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Eclipse BIRT
Brussels, Belgium
What it is
Eclipse BIRT is a reporting and charting toolset that turns data from sources such as databases, files, Java, JavaScript, and web services into textual reports and visual charts. Its components include an Eclipse-based report designer, a runtime, and a charting engine that can run on its own or be embedded in reports. One report can draw from multiple JDBC, XML, web service, or flat-file sources and combine them with joins. Users can sort, summarize, filter, and group data, including by sums and percentages of totals. The designer provides a drag-and-drop layout view, data and resource explorers, a script editor, and chart and expression builders. BIRT supports lists, charts, crosstabs, letters, documents, and compound reports. Output can include HTML, paginated HTML, Word, Excel, PostScript, ODT, ODS, ODP, or PDF, with data export to CSV. Designs use an open XML format, and reports can be embedded in desktop or web applications, especially those built with Java and Jakarta EE. BIRT is free, open-source software under the Eclipse Public License.
For and against
For
- Combines multiple data sources in one report
- Includes a drag-and-drop report designer
- Supports charts, crosstabs, and compound reports
- Exports to PDF, office formats, and CSV
- Free and open source under the Eclipse Public License
Against
- No security certification or compliance standard is stated
The verdict
Eclipse BIRT brings report design, data processing, charting, and multiple output formats into a free open-source toolset. Its embedding options make it especially suited to teams building Java and Jakarta EE applications.
Who it suits
BIRT suits developers and teams that need to build data-driven reports or charts, particularly for Java or Jakarta EE applications. It is also relevant to users who want to combine multiple data sources or export reports in several formats.
Plans and prices
BIRT
Open-source software project · Eclipse Public License (EPL)
Read 11 Oct 2026 · eclipse-birt.github.io
On the record
- Application embedding
- BIRT reports can be embedded into desktop and web applications, especially those based on Java and Jakarta EE.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Components
- BIRT includes an Eclipse-based report designer, a runtime component, and a charting engine that can be used standalone or embedded in reports.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Data connections
- BIRT supports JDBC, XML, web services, and flat files, and a single report can use multiple data sources and combine them with inner and outer joins.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Data processing
- Reports can sort, summarize, filter, and group data, including grouping on sums and percentages of overall totals.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Designer features
- The designer includes a drag-and-drop WYSIWYG layout view, data explorer, script editor, resource explorer, chart builder, and expression builder.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Developers can extend BIRT with custom data access, report items, chart types, and output formats.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Output
- The report engine can produce HTML, paginated HTML, Word, Excel, PostScript, ODT, ODS, ODP, or PDF, and can export report data to CSV.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- BIRT creates textual reports and visual charts by pulling and combining data from sources such as databases, files, Java, JavaScript, and web services.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Report design
- BIRT report designs are stored in an open XML format.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Report types
- BIRT supports lists, charts, crosstabs, letters and documents, and compound reports.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Security and licensing
- The project page identifies the Eclipse Public License (EPL) as BIRT’s license; the pages reviewed do not state a security certification or compliance standard.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- BIRT uses GitHub issues to track bugs and enhancement requests, and its community page links to a developer mailing list.eclipse-birt.github.io · read 11 Oct 2026
