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.
The beauty of such software is, that it's functional programming. So a simple elegant functional scripting language would have been a much better choice.
But, alas, as much as I personally actually like Python,... we're deep in a large Python fad.
I wonder though, how long van Rossum knew this. And if that's why he left the leadership position for Python. So MS would not get full control over Python just so he could get his new job. But to me, the whole thing is strange anyway... I'd rather eat fried rats and
Kind of? I've done one project that involved using VBA in Excel, I wouldn't wish that abomination on anyone. Sure you can get work done with it, much in the same way that you can hammer in a nail with a frying pan while blindfolded.
It's basically a functional programming language with a UI that lets you view the memory cells directly, and adds some sugar on top of that memdump.:) And VBA isn't exactly weaker than Python either.
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.
That would be awesome for me. Been wanting to learn python but didn't have anything to use it on, and use excel fairly regularly at work but couldnt get the hang of VBA.
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 graph, but that's about it.
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.
I have also on occasion been know to copy a column to the clipboard, then in cygwin cat/dev/clipboard | processing-chain >/dev/clipboard and paste the results back into Excel/Calc. For example finding typos in a column of names is easily accomplished via copy -> cat/dev/clipboard | sort | uniq | less.
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.
One could dream... even better if that caused Excel's localised function names to die a horrible death.
No, I do not want Norwegian names of functions (like SUM) instead of English function names - meaning the latter don't work. In general, I'm opposed to torture... but I'm willing and desiring of an exception for those who came up with that idea, and caused it to be implemented. OK, joking, but only slightly.
Children begin by loving their parents. After a time they judge them. Rarely,
if ever, do they forgive them.
- Oscar Wilde
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.
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Python is a bad choice though (Score:2)
The beauty of such software is, that it's functional programming. So a simple elegant functional scripting language would have been a much better choice.
But, alas, as much as I personally actually like Python, ... we're deep in a large Python fad.
I wonder though, how long van Rossum knew this. And if that's why he left the leadership position for Python. So MS would not get full control over Python just so he could get his new job.
But to me, the whole thing is strange anyway... I'd rather eat fried rats and
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Hello, Frank!
Re: (Score:3)
VBA is kind of a hot mess
Kind of? I've done one project that involved using VBA in Excel, I wouldn't wish that abomination on anyone. Sure you can get work done with it, much in the same way that you can hammer in a nail with a frying pan while blindfolded.
Re:Excel (Score:4)
Sounds insecure. Don't people mail spreadsheets around? There's a reason not many people use Grail as their browser.
Re:Excel (Score:4, Interesting)
You understand the whole point of Excel, yes?
It's basically a functional programming language with a UI that lets you view the memory cells directly, and adds some sugar on top of that memdump. :)
And VBA isn't exactly weaker than Python either.
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Well, BASIC was intended as a simple educational language for children and students, over 55 freaking years ago.
It's as if somebody used LEGO for all the insides of a 1000 ft oil tanker.
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"It's as if somebody used LEGO for all the insides of a 1000 ft oil tanker."
It's hard to do worse than the computer-car metaphor.
But you did.
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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.
That would be awesome for me. Been wanting to learn python but didn't have anything to use it on, and use excel fairly regularly at work but couldnt get the hang of VBA.
Re:Excel (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 graph, but that's about it.
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: (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.
Re: (Score:2)
I have also on occasion been know to copy a column to the clipboard, then in cygwin cat /dev/clipboard | processing-chain > /dev/clipboard and paste the results back into Excel/Calc. For example finding typos in a column of names is easily accomplished via copy -> cat /dev/clipboard | sort | uniq | less.
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Same here; I use AWK to process the data and upload them to Excel for the Graphical views;
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were they given more than 2 choices? I mean herpes is better than syphilis since it doesn't kill or cause brain damage.
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> were they given more than 2 choices? I mean herpes is better than syphilis since it doesn't kill or cause brain damage.
And much like herpes, 95% of programmers are already intimately familiar with it.
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Oh so Microsoft not going to use Scratch?
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Microsoft has been investing heavily into Python tooling for the past few years already.
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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.
One could dream... even better if that caused Excel's localised function names to die a horrible death.
No, I do not want Norwegian names of functions (like SUM) instead of English function names - meaning the latter don't work. In general, I'm opposed to torture... but I'm willing and desiring of an exception for those who came up with that idea, and caused it to be implemented. OK, joking, but only slightly.