU Aspell

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Infobox software GNU Aspell, usually called just Aspell, is a free software spell checker designed to replace Ispell. It is the standard spell checker for the GNU operating system. It also compiles for other Unix-like operating systems and Windows. The main program is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (GNU LGPL), the documentation under the GNU Free Documentation License (GNU FDL). Dictionaries for it are available for about 70 languages.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The primary maintainer is Kevin Atkinson.

Comparison to Ispell

Unlike Ispell, Aspell can easily check UTF-8 documents without having to use a special dictionary. But the mechanism behind is still 8-bit.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Aspell will also do its best to respect the current locale setting. Other advantages over Ispell include support for using multiple dictionaries at once and intelligently handling personal dictionaries when more than one Aspell process is open at once. However, Ispell follows the Unix convention of being a command applied to a file, e.g., Template:Code, whereas Aspell requires other command-line options, and the "Template:Code" option is more comprehensive. Sample uses include:

• Interactively run through the Template:Var checking the spelling (Template:Code).
• Allow typing a word (followed by newline and Template:Kbd) to find words that sound the same (Template:Code).

Windows ports

Template:As of, the latest official Windows port of GNU Aspell was still 32-bit version 0.50.3 (Dec 2002), with dictionaries of similar age.<ref>Aspell Windows port page</ref> The developer says he has "no time and very little interest in maintaining a Windows port", and has been looking for somebody to maintain it.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, the LyX project maintains a separate fork of Aspell for Windows and dictionaries, and says "the LyX project has long solved the Windows packaging problem by forking Aspell."Template:Citation needed LyX is being maintained and Template:As of the latest version is 2.3.7, dated 7 January 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The regularly updated Cygwin port of aspell can also be used in Windows and it is the latest version.Template:Citation needed

Integration

Aspell has been integrated into software such as Gajim,<ref>Gajim and Aspell: Template:Cite web</ref> LyX, Notepad++, Claws Mail and previously Pidgin,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Opera,<ref>Opera 10 now uses Hunspell: Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> gedit and AbiWord.

See also

• Enchant
• Hunspell
• Ispell
• MySpell
• Pspell
• Virastyar

External links

• Aspell Homepage
• Aspell Spell Helper
• Test Results of Aspell Compared to Other Spell Checkers
• The GNU Aspell documentation under the GNU Free Documentation License
• GNU Aspell download page (FTP link)
• LyXWinInstaller (includes Aspell for Windows)
• Aspell and UTF-8/Unicode
• GNU Aspell summary page at Savannah
• Mac OS X interface for Aspell
• Original Unix spell (1978-81), on which Aspell is based