Excel use and abuse

TL;TR

This post is just a rant.

I like to think that my role as a web developer is what the name entitles: I’m a Web Developer. I mean, I help develop the web as a whole. 

I’m well aware that my contributions are tiny (very tiny) compared to what I see people doing specially with open source stuff (that practically run the world as we know it).

I try to create solutions to help people do their jobs as correct and fast as they can so that they can have a life outside work. That’s my purpose. That’s my tiny part of it.

So, when I see new like this one: Formula 1 chief appalled to find team using Excel to manage 20,000 car parts I get freakin’ mad. And sad.

I have 20+ years in the development industry. I’ve worked for all kinds of companies and consultancies. I lost count of how many systems I helped develop to replace what I call a FEBS: F@cking Excel Based System. I get that small companies usually don’t have the budget to get a system developed to fulfill their immediate needs. I say usually because we are in 2024 and there are TONS of SaaS with reasonable prices available for every business needs you could think of.

A F1 Team would not adopt a SaaS for controlling F1 car parts, I know (even though you have Inventory SaaS companies out there). But these guys have a whole lot of money. They ARE tech companies. They very well could hire a tech company to develop something, anything to control car parts. An Excel sheet is not a solution. Not at that scale. Not at that context.

I’m using this news article of an example of what I see every single day. Right now I’m developing a “import .xmlx file” feature that should read a ⁠.xlsx data file to avoid keep the XMLX file as the source of truth. That should be the norm. It’s for a multi-million company. They use this information to render their e-commerce business. And they’re making this e-commerce a SaaS company as well (meta-SaaS?).

They know the importance of using Excel as a tool, not a system.