Free and open source software deals with many kinds of data, including written text. Authors of all levels are prone to making spelling or grammatical mistakes when editing content. This can result in ugly, ambiguous and incomprehensible texts or, in worst-case scenarios, even errors with severe consequences.

All sorts of integrated development environments warn software developers on mistakes and probable risky patterns by means of lint-like source code checking. Likewise, software can be used as well to assist developers and end-users in writing boring documents, prose and poetry. The challenge is to offer feedback directly to a writer during the content creation process in order to fix errors immediately. Simultaneously, his or her writing skills improve accordingly. Writing tools can do much more, such as suggesting synonyms, handling hyphenation and helping with style.

Several FOSS writing tools are currently available with a myriad of language bindings, libraries and APIs. One was even presented in the opening keynote of FOSDEM 2015. Some applications are deprecated, others are used inefficiently, sometimes configuration is faulty and suggestions can be handled incorrectly. Furthermore, not all languages are supported equally and contributions such as lexica, corpora et cetera are welcome.

By means of slides containing practical examples you will learn how to integrate FOSS writing tools in an efficient way to improve textual content creation. A special but very quick sidestep will be made regarding proper names for use in geographical data. This talk will introduce software developers to best practises, help avoiding pitfalls, give a glance of the future and put a smile on your face.