The `grist-core` repository is the basis for all these options, and
for the hosted spreadsheet services offered by
[`Grist Labs`](https://getgrist.com), an NYC-based company 🇺🇸 that is the main developer of Grist, and by
[`ANCT Données et Territoires`](https://donnees.incubateur.anct.gouv.fr/toolbox/grist),
a French government agency 🇫🇷 whose developers have made many
contributions to the code-base.
The `grist-core`, `grist-electron`, and `grist-static` repositories
are all open-source (Apache License, Version 2.0).
Grist is a modern relational spreadsheet. It combines the flexibility of a spreadsheet with the robustness of a database to organize your data and make you more productive.
This repository, `grist-core`, is the heart of Grist, and has what you need to run a powerful spreadsheet hosting server. If you wish to view and edit spreadsheets stored locally, another option is to use the [`grist-electron`](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-electron) desktop app for Linux, Mac, and Windows. And to show Grist spreadsheets on a website without any special back-end support, you can use [`grist-static`](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-static), a fully in-browser build of Grist.
The `grist-core` repository is the basis for all these options, and for the hosted spreadsheet services offered by [Grist Labs](https://getgrist.com), an NYC-based company 🇺🇸 that is the main developer of Grist, and by [ANCT Données et Territoires](https://donnees.incubateur.anct.gouv.fr/toolbox/grist), a French government agency 🇫🇷 whose developers have made many contributions to the codebase.
The `grist-core`, `grist-electron`, and `grist-static` repositories are all open source (Apache License, Version 2.0).
Grist is a hybrid database/spreadsheet, meaning that:
- Columns work like they do in databases. They are named, and hold one kind of data.
- Columns work like they do in databases: they are named, and they hold one kind of data.
- Columns can be filled by formula, spreadsheet-style, with automatic updates when referenced cells change.
This difference can confuse people coming directly from Excel or Google Sheets. Give it a chance!
If you are coming from Airtable, you'll find the model familiar though (and there's a
[Grist vs Airtable](https://www.getgrist.com/blog/grist-v-airtable/) article that might interest you).
This difference can confuse people coming directly from Excel or Google Sheets. Give it a chance! If you are coming from Airtable, you'll find the model familiar though (and there's a [Grist vs Airtable](https://www.getgrist.com/blog/grist-v-airtable/) article that might interest you).
Here are some specific feature highlights of Grist:
* Python formulas.
- Full [Python syntax is supported](https://support.getgrist.com/formulas/#python), and the standard library.
- Full [Python syntax is supported](https://support.getgrist.com/formulas/#python), including the standard library.
- Many [Excel functions](https://support.getgrist.com/functions/) also available.
- An [AI Assistant](https://www.getgrist.com/ai-formula-assistant/) specifically tuned for formula generation (using OpenAI gpt-3.5-turbo or [Llama](https://ai.meta.com/llama/) via <ahref="https://github.com/abetlen/llama-cpp-python">llama-cpp-python</a>).
* A portable, self-contained format.
- Based on SQLite, the most widely deployed database engine.
- Any tool that can read SQLite can read numeric and text data from a Grist file.
- Great format for [backups](https://support.getgrist.com/exports/#backing-up-an-entire-document) that you can be confident you can restore in full.
- Great format for moving between different hosts.
- Can be displayed on a static website with [grist-static](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-static), no special server needed.
- There's a self-contained desktop app available for viewing and editing: [grist-electron](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-electron).
- Enables [backups](https://support.getgrist.com/exports/#backing-up-an-entire-document) that you can confidently restore in full.
- Great for moving between different hosts.
* Can be displayed on a static website with [`grist-static`](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-static) – no special server needed.
* A self-contained desktop app for viewing and editing locally: [`grist-electron`](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-electron).
* Convenient editing and formatting features.
- Choices and [choice lists](https://support.getgrist.com/col-types/#choice-list-columns), for adding colorful tags to records without fuss.
- Choices and [choice lists](https://support.getgrist.com/col-types/#choice-list-columns), for adding colorful tags to records.
- [References](https://support.getgrist.com/col-refs/#creating-a-new-reference-list-column) and reference lists, for cross-referencing records in other tables.
- [Attachments](https://support.getgrist.com/col-types/#attachment-columns), to include media or document files in records.
- Dates and times, toggles, and special numerics such as currency all have specialized editors and formatting options.
- [Conditional Formatting](https://support.getgrist.com/conditional-formatting/), letting you control the style of cells with formulas, to draw attention to important information.
