---
title: "The technology behind the DataRefiner: Open Refine"
canonical: "https://onesaitplatform.refined.site/space/DOCT/2220794114/The%20technology%20behind%20the%20DataRefiner%3A%20Open%20Refine"
format: markdown
---
Our DataRefiner is based on the OpenRefine software to which a set of extensions have been added to work with the platform.
**[Open Refine](https://github.com/OpenRefine )** is an open-source Java tool (BSD-3 license) based on Java that with an Excel-style web interface allows you to load data from different sites and in different formats, understand it, clean it, reconcile it and improve it.
First, it must be noted that the concept of OpenRefine is that you can do the transformations from your own computer, only that instead of using a rich client application you do it from your browser (although as always, there are ways to take this concept to the Cloud).
OpenRefine is found on github: [https://github.com/OpenRefine](https://github.com/OpenRefine)
To find more information you can access their wiki:
[https://github.com/OpenRefine/OpenRefine/wiki/Documentation-For-Users](https://github.com/OpenRefine/OpenRefine/wiki/Documentation-For-Users)
### **A little history**
When Google gave the software to the community, it was difficult for them to start, so that you can get an idea:
[https://github.com/OpenRefine/OpenRefine/releases](https://github.com/OpenRefine/OpenRefine/releases)
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| YEAR | VERSION | DETAILS |
| **2013** | Google Refine 2.5 | Latest version with Google Branding |
| **2015** | Open Refine 2.6-RC1 | It takes 2 years to generate a Release Candidate from which no final version came out |
| **2017** | Open Refine 2.7 Release
Open Refine 2.8 Release | We finally have a release, well 2 |
| **2018** | Open Refine 3.0 Release
Open Refine 3.1 Release | It has been 5 years until there is a major version of Open Refine |
| **2019** | Open Refine 3.2 Release | |
| **2020** | Open Refine 3.3 Release | |
The current version is 3.4.1 (released at the end of September 2020.
As you can see from 2018/2019, you can see that the project has been reactivated.
### **How to install OpenRefine**
As we have said, OpenRefine is designed to be used on the local PC, so to use it you just have to download the distribution for your operating system.
On the releases page you will find the installers for each one: [https://github.com/OpenRefine/OpenRefine/releases/tag/3.4.1](https://github.com/OpenRefine/OpenRefine/releases/tag/3.4.1)
Once the software is downloaded and the executable has been launched, a browser will open at [http://127.0.0.1:3333](http://127.0.0.1:3333) with this aspect:
