Several months ago the Excel folk within Microsoft asked users whether they'd like to have Python as an alternative scripting language in Office. Support for that was overwhelming, but nothing more was said on the matter since then. I guess this is Microsoft's answer.
Several months ago the Excel folk within Microsoft asked users whether they'd like to have Python as an alternative scripting language in Office. Support for that was overwhelming, but nothing more was said on the matter since then. I guess this is Microsoft's answer.
Ironically, I rarely create spreadsheets at all any more, because most of the time I can solve a problem in a more simple and maintainable way by writing a quick Python script to process the data. That way the data isn't all mixed together with invisible processing logic, and the data and logic are better suited for version control. The data can also stay in a more open and future-proof format like CSV or JSON.
Sometimes I still use a spreadsheet to load the final results so I can quickly view them in a grap
You know all spreadsheet software can load an save CSV, yes?
And... JSON may be open and future-proof, but it sure is shit. All that's missing is XSLT with a dash of ASN.1.;)
And the point of spreadsheet software is overview! Whenever you try to get just as much overview with another programming language, you inevitably end up with a Excel clone / report generator, except with worse interactivity and a slower REPL loop.
You know all spreadsheet software can load an save CSV, yes?
Of course. That's how I load the results to view in a graph.
And the point of spreadsheet software is overview!
Except that by default you can't see the damned code. The only reason you need an "overview" is because you've got hundreds of hidden copies of the whole algorithm sprinkled around the page instead of a couple of text lines in a loop statement.
Excel (Score:5, Interesting)
Several months ago the Excel folk within Microsoft asked users whether they'd like to have Python as an alternative scripting language in Office. Support for that was overwhelming, but nothing more was said on the matter since then. I guess this is Microsoft's answer.
Re: (Score:5, Insightful)
Several months ago the Excel folk within Microsoft asked users whether they'd like to have Python as an alternative scripting language in Office. Support for that was overwhelming, but nothing more was said on the matter since then. I guess this is Microsoft's answer.
Ironically, I rarely create spreadsheets at all any more, because most of the time I can solve a problem in a more simple and maintainable way by writing a quick Python script to process the data. That way the data isn't all mixed together with invisible processing logic, and the data and logic are better suited for version control. The data can also stay in a more open and future-proof format like CSV or JSON.
Sometimes I still use a spreadsheet to load the final results so I can quickly view them in a grap
Re: (Score:2)
You know all spreadsheet software can load an save CSV, yes?
And ... JSON may be open and future-proof, but it sure is shit. All that's missing is XSLT with a dash of ASN.1. ;)
And the point of spreadsheet software is overview! Whenever you try to get just as much overview with another programming language, you inevitably end up with a Excel clone / report generator, except with worse interactivity and a slower REPL loop.
Re:Excel (Score:2)
You know all spreadsheet software can load an save CSV, yes?
Of course. That's how I load the results to view in a graph.
And the point of spreadsheet software is overview!
Except that by default you can't see the damned code. The only reason you need an "overview" is because you've got hundreds of hidden copies of the whole algorithm sprinkled around the page instead of a couple of text lines in a loop statement.