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See also: YC request for startups, #22... "22. A web-based Excel/database hybrid. People often use Excel as a lightweight database. I suspect there's an opport

See also: YC request for startups, #22... "22. A web-based Excel/database hybrid. People often use Excel as a lightweight database. I suspect there's an opportunity to create the program such users wish existed, and that there are new things you could do if it were web-based. Like make it easier to get data into it, through forms or scraping. Don't make it feel like a database. That frightens people. The question to ask is: how much can I let people do without defining structure? You want the database equivalent of a language that makes its easy to keep data in linked lists. (Which means you probably want to write it in one.)" http://ycombinator.com/ideas.html http://ycombinator.com/ideas.html

DanBC 14y ago
That's a good idea, but it's a bit scary. I've seen people use spreadsheets as word processors. They don't know how to layout a document in a word processor, but this spreadsheet lets them put words wherever they want. Sometimes people misuse spreadsheets. I guess it'd be really good to have some kind of transition from spreadsheets to more suitable tools. (Perhaps using spreadsheets as examples an metaphors?) This doesn't have to be software, it could be a short course on a website.
- sachingulaya 14y ago
  I know an accountant who knew how to use word processors but preferred to write essays in Excel. It's definitely peculiar.
- e12e 14y ago
  I'm still sad dabbledb.com folded up and went to work for twitter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCVj5RZOqwY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCVj5RZOqwY
MortenK 14y ago
I just started a customer on Smartsheet.com, it is actually more or less exactly the above. There's webforms for data submission, special column types (contact dropdown lists, checkboxes etc). It's been running for a few weeks only, but so far its been a joy to use compared to the myriad of Excel files that were used before.

DanBC 14y ago

That's a good idea, but it's a bit scary. I've seen people use spreadsheets as word processors. They don't know how to layout a document in a word processor, but this spreadsheet lets them put words wherever they want. Sometimes people misuse spreadsheets. I guess it'd be really good to have some kind of transition from spreadsheets to more suitable tools. (Perhaps using spreadsheets as examples an metaphors?) This doesn't have to be software, it could be a short course on a website.

sachingulaya 14y ago
I know an accountant who knew how to use word processors but preferred to write essays in Excel. It's definitely peculiar.
e12e 14y ago
I'm still sad dabbledb.com folded up and went to work for twitter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCVj5RZOqwY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCVj5RZOqwY

MortenK 14y ago

I just started a customer on Smartsheet.com, it is actually more or less exactly the above. There's webforms for data submission, special column types (contact dropdown lists, checkboxes etc). It's been running for a few weeks only, but so far its been a joy to use compared to the myriad of Excel files that were used before.