Microsoft is bringing Python to Excel

fry@fry.gs to Technology@lemmy.world – 297 points –
Microsoft is bringing Python to Excel
theverge.com
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Python calculations run in the Microsoft Cloud

some functionality will be restricted without a paid license [in addition to a Microsoft365 subscription]

saved you from premature excitement

This is stupid, why can't I just point it at my interpreter? Oh, right, money. smh

Think it'd actually be better than just importing your excel files to pandas or something though? If you've set up your own interpreter that doesn't seem out of your skillset.

The ability to share the work with non technical co-workers could be huge. You might be able to do everything with pandas, but Jim in sales is too busy casting staplers in jello to learn how to set up a python environment

Unfortunately I already read the headline, is there anywhere I can offload this now unnecessary excitement?

Python in Excel would be great, but nerfing it with some ridiculous cloud dependency is crazy. They could still paywall the feature if they really wanted while still running the Python interpretation locally.

I suppose we should be grateful they hadn’t also stuck ChatGPT on to it too so it could (badly) write the Python for you. Tech by buzzword will be the death of us I’m sure.

Python calculations run in the Microsoft Cloud

some functionality will be restricted without a paid license [in addition to a Microsoft365 subscription]

saved you from premature excitement

I knew when I saw the headline that this was going to be an example of MS doing something in a shitty way, not in an exciting way. Thank you for saving me a click.

I think most companies do have a M365 subscription. If you are in a corporate environment, you will likely have access to the services. But it is dumb that you need to be internet connected and paying for a subscription service in order to integrate python visualizations. Still sucks that Microsoft like every other tech company is just about nickel and diming their customers into oblivion.

Is basically their WEBSERVICE function but automatically because it's python and hardwired to their service.

Yeah this is hardly the announcement Microsoft thinks it is.

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