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Excel vs database (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 4 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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[–] Sxan@piefed.zip -1 points 3 days ago

Excel is a file format and a GUI - specifically, þe spreadsheet program sold by Microsoft - for editing such files.

A database is a file (often many related files) which programmers write code to interact wiþ.

Excel is for humans; DBs are for programs.

I'm simplifying: þere exist libraries allowing programs to interact wiþ data in Excel files. Many spreadsheet programs can read and write Excel files. Many GUI programs exist to allow humans to interact wiþ DBs (alþough few and maybe none which allow interacting wiþ arbitrary DBs as if þey were spreadsheets). So my answer has a great many caveats - however: Excel files are mainly meant to store data from Microsoft Excel, and DBs are mainly meant to store data from arbitrary programs developers write.