Spreadsheets are the unsung heroes of the digital age. They’ve quietly powered everything — from billion-dollar budgets to side hustles, from rocket launches to grocery lists. And even as software trends come and go, the spreadsheet remains: flexible, powerful, and weirdly human.

This Spreadsheet Day, we sat down with our CEO, Marcin Warpechowski, to talk about the fascinating world of spreadsheets: why they’ve outlasted every tech trend, what they reveal about how we think, and where they might go next.

With years of building spreadsheet technology behind him, Marcin brings a unique perspective on why this simple format continues to inspire developers and creators alike.

The Interview

Let’s start simple — why do you think spreadsheets have survived for so long, even as we keep inventing new tools?

Marcin: For the last 46 years, we’ve been witnessing a consistent evolution of the simple, elegant concept pioneered by VisiCalc. Spreadsheets evolve because they’re an amazingly simple yet infinitely powerful idea that keeps up with the times.

If you look at how spreadsheets are used, that has completely changed though — from being a killer app on personal computers to becoming AI-enabled, collaborative data analysis tools.

All of this is still based on the same core principle: an interactive canvas with user-defined calculations. Modern software is greatly influenced by spreadsheets, and users now expect this kind of interactivity in almost any app.

You mentioned evolution — that spreadsheets keep adapting to new eras. Some people even call them the original no-code platform. Do you agree?

Marcin: Yes, definitely! The real breakthrough of the spreadsheet, compared to the tables everyone used before, was that anyone could make computers remember the way things are computed, not only the results.

It wasn’t apparent at the time, but spreadsheets shifted power from highly skilled engineers to everyday users.

What role have spreadsheets played in your own career and journey as a founder?

Marcin: Spreadsheets have fascinated me since I was a kid, watching my father run a business in Lotus 1-2-3. For me, spreadsheets became synonymous with productivity.

You clearly have a deep respect for spreadsheets — but they also spark strong feelings in people. Why do you think we both love and sometimes hate them?

Marcin: A spreadsheet allows us to tell stories with data, the same way a blank page lets you tell stories with words or a canvas with paint.

I don’t think anyone really hates spreadsheets. People might hate processes and workflows that incorporate spreadsheets in the wrong ways.

Spreadsheets have existed for over 40 years. What’s changed the most?

Marcin: Over the past 46 years, spreadsheets have evolved from symbolic, single-user applications to collaborative, cloud-enabled graphical interfaces. Handsontable is a great example of a product that bridges the gap between the familiarity of the spreadsheet UI and the complexities of modern workflows.

Spreadsheets have always been about putting the user in full control. The results of calculations were deterministic — you’d always get the same output from the same input, and you could inspect why. A recent trend is to enable AI functions in spreadsheets that take away that control.

At Handsontable, we build products for people who love certain things about spreadsheets and want to bring them into their own apps.

You’ve spent years building spreadsheet technology for developers. What’s something most people don’t realize about them?

Marcin: The beauty of spreadsheets is that users don’t care that it’s a no-code platform. For them, it’s just a canvas for exploring ideas.

The humble spreadsheet doesn’t gatekeep who can be a programmer — and it doesn’t intimidate anyone.

If you could start over and design the spreadsheet from scratch in 2025, what would you change?

Marcin: I don’t want to redesign the spreadsheet, because it’s almost as simple as a wheel or pen and paper.

One thing we never really got right is usability on touch devices. It’s okay, but very clumsy compared to the muscle memory of using a mouse and keyboard. There’s big potential in creating a mobile spreadsheet, but it needs to be designed from scratch.

And looking ahead — what do you think spreadsheets will look like in, say, 10 years?

Marcin: Big tech went through a phase of adding very complex, over-engineered features to spreadsheets, contrary to the original idea of making them accessible to everyone.

I believe spreadsheets will go back to their roots, becoming once again simple tools for basic data exploration that can connect to external services when you need more complexity. Companies will continue to build products that include spreadsheet functionality, and it’s Handsontable’s mission to help them do that.

Everyone’s talking about AI right now. How do you see it changing spreadsheets, or how people use them?

Marcin: I think there’s great potential for AI spreadsheet assistants, something like an actually useful Clippy. An AI assistant could help build spreadsheets, explore data, fix unintentional bugs, and inspire us to look at data in new ways.

If spreadsheets disappeared tomorrow, what would break first?

Marcin: Sadly, many small businesses would break.
Large companies mostly use spreadsheet applications for reporting and analysis, while small businesses rely on them for everyday operations.

What’s the most incredible thing you’ve ever seen someone do with a spreadsheet?

Beata: I was very impressed with Excel Rollercoaster; that one blew my mind.

Marcin: I love that someone made an Excel Digital Audio Workstation, and even a course for building your own LLM entirely in Excel.

Beata: That’s amazing — and the perfect note to end on. Thanks so much for sharing your insights, Marcin, and for reminding us that even after 46 years, the spreadsheet is still one of the most influential tools ever invented.

The Magic of the Grid

Spreadsheets started as a simple grid, but became one of the most powerful creative tools ever made. They’ve shaped how we think, plan, and build.

And as Marcin reminds us, their magic lies not just in the formulas, but in the freedom they give anyone to explore and create.

If you feel like discovering creative, unconventional ways to use spreadsheets, check out our article: From charts to charades: 6 unexpected ways to use spreadsheets.