What I really want is a spreadsheet that separates formulas from data as Lotus Improv did, has a native understanding of tables as Apple Numbers has, and solves circular references as Microsoft Excel does.
[Grist founder here] On separating formulas from data, that's always been an important part of Grist.
In Grist, check out the "Code View" page in the left-side panel -- it shows all the logic (i.e. formulas) of the document along with the Python data model (i.e. all the column names and types).
Also, you can save or download a copy of the document without the data, but keeping all the formulas. So you can get all the logic (and formatting, layouts, etc), and use it for different data.
(No support for solving circular references though.)
Any particular reason why knowing how useful it would be you’ve not implemented some kind of Newtonian iterator to solve circular references numerically?
Apple Numbers has the most potential of any spreadsheet software in my opinion. It is so much easier to use than any of it's competitors, however the features are slow to come.
I agree, I use it intensively and extensively. I really wish it had circular solving functionality, as that is crucial for financial planning (in order to estimate debt on the balance sheet and interest payable on the profit and loss account you have to converge onto a solution), and it simply offers no ability to do that. So many other important features are missing to, from the ability to lock cells or sheets so others can’t mess them up to statistical analysis and plugins.
I really adored the old versions that had the sidebar with sheet and table lists.
But yeah, it definitely has enormous potential. They just keep adding features that are pretty useless, such as the ability to annotate with a Pencil or various realtime collaboration features. That’s all pretty pointless. They have a potential winner on their hands and they don’t even bother implementing the stuff power users need. Keynote clearly benefitted from Steve’s intensive use of it. Somebody in the C-suite really needs to settle into using Numbers as their main spreadsheet and then growl at developers to implement the features they find themselves wanting.
for anyone who hasn't seen Lotus Improv before and is both curious about what it did differently from "standard" 1-2-3/Excel spreadsheet programs and wistfully nostalgic for late 80s/early 90s corporate vibes, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgGmKD87U3M
