Re:I was wrong about spreadsheets (2017)
by HeavyStorm on Friday July 12, 2019 @03:45PM
(#20423790)
Ahn, so sorry, but that's a very flawed argument.
Arcane knowledge will be an issue with magical spreadsheets, as it is with any software (and I could argue that with custom software you have this legacy knowledge over both code AND ui, which is worse than just a spreadsheet).
The last paragraph is key, though - auditing and access control are tough ones for excel, and there are many tasks that require this functionality.
The trade-off is customizability - any excel can be changed to your specific need whereas that nice and shiny enterprise software you build may lack one or two things which you will never be able to change.
Arcane knowledge will be an issue with magical spreadsheets, as it is with any software (and I could argue that with custom software you have this legacy knowledge over both code AND ui, which is worse than just a spreadsheet).
The last paragraph is key, though - auditing and access control are tough ones for excel, and there are many tasks that require this functionality.
The trade-off is customizability - any excel can be changed to your specific need whereas that nice and shiny enterprise software you build may lack one or two things which you will never be able to change.