The Code Report has just announced a game-changing development in the world of software development. Many developers might not readily admit it, but that innovative app they’re painstakingly building could potentially have been created using a tool that’s been around for decades: Microsoft Excel.
Surprisingly, Excel, which debuted in 1985, stands as a pivotal software in our modern service-oriented economy. During my time in a mundane office job, I discovered the initial inklings of programming through Excel formulas. While Excel can be linked with Visual Basic for rudimentary programming, a more dynamic solution has emerged.
A groundbreaking announcement came just yesterday – Microsoft Excel now supports Python programming, a collaborative effort with Guido van Rossum, the creator of Python. This integration presents an exciting prospect. With the introduction of the new “Pi” formula, Excel users can execute Python code directly on their spreadsheet data.
For instance, by selecting specific data and running corresponding Python code, users can effortlessly convert data into a Pandas data frame. The integration also extends to popular Python database packages like Seaborn and Matplotlib, enhancing data visualization capabilities.
Furthermore, this collaboration empowers developers to craft personalized functions, enabling efficient manipulation and cleaning of real-world datasets. Astonishingly, machine learning tasks, courtesy of libraries like scikit-learn, can now be seamlessly accomplished within Excel. However, it’s worth noting that training complex deep learning models using PyTorch and TensorFlow isn’t within the realm of possibility here.
This innovation comes with a significant caveat: the Python code does not execute locally but rather on Microsoft’s Azure Cloud platform. This arrangement enhances security by circumventing the risks associated with local spreadsheet execution and the complexities of managing Python versions.
Partnering with Anaconda, Microsoft has created a standardized runtime environment for running Python in Excel via Azure. While this cloud-based solution offers convenience, privacy-conscious users might yearn for local, offline execution due to speed and privacy benefits. Yet, this cloud-driven approach aligns with Microsoft’s business model, serving as a product to market.
Alternatives exist for those seeking localized execution. Switching to Linux and utilizing LibreOffice, which has long supported macros in JavaScript and Python, provides such an option. However, convincing the corporate world to adopt open-source alternatives can be a daunting challenge.
The allure of Microsoft’s Python-Excel integration lies in its transformative potential for the corporate sphere. In this realm, tools like Google Sheets and Apps Script have played a role. Apps Script, a JavaScript-based tool, allows automation of tasks like shipping items and creating custom interfaces.
Nevertheless, Python excels in data analysis capabilities, positioning it as the tool of choice for white-collar workers to tackle various everyday problems.
Microsoft’s strategic approach has positioned them at the forefront of AI development. Their commitment to developer-friendly practices, encapsulated in three steps—embrace, extend, and empower—has cemented their lead. Microsoft’s integration of Python in Excel epitomizes this strategy, equipping Excel with formidable AI capabilities.
As AI models continue to evolve, Microsoft’s stronghold in this domain remains unchallenged. The future holds immense promise, especially within the corporate world. With the ability to blend Python with Excel’s familiar interface, even the most unassuming users can harness the potential of AI-assisted programming, making strides toward solving contemporary challenges.
(By Emily Turner)
