4 ms·

But... why? Is there anyone who opens a classic spreadsheet software (from excel to google sheets) and says "I need something limited with less cells!"?

red_hare 5y ago
It seems like it's mobile-first. On desktop it's kind of silly compared to google sheets, but open it on a phone and it's a joy to use for something quick and screenshot vs google sheets.
28mm 5y ago
to create discussion/controversy and therefore attention for the consultancy that created it (postlight).
ldjb 5y ago
They do touch upon the rationale in their announcement blog post [0] but I do struggle to think of specific use cases. [0] https://postlight.com/insights/introducing-tinysheet https://postlight.com/insights/introducing-tinysheet
threatofrain 5y ago
If this was an embeddable JS library then this would be pretty neat.
echelon 5y ago
As a personal anecdote, extraneous columns in spreadsheets trigger my OCD. The first thing I do in any spreadsheet is to delete all of columns except for five, then add more if needed. I wish there was an option in Google Sheets to start with fewer columns. I almost never need a full alphabet.
rakoo 5y ago
This is not targeting people who go to a spreadsheet software first; this is targeting people who need some quick calculation and can use the power of spreadsheet software. Maybe it's a quick forecast of an investment/loan over a few years, maybe it's a list of friends who owe you money for your group trip, maybe it's just the waiter who runs the payments for a 10-person table who all pay differently and they want to note who paid how much and what is left on the total bill. This is just like opening Notepad++ for copy-pasting something quickly instead of opening Word. I can see a lot of uses for that kind of "quick spreadsheeting" that don't require you to fire a full-blown editor.
- jbjbjbjb 5y ago
  I do that kind of quick spreadsheeting on the Apple Numbers app. I can’t say it’s particularly pleasant to use. There’s definitely a need for reimagining the spreadsheet UI for mobile spreadsheeting.
- ghostly_s 5y ago
  What if I need to put more than 10 friends on my list. Why is it arbitrarily limited?
- ajsnigrutin 5y ago
  > This is just like opening Notepad++ for copy-pasting something quickly instead of opening Word. But it's not. Noteped++ is a pure text editor, word is not (because it has formatting, auto capitalization and other crap, that might bother you, especially if you paste a snippet of code). This is like openining an online, special, 10-line limited version of notepad, instead of a normal notepad, that you already have installed on your pc, which has no line limits.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
calsy 5y ago
Why not? Why do you need bloated, mobile unfriendly spreadsheet software to quickly take down some numbers in a tabular form? For e.g, If I'm around the house and want to record a few tape measure readings with my phone like a digital scrapbook, I can use this. I like the tabular format and ease of use. If I need to jot down a quick note, I wouldn't use a word processor with all the inane amount of options. I would use a simple note app because all those word processing options serve no purpose and makes the simple task I'm trying to complete harder then it needs to be. Simplicity is a very convenient feature.
- mikeg8 5y ago
  If you remember this product exists the next time you're measuring than yes, it might be useful. I use my notes app to jot down field measurements all the time and it works well. Simplicity can be nice up until the point of too much fragmentation.
  - calsy 5y ago
    There is a difference between straight text and spreadsheets. I also like notes, but numbers are just easier to process mentally in tabular form. If they weren't spreadsheets would have next to no value. If I use a product and find it handy and convenient I'll remember to use it next time. Likewise, if I use a product and find it obtuse and makes a simple task harder than it needs to be, I'll remember not to use it next time.
sentrysapper 5y ago
I get your point, but it does appeal to me. There are times I wish my Keep list had a totals function. I'll probably try this next time I need to share something on Keep that needs a calculation or an itemized quote.
anyfactor 5y ago
I like it. One example could be - Need to come up with rent calculations for rental properties, before I do the books. Also, doing doing freelance project quotations with breakdown. Expected hours for each task and stuff like that. This works perfectly for me. I have bookmarked to my main page. I just like spreadsheets. But if anyone wants a bit more, I found https://ethercalc.net/ https://ethercalc.net/ which I am exploring right now.
- ghostly_s 5y ago
  Seems like more than 2 columns would be handy even in those scenarios.

red_hare 5y ago

It seems like it's mobile-first. On desktop it's kind of silly compared to google sheets, but open it on a phone and it's a joy to use for something quick and screenshot vs google sheets.

