this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2025
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Excel vs database (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 3 days ago by bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works to c/programming@programming.dev
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I always see the programmer sentiment that "people should not be using excel for (project). It should be a database."

I am guessing by that they mean SQL? I dont know a thing about that except the acronym. The most ive done is a basic linux script and 2 hours of a VBA course. I suck at understanding programming, so id like to understand exactly how one uses a database vs excel. Like whay are the actual steps id have to do?

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[–] IcedRaktajino@startrek.website 28 points 3 days ago

A database can be used to plug into any number of applications that run on top of it as well as be easily shared by multiple people and centrally backed up. Auditing, logging, and row and table level access controls, and other measures can be easily added.

Excel files (or even MS Access files) as "databases" are often just people emailing around a file or accessing it from a shared drive. You end up with a split-brain situation at best and at worst you're dealing with constant file corruption from multiple people thinking they can access it from a shared drive at the same time.

Then you get vendor lock in and are forced to keep MS Office professional licenses because Shawn created some stupid Access "app" 10 years ago which is "THE DATABASE" and no one understands how it works.