Thoughts on Python in Excel (1 Viewer)

[SparklySpartan]

I've been coding in python for awhile and discovered semi-recently that you can use python in Excel. Not to the extent of VBA, which has the ability to run code with side effects that can modify the spreadsheet, but anything formulas are capable of doing, Excel's python feature is also capable of doing, with the added benefit of being able to grab data from other places using python APIs, if that's your thing.

What are people's thoughts on this feature? Could python completely replace VBA as Excel's scripting language one day?

I've really enjoyed playing around with this feature so far. Where your toolset for solving problems with formulas is a lot more limited, the python integration lets you solve these problems 'programmatically' (as opposed to what I would call 'formulaic-ly').

Having access to actual modifiable variables, writing as many of your own functions as you want rather easily, and the ability to create loops with much more specific functionality than the loops Excel functions such as the MAP function offer, make it an option I would lean towards if I'm trying to solve a complex problem that formulas can solve without wanting to dip into VBA.

Of course, if I want to do something crazy in Excel, VBA takes the cake, no question

Would love to hear your opinions!

 

[Isaac]

python completely replace VBA as Excel's scripting language one day?

I think it's definitely possible. Microsoft has really made it clear in various ways that they think of VBA as the lowest most childish silly thing. If they can make power query and python play together and continue to for years to come I think they will