4 ms·

It is a proper programming language. For #1, there has been research on linting and automated semantic error or smell detection in Excel (e.g., https://github.

It is a proper programming language. For #1, there has been research on linting and automated semantic error or smell detection in Excel (e.g., https://github.com/ExceLint/ExceLint https://github.com/ExceLint/ExceLint). Some features are live in Excel today! For #2, Excel now supports Python. I don't think you need to do any conversions, all of the necessary information exists in the spreadsheet.

paulddraper 3y ago
> It is a proper programming language. How do you define a reusable function? --- (I know the answer....it's a proper programming language.)
- azhenley 3y ago
  Excel supports reusable lambdas: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/lambda-function-bd212d27-1cd1-4321-a34a-ccbf254b8b67 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/lambda-function-b...
  - skissane 3y ago
    Lambda support in Excel is quite new though, isn’t it? If the argument is “Excel is a proper programming language because it now supports lambdas”, that implies that for most of its existence it hasn’t been one
    - wizzwizz4 3y ago
      We've had VLOOKUP for a while.
      - paulddraper 3y ago
        That's a dictionary, not a general function.
        baq 3y ago
        it works well enough in discrete domains... it's literally the definition of a function - map something to something else.
        paulddraper 3y ago
        Yes, a function is an injection [1]. Abstractly. Listing all possible inputs with their outputs, and then doing a lookup....that's only sometimes useful. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injective_function https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injective_function
  - paulddraper 3y ago
    If we are talking Excel 365 after Feb 2022, then yes. If we're talking Excel 2021, Excel 2019, etc. then no.
    - blowski 3y ago
      So Excel supports reusable Lambdas then? In the same way that many tools introduce new features and users need to upgrade versions to get them.
      - paulddraper 3y ago
        Yep, Excel 365 Version 2201+ support reusable lambdas.
- sam2426679 3y ago
  VBA
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- pc77 3y ago
  Custom functions in excel https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-custom-functions-in-excel-2f06c10b-3622-40d6-a1b2-b6748ae8231f https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-custom-fun...

paulddraper 3y ago

> It is a proper programming language. How do you define a reusable function? --- (I know the answer....it's a proper programming language.)

azhenley 3y ago
Excel supports reusable lambdas: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/lambda-function-bd212d27-1cd1-4321-a34a-ccbf254b8b67 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/lambda-function-b...
- skissane 3y ago
  Lambda support in Excel is quite new though, isn’t it? If the argument is “Excel is a proper programming language because it now supports lambdas”, that implies that for most of its existence it hasn’t been one
  - wizzwizz4 3y ago
    We've had VLOOKUP for a while.
    - paulddraper 3y ago
      That's a dictionary, not a general function.
      - baq 3y ago
        it works well enough in discrete domains... it's literally the definition of a function - map something to something else.
        paulddraper 3y ago
        Yes, a function is an injection [1]. Abstractly. Listing all possible inputs with their outputs, and then doing a lookup....that's only sometimes useful. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injective_function https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injective_function
- paulddraper 3y ago
  If we are talking Excel 365 after Feb 2022, then yes. If we're talking Excel 2021, Excel 2019, etc. then no.
  - blowski 3y ago
    So Excel supports reusable Lambdas then? In the same way that many tools introduce new features and users need to upgrade versions to get them.
    - paulddraper 3y ago
      Yep, Excel 365 Version 2201+ support reusable lambdas.
sam2426679 3y ago
VBA
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
pc77 3y ago
Custom functions in excel https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-custom-functions-in-excel-2f06c10b-3622-40d6-a1b2-b6748ae8231f https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-custom-fun...