What it does
Core purpose
An open-source COM add-in project that integrates with the Visual Basic Editor to add modern-day features to the familiar IDE. Works in VBA6, VBA7.x (x86/x64), and yes, in VB6 too!
Where it sits
Rubberduck belongs to the Developer tools family of VBA community tools. It is listed on the community-maintained awesome-vba index and is actively used by Microsoft Office automation developers.
How to get it
Source location
Full source, documentation, and release notes are maintained at rubberduckvba.com. Treat that URL as the canonical reference — bugs and feature requests live there.
Installation pattern
For a typical GitHub-hosted VBA library: download the .bas, .cls, or .frm files from the repository, then in the VBA editor (Alt + F11) use File → Import File… to bring each module into your project. Save the host document as .xlsm, .accdb, or .docm so macros are retained.
When to use it
Best fit
Reach for Rubberduck when your automation needs Developer tools capability and you want a peer-reviewed library rather than rolling your own. The awesome-vba curator reviews inclusions for active maintenance and community support.
Alternatives worth evaluating
Before committing to Rubberduck, browse the other entries in the same Developer tools section of our tools directory — several libraries typically overlap in purpose, and the right pick depends on your Office version, 32- vs 64-bit target, and licensing needs.