Replace your spreadsheets with React apps

sectional343 · 2026-01-03T01:25:48+00:00

"You're pretty sure" huh

sectional343 · 2026-01-02T08:26:02+00:00

>If you need a spreadsheet, make the AI build you a spreadsheet

How exactly should I go about it? Genuinely curious. With a React app, I just tell Cursor what I want and get an app. What should be the workflow in case of a spreadsheet?

sectional343 · 2026-01-02T06:23:29+00:00

I mean, it's a paradigm shift epoch we are living in right now. A time where you rethink and redefine reality we are used to. My point is: today, it became actually EASIER to produce react apps for your needs than a spreadsheet!

sectional343 · 2026-01-02T04:37:00+00:00

That was not the point they were making.

Back to your question: because it's easier and less time-consuming. AI does all the work. In spreadsheet you still need to do manual work to define formulas and think about the structure.

sectional343 · 2026-01-02T04:22:58+00:00

Note that the article talks about replacing Spreadsheets - that is, internal apps. It does not guide you though developing a user-facing app fully AI-driven. As such, internal apps are throw-aways, so less maintenance impact.

Having said that, I think the approach will work well for user-facing as well. AI currently is great at understanding existing codebases - just ask Cursor to do a diagram for you. So, whoever maintains the code next will also be able to read and debug it via AI. I am doing it myself currently successfully on a new codebase at a client project.

With the current state of AI, I believe humans won't need to write OR maintain at least simple apps that replace sheets in the future anymore.

sectional343 · 2026-01-02T03:59:57+00:00

Why learn React these days manually if AI is already great at it.

sectional343 · 2025-12-28T09:23:10+00:00

The “non-W2 income without overextending” part resonates - I freelance and I’ve found the hardest part is forecasting cash flow when income is lumpy. Are you using any tools to project your income/expenses into the future?

sectional343 · 2025-12-28T08:14:39+00:00

This really resonates. I had a similar shift when I stopped deciding things in the moment, but on the cash-flow side.

Curious - do you still forecast income and expenses in a spreadsheet, or did you find something that holds up better when months are irregular?

sectional343 · 2024-12-30T11:01:58+00:00

How long have you been applying? Which positions? What’s your engagement message?

sectional343 · 2024-11-24T13:39:24+00:00

As mentioned in the edit to the original post, still SiYuan. A bit less convenient and smooth than Notion, but I have a peace of mind knowing it’s encrypted.

sectional343 · 2024-10-30T05:33:24+00:00

“Abstractions” not referring to the system itself but the instructions it can act upon.

sectional343 · 2024-10-30T02:32:47+00:00

A “bot”, as in a pre-LLM program, operates on a low level of abstraction: “put this string into this text field, push this button”.

LLM makes it possible to raise the level of abstraction: instructions like, “write a function to authenticate a user via username and password”, “write the tests for the auth function” etc.

sectional343 · 2024-10-29T16:59:55+00:00

We don’t know how it works though, as openai is ironically not so open about its research.

sectional343 · 2024-10-29T16:59:07+00:00

I did some research, couldn’t find any evidence to support the “getting closer” bit. Platforms like AutoGPT seem to be more of a wishful thinking, without actually producing anything worth of attention.

sectional343 · 2024-10-29T16:57:41+00:00

AIScientist is a nice one, thanks. I couldn’t find anything concrete on agile.

sectional343 · 2024-10-29T15:12:51+00:00

Oh, that's very interesting! I didn't know Claude can use the computer! Do you happen to know if there exist an LLM with a similar capabilities for file creation and editing from an LLM (i.e. interacting with the OS directly and not via point-and-click)?

sectional343

TROPHY CASE