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At first glance, it seems like Lisp is inappropriate for spreadsheets: the syntax is simply too verbose and heavy. But cool project, I've always wanted to make

by smabie 6y ago

At first glance, it seems like Lisp is inappropriate for spreadsheets: the syntax is simply too verbose and heavy. But cool project, I've always wanted to make a terminal spreadsheet app. Maybe with some custom APL-like language. Now that would be cool!

the-dude 6y ago
The 'first' spreadsheet was a terminal app, and also the 'killer app' for the PC : Lotus 1-2-3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_1-2-3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_1-2-3
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- mayoff 6y ago
  The first spreadsheet app was VisiCalc.
  - cardiffspaceman 6y ago
    Ironically the second, and quite visible paragraph of the 1-2-3 article mentions VisiCalc as first.
artsyca 6y ago
I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it. -- Ok all drama aside I can't help feeling like LISP is the best language you could have in this context because it's verbose, unambiguous, highly encapsulated and old school not to mention hardcore. Anyone using a spreadsheet in emacs would be well versed in this sort of paradigm and I personally love lisp because it's how we cut our teeth in functional programming in university. Not to mention it's perfectly suited to list processing..
- clauderoux 6y ago
  I fully agree with you. When you see how cumbersome Excel formulas can be when you want to mix different operators together, with their "(",";" and so on and so forth. I wonder how you can say that Lisp is too verbose for this task.
- clauderoux 6y ago
  Furthermore, this spreadsheet is fully "libre", you can modify it and transform it according to your needs. There is also the possibility to write "regular formulas", which are more similar to what people are used to.
ectoplasmaboiii 6y ago
You might be interested in mesh [1], which is sort of what you're angling at. The creator did a video explaining it [2]. [1] https://github.com/chrispsn/mesh [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEG9pFNYBCI&t=499s
- chrispsn 6y ago
  Yep. JavaScript can also work as a formula language (per the Mesh JS prototype), but APL family languages such as k are much more ergonomic - and 'punchy' - in a spreadsheet context.

by smabie 6y ago

the-dude 6y ago

The 'first' spreadsheet was a terminal app, and also the 'killer app' for the PC : Lotus 1-2-3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_1-2-3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_1-2-3

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
mayoff 6y ago
The first spreadsheet app was VisiCalc.
- cardiffspaceman 6y ago
  Ironically the second, and quite visible paragraph of the 1-2-3 article mentions VisiCalc as first.

artsyca 6y ago

I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it. -- Ok all drama aside I can't help feeling like LISP is the best language you could have in this context because it's verbose, unambiguous, highly encapsulated and old school not to mention hardcore. Anyone using a spreadsheet in emacs would be well versed in this sort of paradigm and I personally love lisp because it's how we cut our teeth in functional programming in university. Not to mention it's perfectly suited to list processing..

clauderoux 6y ago
I fully agree with you. When you see how cumbersome Excel formulas can be when you want to mix different operators together, with their "(",";" and so on and so forth. I wonder how you can say that Lisp is too verbose for this task.
clauderoux 6y ago
Furthermore, this spreadsheet is fully "libre", you can modify it and transform it according to your needs. There is also the possibility to write "regular formulas", which are more similar to what people are used to.

ectoplasmaboiii 6y ago

You might be interested in mesh [1], which is sort of what you're angling at. The creator did a video explaining it [2]. [1] https://github.com/chrispsn/mesh [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEG9pFNYBCI&t=499s

chrispsn 6y ago
Yep. JavaScript can also work as a formula language (per the Mesh JS prototype), but APL family languages such as k are much more ergonomic - and 'punchy' - in a spreadsheet context.