this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2024
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How a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet From Hell Slowed Williams' F1 Cars For Years (www.thedrive.com)
submitted 8 months ago by boem to c/technology
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[–] Aleric 24 points 8 months ago (2 children)

100%, excel is great for spreadsheets and garbage as a database, yet so many people keep using it as a database. I'm currently pushing for my department to transition their many "excel databases" to proper databases and I'm getting mass surprised Pikachu face because no one else knows they're not the same.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Well if you're trying to use Excel as a database, get them behind SQL Server or something. Hell, Access is a step up.

Using Excel outside of simulation proofs is not a wise business decision, because it means (going off my experience) institutional knowledge

[–] Aleric 10 points 8 months ago

Indeed, I'm pushing for SQL but work in a field that sees Excel as a huge improvement over past practices. They're about one step removed from writing on toilet paper.

My original career was in a much more data intensive field, so I've become "that guy" regarding proper data storage and hygiene. Case in point: we sit directly next to IT. Every time we talk about data collection, I'll get up on my SQL soap box and one of the IT folks will let out a comical groan.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

If you're working with csv data, https://www.visidata.org/ >>>>> excel (assuming you're comfortable with terminal UIs, anyway). You can very rapidly slice and dice data and for formulas and such, you can just write Python.