re: Formula 1 chief appalled to find team using Excel to manage 20,000 car parts

quote:

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If you separate the data from the business logic, put the data in a database where it belongs, organize the business logic into testable and maintainable chunks that make sense, break out the presentation layer from the business logic and define a consistent interface between the two, then you'll have something worth relying on into the future. That's not a spreadsheet.

Spreadsheets are for presenting data to humans. They are not for storing data, and they are damn sure not a suitable place to store complicated code. Building your mission critical applications on top of a spreadsheet forces every development decision into this spreadsheet paradigm which is rarely a positive thing. It influences the shape of your data, the layout and (dis)organization of your code, limits your input and presentation options, and on and on.


If you want to be a proud Excel guru, don't be proud of your ability to add to a mountain of technical debt. Be proud of your ability to wade through the chaos and refactor the data and logic into systems suited for the application.

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Listen nerd, it was meant as sarcasm. Get your arse back on the stand up call and story point my fricking requirements.