28mm 5y ago

to create discussion/controversy and therefore attention for the consultancy that created it (postlight).

ldjb 5y ago

They do touch upon the rationale in their announcement blog post [0] but I do struggle to think of specific use cases. [0] https://postlight.com/insights/introducing-tinysheet https://postlight.com/insights/introducing-tinysheet

threatofrain 5y ago

If this was an embeddable JS library then this would be pretty neat.

echelon 5y ago

As a personal anecdote, extraneous columns in spreadsheets trigger my OCD. The first thing I do in any spreadsheet is to delete all of columns except for five, then add more if needed. I wish there was an option in Google Sheets to start with fewer columns. I almost never need a full alphabet.

rakoo 5y ago

This is not targeting people who go to a spreadsheet software first; this is targeting people who need some quick calculation and can use the power of spreadsheet software. Maybe it's a quick forecast of an investment/loan over a few years, maybe it's a list of friends who owe you money for your group trip, maybe it's just the waiter who runs the payments for a 10-person table who all pay differently and they want to note who paid how much and what is left on the total bill. This is just like opening Notepad++ for copy-pasting something quickly instead of opening Word. I can see a lot of uses for that kind of "quick spreadsheeting" that don't require you to fire a full-blown editor.

jbjbjbjb 5y ago
I do that kind of quick spreadsheeting on the Apple Numbers app. I can’t say it’s particularly pleasant to use. There’s definitely a need for reimagining the spreadsheet UI for mobile spreadsheeting.
ghostly_s 5y ago
What if I need to put more than 10 friends on my list. Why is it arbitrarily limited?
ajsnigrutin 5y ago
> This is just like opening Notepad++ for copy-pasting something quickly instead of opening Word. But it's not. Noteped++ is a pure text editor, word is not (because it has formatting, auto capitalization and other crap, that might bother you, especially if you paste a snippet of code). This is like openining an online, special, 10-line limited version of notepad, instead of a normal notepad, that you already have installed on your pc, which has no line limits.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

calsy 5y ago

Why not? Why do you need bloated, mobile unfriendly spreadsheet software to quickly take down some numbers in a tabular form? For e.g, If I'm around the house and want to record a few tape measure readings with my phone like a digital scrapbook, I can use this. I like the tabular format and ease of use. If I need to jot down a quick note, I wouldn't use a word processor with all the inane amount of options. I would use a simple note app because all those word processing options serve no purpose and makes the simple task I'm trying to complete harder then it needs to be. Simplicity is a very convenient feature.

mikeg8 5y ago
If you remember this product exists the next time you're measuring than yes, it might be useful. I use my notes app to jot down field measurements all the time and it works well. Simplicity can be nice up until the point of too much fragmentation.
- calsy 5y ago
  There is a difference between straight text and spreadsheets. I also like notes, but numbers are just easier to process mentally in tabular form. If they weren't spreadsheets would have next to no value. If I use a product and find it handy and convenient I'll remember to use it next time. Likewise, if I use a product and find it obtuse and makes a simple task harder than it needs to be, I'll remember not to use it next time.

sentrysapper 5y ago

I get your point, but it does appeal to me. There are times I wish my Keep list had a totals function. I'll probably try this next time I need to share something on Keep that needs a calculation or an itemized quote.

anyfactor 5y ago

I like it. One example could be - Need to come up with rent calculations for rental properties, before I do the books. Also, doing doing freelance project quotations with breakdown. Expected hours for each task and stuff like that. This works perfectly for me. I have bookmarked to my main page. I just like spreadsheets. But if anyone wants a bit more, I found https://ethercalc.net/ https://ethercalc.net/ which I am exploring right now.

ghostly_s 5y ago
Seems like more than 2 columns would be handy even in those scenarios.