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Hi, I'm the PM for the feature. Thanks for this feedback about TypeScript support! I totally agree that TypeScript is ideal for this use case. As other comment

Hi, I'm the PM for the feature. Thanks for this feedback about TypeScript support! I totally agree that TypeScript is ideal for this use case. As other commenters have mentioned, we want to stay flexible for everyone, whether or not they use TypeScript. We'll provide support to make the TypeScript development experience great, like type definition files. You can compile any TS files to JS at development/deployment time (admittedly a little more legwork for your dev environment, yes). Finally, we'll be releasing an update for Script Lab[1] to support custom JavaScript functions soon. And since Script Lab supports TS we've used exactly the model you suggest above to define the function metadata in Script Lab. -Michael [1] https://github.com/OfficeDev/script-lab/blob/master/README.md https://github.com/OfficeDev/script-lab/blob/master/README.m...

jimnotgym 8y ago
I'm the kind of person this is directly aimed at, finance background, Excel officionado begging for a better scripting language. I can tell you that I am not interested in js for Excel one bit. Python for Excel however...
- NamTaf 8y ago
  I can't agree enough. Python baked in would be a dream come true.
  - snthpy 8y ago
    +1
- msaunders77 8y ago
  We did announce (but not yet release) custom Azure Machine Learning functions in Excel. I mention in the blog that since Python runs on Azure ML, you'll be able to run custom Python functions in the cloud, as part of Excel formulas[1]. That announced Azure ML feature is optimized for machine learning models (in terms of the tools/deployment/runtime we've provided), so even though it will work for any Python functions it might not be exactly what you're asking for. Also, depending on your specific use case, you may or may not need client-side execution (Azure ML functions run in the cloud today). I can't share specifics on other unannounced features, but Azure ML functions are only our first foray in this space: we think custom functions running in the cloud are very important for many different use cases in Excel. Also, note that on the JavaScript side, the language choice isn't something new for Excel or Office: for example, there's a public ecosystem of add-ins that automate Excel via JavaScript today[2]. Custom functions are just the latest way we've enabled for extending Excel as part of an add-in[3]. [1] https://dev.office.com/blogs/azure-machine-learning-javascript-custom-functions-and-power-bi-custom-visuals-further-expand-developers-capabilities-with-excel https://dev.office.com/blogs/azure-machine-learning-javascri... [2] https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps?product=office%3Bexcel&page=1 https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps?produ... [3] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/excel/excel-add-ins-overview https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/excel/ex...
- govert 8y ago
  Have you given PyXLL a try?

jimnotgym 8y ago

I'm the kind of person this is directly aimed at, finance background, Excel officionado begging for a better scripting language. I can tell you that I am not interested in js for Excel one bit. Python for Excel however...

NamTaf 8y ago
I can't agree enough. Python baked in would be a dream come true.
- snthpy 8y ago
  +1
msaunders77 8y ago
We did announce (but not yet release) custom Azure Machine Learning functions in Excel. I mention in the blog that since Python runs on Azure ML, you'll be able to run custom Python functions in the cloud, as part of Excel formulas[1]. That announced Azure ML feature is optimized for machine learning models (in terms of the tools/deployment/runtime we've provided), so even though it will work for any Python functions it might not be exactly what you're asking for. Also, depending on your specific use case, you may or may not need client-side execution (Azure ML functions run in the cloud today). I can't share specifics on other unannounced features, but Azure ML functions are only our first foray in this space: we think custom functions running in the cloud are very important for many different use cases in Excel. Also, note that on the JavaScript side, the language choice isn't something new for Excel or Office: for example, there's a public ecosystem of add-ins that automate Excel via JavaScript today[2]. Custom functions are just the latest way we've enabled for extending Excel as part of an add-in[3]. [1] https://dev.office.com/blogs/azure-machine-learning-javascript-custom-functions-and-power-bi-custom-visuals-further-expand-developers-capabilities-with-excel https://dev.office.com/blogs/azure-machine-learning-javascri... [2] https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps?product=office%3Bexcel&page=1 https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps?produ... [3] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/excel/excel-add-ins-overview https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/excel/ex...
govert 8y ago
Have you given PyXLL a try?