Spreadsheets are widely used data analysis tools with hundreds of built-in functions and features. While you can do a lot in spreadsheets, writing code inside spreadsheets is a way to extend their functionality and automate your work.
In the guide, we'll review several options for coding spreadsheets across popular spreadsheet programs like Excel and Google Sheets and show why Row Zero is the best programmable spreadsheet for both experienced programmers and beginners to spreadsheet engineering. Skip to a link below or continue reading for the full guide:
- Easiest and Most Powerful Option: Row Zero
- Coding Excel with VBA
- Coding Google Sheets with Apps Scripts
- ChatGPT and Coding Spreadsheets
- Conclusion
Easiest and Most Powerful Option - Row Zero
Row Zero is a next-gen spreadsheet built for big data with a built-in Python editor for coding spreadsheet functions. As the world's most powerful spreadsheet, Row Zero makes it easy to work with large datasets or run complex computations in a spreadsheet. Row Zero is the easiest way to start programming in spreadsheets and also a powerful tool for big data analysis.
4 Reasons Why Row Zero is the Best Coding Spreadsheet
Big Data Power: Row Zero powers billion row spreadsheets (1000x Excel's max rows) so you can work with big datasets or database tables in a spreadsheet and code spreadsheet functions to perform complex computations. Row Zero also supports common big data file formats like parquet, .gz, and JSONL.
Native python spreadsheet editor: Row Zero spreadsheets have a built-in Python code window for programming spreadsheet functions with Python. Everything is pre-built and runs in the cloud so there's nothing to install. Easily code custom spreadsheet functions that you can call in the spreadsheet or import python packages like numpy, scipy, or pandas in spreadsheets.
Sync to your data warehouse or database: Row Zero has built-in connectors to popular data sources like Postgres, Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, and S3. By syncing your spreadsheets to your data source, you can automatically pull data and build dynamic pivot tables, charts, and dashboards. Everything you build on top of your connected source data stays in sync and automatically updates. This also makes Row Zero a powerful GUI for Postgres, Snowflake, etc.
Compatible with Excel and Google Sheets: Row Zero functions and formulas are compatible with Excel and Google Sheets. You can even upload XLSX files directly. So if Excel is slow or crashing, you can import your Excel file to speed it up and start programming spreadsheet functions with Python. Row Zero is a good alternative to Excel and Google Sheets for big data users, analysts, and programmers.
Coding Spreadsheets with Python in Row Zero
Row Zero makes it easy to code spreadsheet functions with Python. Here's a quick tutorial:
Open up a Row Zero workbook and get your data ready:
Login or sign up for free and open a workbook. You can start from scratch, click Data to import a file, or click Connections to sync data from your data warehouse or database.Open the Python code window
Click the </>Code button to open Python in your spreadsheet.
Write your code and click Run
If your code runs successfully, you'll get the message Build completed. If you need help writing your code, try using an AI chatbot like ChatGPT to help write code or troubleshoot issues.Test out your custom function
Try writing a formula with your custom function. Note, custom formulas do not autocomplete, so you'll need to type it out. Be sure to use the same function name and conditions that were defined in the Python code.
As you can see, it's easy to create custom spreadsheet functions with Python in your spreadsheet. You can try row Zero for free at rowzero.io and see why Row Zero is the best spreadsheet for big data. Try Row Zero for Free
Coding Excel with VBA
You can code functions in Excel with VBA (Visual Basic for Applications), Excel's native coding language. Here's a simple step-by-step VBA tutorial:
1. Open Excel and get your data ready
2. Open the VBA editor:
Use the shortcut Alt + F11 to open VBA or go to Developer, Visual Basic in Excel's navigation.
3. Insert Module in VBA and enter your code
4. Save the module and close VBA editor
5. Call your VBA function in Excel
You can call your VBA function in Excel just like any other function and you'll see it autocomplete. 
5 Big Limitations of VBA and Excel
There are several limitations of VBA and Excel. Here are a few to keep in mind:
- Data Limits - Excel struggles with large datasets and has a maximum row limit of 1,048,576
- Speed - Excel can slow down or freeze with large or complicated spreadsheets and VBA is slower than Python and other modern languages.
- Doesn't work online - VBA does not work in Excel 365 (web version of Excel) and does not interact well with modern web applications.
- Development limitations - VBA is specific to the Microsoft Office environment and has limited interoperability with other applications. In addition, the VBA editor lacks many features found in modern IDEs.
- Security and stability - VBA macros can contain malicious code and be prone to corruption so some organizations disable them by default.
VBA and Excel are still very useful for many users but are best suited for smaller-scale tasks and personal automation rather than enterprise or data-intensive applications. For big data analysis and enterprise features, try a more powerful and secure spreadsheet like Row Zero, BI tools, or modern languages like Python or R.
Coding Google Sheets with Apps Script
You can code Google Sheets functions with Google Apps Script which is Google's scripting language for development with Google Workspace. Here's a simple step-by-step Google Apps Script tutorial:
1. Open Google Sheets and get your data ready
2. Open Script Editor:
Click on Extensions in the menu and select Apps Script. 
3. Write and save your function
Code your function using JavaScript and click the disk icon or press Ctrl + S to save the script. 
4. Call your function in the sheet
Go back to your Google Sheet and type the custom function as you would with any regular function. Note, custom functions do not autocomplete. 
As you can see, it's pretty easy to code custom functions in Google Sheets with Apps Script. One important thing to note is that Google Apps Script can make Google Sheets slow down in some situations so keep an eye on performance when heavily using Apps Script.
ChatGPT and Coding Spreadsheets
The development environment inside spreadsheets is a natural conduit for using ChatGPT in spreadsheets. A simple prompt to ChatGPT can give you the Python, VBA code, or JavaScript to create custom spreadsheet functions for whatever you want to do in your spreadsheet. ChatGPT can also help you troubleshoot issues and better leverage built-in functions in spreadsheets as well.
ChatGPT makes coding spreadsheets dramatically more accessible to neary all spreadsheet users, especially in Row Zero. For example, even if you don't know Python, you can easily ask ChatGPT to write you the code for a python spreadsheet function to run in Row Zero's spreadsheet python window. Just describe what you want to ChatGPT and then copy and paste the code into the Python window in Row Zero and hit Run. For a step-by-step tutorial, view our guide - Create custom spreadsheet functions with ChatGPT and Python.
Conclusion
Coding spreadsheet functions is a great way to extend the functionality of spreadsheets and automate your work. By leveraging ChatGPT to write code, provide tutorials, or troubleshoot issues, programming spreadsheets is accessible to nearly any spreadsheet user. Each spreadsheet application offers a unique solution for coding spreadsheets. While Excel is the most popular spreadsheet, coding Excel with VBA is likely the most complicated and least powerful option. Google Sheets offers a fairly simple solution for coding Google Sheets with Apps Script. Row Zero offers the most powerful solution by bringing a native Python code window to a spreadsheet built for big data. You can try Row Zero for free and see why Row Zero is the best spreadsheet for big data.