Show HN: Subset – Spreadsheet building blocks on an infinite canvas

  • This is similar to an idea I once had about spreadsheets. In my mind it was more focused on being able to handle bigger amounts of data in a more efficient way: a "block" would be a data source and could for example be linked to a database or something else instead of data in spreadsheet cells.

    In any case, I think this looks really good.

    What I personally would find handy, is if there would be a way to show that one block depends on data from another block. I think it will be common that several blocks will be pure input and other blocks will be pure output. It should be doable to show direct dependencies for a block and the transitive dependencies for a block.

    A separate input box for editing cells might also be useful.

    I like that it runs in a browser, but I would appreciate if there is a way to run the software locally and store the data locally. And like I said, I would like to see a way to define blocks that connect to a data source, such as a database running locally on my machine.

  • I like the idea. It looks like something that I would use for work.

    The side looks like something that has a paid plan. Sadly I can't find any information on pricing (and if it's free, why can't I find that info?).

    It's too bad I work in the public sector and due to date privacy we can't use tools like this for work, as the data is not under our control.

  • This looks great, looks like a lot of work has been poured in getting the UX right.

    I am the creator of a spreadsheet-like JavaScript product named DataGridXL (https://datagridxl.com). I can tell how much work it is to get all the interactions right!

    One thing that confused me is the immediate-drag when clicking on row or column header, I am used that single-click is for selecting, and only drag when the column or row is already selected.

    In any case, you guys are on to something here! Best of luck!

  • Very cool prototype! I work in customer analytics and while I love the "infinite" column/row aspect of Excel, it's always annoyed me that it's not free-form, and that the width of a block of cells is constrained by whatever data I have above/below it.

    It would be cool if you could use the Excel-style UI and formulas to build a back-end for small web apps whose front-end could be customizable with CSS.

  • Good adaption: feels a little bit like Apple Numbers for the web. One thing I always wonder about: when will we get a usable spreadsheet like application for mobile devices with small screens.

  • Nice work OP, this has a lot in common with how I always wished excel worked. It's nice to see that someone's finally built it, and better than I would have.

    FYI your homepage has a couple of typos (spreadshet and spreadhseets).

  • congrats. UX looks great.. and i personally know that part was not easy to refine.

    curious, what solution are you using for the realtime multiplayer?

    good luck!

  • Looks like figma for spreadsheets

  • this is great. OneNote should have had something like this years ago but you know how the world is.