🚀 go-pugleaf

shawn@monitor.com writes
> Database
> Spreadsheet
> 
> They're different. Spreadsheets don't need to do the
> sorting and filtering that databases do, and
> correspondingly don't have those capabilities.  Adding  
> such functionality is kind of silly.  The only reasons
> that Lotus has the "database" (and I use the term 
> loosely) capabilities it does is because some gigantic
> chunk of companies in the world run their ENTIRE
> businesses with Lotus 123, and Lotus sort of obliged them
> back in 80-something.  
> 

Yes, spreadsheets and databases are different, but there  
are often times when I need to sort and filter the numbers  
that I'm working on, and I don't want to have to export my  
data to a database and then re-import it every time.  I've  
often used the 'very limited' database functions in Lotus  
even though I keep around and use much more sophisticated  
databases as well.
The combination of spreadsheet and database-like  
functionality is precisely what makes Improv so  
interesting, and Lotus deserves kudos for having made such  
a cool hybrid (despite all its release 1.0 problems and  
limitations).
Let's not start thinking that the way we do our work is  
appropriate for everybody.  If Ivo Welch finds that more  
sophisticated db capabilities in Mesa would be an advantage  
to him, that's his prerogative.  If Athena finds that there  
are enough such people out there, they'll put it in.

--
-
Stefano Pagiola
Food Research Institute, Stanford University
spagiola@frinext.stanford.edu (NeXTMail encouraged)