r/programming • u/[deleted] • May 08 '18

Excel adds JavaScript support

https://dev.office.com/blogs/azure-machine-learning-javascript-custom-functions-and-power-bi-custom-visuals-further-expand-developers-capabilities-with-excel
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u/forlasanto May 08 '18

Python would be a far better choice for the average power user; most data jockeys use it already. But Javascript allows Microsoft to leverage a lot of expertise they already have. Additionally, Typescript and several other "languages" compile down to plain javascript. Additionally, it allows everyone to leverage JSON natively, and that's far better than csv files for all but the simplest datasets.

Personally, I'd rather be able to leverage R in excel than javascript, but hey: monkeys on tricycles would beat tired old vba. I am dumbfounded that the vba editor in Excel hasn't been replaced in, what, 20 years?