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A spreadsheet engine. It's a React app with a Rust backend, but it impressed me how snappy it was[0]. Of course, it's not nearly as feature rich as Google She

A spreadsheet engine. It's a React app with a Rust backend, but it impressed me how snappy it was[0]. Of course, it's not nearly as feature rich as Google Sheets, not to mention Excel. [0]: https://app.ironcalc.com/ https://app.ironcalc.com/

mdaniel 2y ago
"backend" seemed to imply it was contacting some server, but https://github.com/ironcalc/ironcalc#early-testing https://github.com/ironcalc/ironcalc#early-testing claims (and the network tab confirms) it is just Rust compiled to wasm, no "backend" required MIT or Apache 2 (player's choice) if anyone else has grown deeply suspicious about any "open source" HN headlines of late
- fsckboy 2y ago
  backend does not imply server to me, it implies software that does the calculating engine work and does not concern itself with display refresh.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
  - readthenotes1 2y ago
    In code that typically runs in on e process, that's a plausible interpretation. However, the browser, sorry, the Internet browser, is typically a distributed system and a more plausible interpretation of backend is server-side. IMNSHO.
  - ninalanyon 2y ago
    Surely that's background not backend.
    - 8n4vidtmkvmk 2y ago
      I wouldn't call it background unless maybe it's async or continues to process stuff while you're doing other things.
    - fsckboy 2y ago
      what's the backend of a spreadsheet engine going to be doing? updating the datastructures of the spreadsheet. is it going to be local or remote? that's not part of the question. is it foreground or background? that's an implementation choice. apple II, yeah, everything freezes while it recalcs. windows? recalcs when it can, don't let the mouse freeze.
  - bonoboTP 2y ago
    Backend is a general word, not limited to client-server or the web. You can have a rendering backend with various configurable choices, like in Matplotlib (https://matplotlib.org/stable/users/explain/figure/backends.html https://matplotlib.org/stable/users/explain/figure/backends....), or the deep learning library Keras has a choice between PyTorch, JAX and TensorFlow backends.
    - fsckboy 2y ago
      we're talking about a spreadsheet engine, the backend is not going to be the Xserver displaying it
- kaathewise 2y ago
  Right, I've made a mistake! I keep getting surprised by the fact it's possible to simply compile a Rust crate with a WASM target and run it in the browser.
nhatcher 2y ago
It's running entirely on your browser unless you click share, download or import. The computation part is done in Rust compiled to wasm. Thank you for posting!
- kaathewise 2y ago
  Yep, I've misunderstood, realized it after seeing mdaniel's comment. Thanks for making this in the first place! I saw IronCalc in the list of projects supported by NLnet and it grabbed my attention. By the way, if You don't mind me asking, how'd Tuta end up sponsoring IronCalc? It seems that lately they and Proton have been trying to expand their business away from just email. The fact that Tuta is interested in IronCalc makes me think they want to have an office-like offering.
  - nhatcher 2y ago
    Tuta sponsors by providing us with free email accounts, that's all. I reached out months ago, they liked the project and were kind enough to help us out with the email. I haven't have talks with them about integrating IronCalc, but it is something that is on my mind.
    - kaathewise 2y ago
      Ah, I see. Best of luck with that! There are a few projects where I'd love to see a modern spreadsheet implementation. CryptPad comes to mind. They use OnlyOffice, which is quite featurefull, but takes awhile to load and isn't as responsive.
nine_k 2y ago
What Google Sheets functionality you're missing there? Of course there's a lot missing, but what's interesting is what you've reached for and could not find.
snthpy 2y ago
How tightly coupled are the React app and the Rust backend? I hope the backend engine can be used standalone embedded in other apps.

mdaniel 2y ago

"backend" seemed to imply it was contacting some server, but https://github.com/ironcalc/ironcalc#early-testing https://github.com/ironcalc/ironcalc#early-testing claims (and the network tab confirms) it is just Rust compiled to wasm, no "backend" required MIT or Apache 2 (player's choice) if anyone else has grown deeply suspicious about any "open source" HN headlines of late

fsckboy 2y ago
backend does not imply server to me, it implies software that does the calculating engine work and does not concern itself with display refresh.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- readthenotes1 2y ago
  In code that typically runs in on e process, that's a plausible interpretation. However, the browser, sorry, the Internet browser, is typically a distributed system and a more plausible interpretation of backend is server-side. IMNSHO.
- ninalanyon 2y ago
  Surely that's background not backend.
  - 8n4vidtmkvmk 2y ago
    I wouldn't call it background unless maybe it's async or continues to process stuff while you're doing other things.
  - fsckboy 2y ago
    what's the backend of a spreadsheet engine going to be doing? updating the datastructures of the spreadsheet. is it going to be local or remote? that's not part of the question. is it foreground or background? that's an implementation choice. apple II, yeah, everything freezes while it recalcs. windows? recalcs when it can, don't let the mouse freeze.
- bonoboTP 2y ago
  Backend is a general word, not limited to client-server or the web. You can have a rendering backend with various configurable choices, like in Matplotlib (https://matplotlib.org/stable/users/explain/figure/backends.html https://matplotlib.org/stable/users/explain/figure/backends....), or the deep learning library Keras has a choice between PyTorch, JAX and TensorFlow backends.
  - fsckboy 2y ago
    we're talking about a spreadsheet engine, the backend is not going to be the Xserver displaying it
kaathewise 2y ago
Right, I've made a mistake! I keep getting surprised by the fact it's possible to simply compile a Rust crate with a WASM target and run it in the browser.

nhatcher 2y ago

It's running entirely on your browser unless you click share, download or import. The computation part is done in Rust compiled to wasm. Thank you for posting!

kaathewise 2y ago
Yep, I've misunderstood, realized it after seeing mdaniel's comment. Thanks for making this in the first place! I saw IronCalc in the list of projects supported by NLnet and it grabbed my attention. By the way, if You don't mind me asking, how'd Tuta end up sponsoring IronCalc? It seems that lately they and Proton have been trying to expand their business away from just email. The fact that Tuta is interested in IronCalc makes me think they want to have an office-like offering.
- nhatcher 2y ago
  Tuta sponsors by providing us with free email accounts, that's all. I reached out months ago, they liked the project and were kind enough to help us out with the email. I haven't have talks with them about integrating IronCalc, but it is something that is on my mind.
  - kaathewise 2y ago
    Ah, I see. Best of luck with that! There are a few projects where I'd love to see a modern spreadsheet implementation. CryptPad comes to mind. They use OnlyOffice, which is quite featurefull, but takes awhile to load and isn't as responsive.

nine_k 2y ago

What Google Sheets functionality you're missing there? Of course there's a lot missing, but what's interesting is what you've reached for and could not find.

snthpy 2y ago

How tightly coupled are the React app and the Rust backend? I hope the backend engine can be used standalone embedded in other apps.