* Great for dashboards, visualizations, and data entry.
- [Conditional Formatting](https://support.getgrist.com/conditional-formatting/), letting you control the style of cells with formulas to draw attention to important information.
* Drag-and-drop dashboards.
- [Charts](https://support.getgrist.com/widget-chart/) for visualization.
- [Summary tables](https://support.getgrist.com/summary-tables/) for summing and counting across groups.
- [Widget linking](https://support.getgrist.com/linking-widgets/) streamlines filtering and editing data.
Grist has a unique approach to visualization, where you can lay out and link distinct widgets to show together,
without cramming mixed material into a table.
- The [Filter bar](https://support.getgrist.com/search-sort-filter/#filter-buttons) is great for quick slicing and dicing.
- [Filter bar](https://support.getgrist.com/search-sort-filter/#filter-buttons) for quick slicing and dicing.
- So you can import a CSV of the last three months activity from your bank...
- ...and import new activity a month later without fuss or duplicates.
- Import a CSV of the last three months activity from your bank...
- ...and import new activity a month later without fuss or duplication.
* Integrations.
- A [REST API](https://support.getgrist.com/api/), [Zapier actions/triggers](https://support.getgrist.com/integrators/#integrations-via-zapier), and support from similar [integrators](https://support.getgrist.com/integrators/).
- Import/export to Google drive, Excel format, CSV.
- Can link data with custom widgets hosted externally.
- You can set up outgoing webhooks.
- Link data with [custom widgets](https://support.getgrist.com/widget-custom/#_top), hosted externally.
- Configurable outgoing webhooks.
* [Many templates](https://templates.getgrist.com/) to get you started, from investment research to organizing treasure hunts.
* Access control options.
- (You'll need SSO logins set up to make use of these options; [grist-omnibus](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-omnibus) has a prepackaged solution if configuring this feels daunting)
- Share [individual documents](https://support.getgrist.com/sharing/), or workspaces, or [team sites](https://support.getgrist.com/team-sharing/).
- (You'll need SSO logins set up to make use of these options; [`grist-omnibus`](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-omnibus) has a prepackaged solution if configuring this feels daunting)
- Share [individual documents](https://support.getgrist.com/sharing/), workspaces, or [team sites](https://support.getgrist.com/team-sharing/).
- Control access to [individual rows, columns, and tables](https://support.getgrist.com/access-rules/).
- Control access based on cell values and user attributes.
* Can be self-maintained.
* Self-maintainable.
- Useful for intranet operation and specific compliance requirements.
* Sandboxing options for untrusted documents.
- On Linux or with docker, you can enable
[gVisor](https://github.com/google/gvisor) sandboxing at the individual
document level.
- On OSX, you can use native sandboxing.
- On Linux or with Docker, you can enable [gVisor](https://github.com/google/gvisor) sandboxing at the individual document level.
- On macOS, you can use native sandboxing.
- On any OS, including Windows, you can use a wasm-based sandbox.
* Translated to many languages.
* Support for an AI Formula Assistant (using OpenAI gpt-3.5-turbo or comparable models).
* `F1` key brings up some quick help. This used to go without saying. In general Grist has good keyboard support.
* We post progress on [𝕏 or Twitter or whatever](https://twitter.com/getgrist).
If you are curious about where Grist is going heading,
see [our roadmap](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-core/projects/1), drop a
question in [our forum](https://community.getgrist.com),
or browse [our extensive documentation](https://support.getgrist.com).
* `F1` key brings up some quick help. This used to go without saying, but in general Grist has good keyboard support.
* We post progress on [𝕏 or Twitter or whatever](https://twitter.com/getgrist) and publish [monthly newsletters](https://support.getgrist.com/newsletters/).
If you are curious about where Grist is heading, see [our roadmap](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-core/projects/1), drop a question in [our forum](https://community.getgrist.com), or browse [our extensive documentation](https://support.getgrist.com).
## Using Grist
If you just want a quick demo of Grist:
* You can try Grist out at the hosted service run
by Grist Labs at [docs.getgrist.com](https://docs.getgrist.com)
(no registration needed).
* Or you can see an experimental fully in-browser build of Grist
at [gristlabs.github.io/grist-static](https://gristlabs.github.io/grist-static/).
* You can try Grist out at the hosted service run by Grist Labs at [docs.getgrist.com](https://docs.getgrist.com) (no registration needed).
* Or you can see a fully in-browser build of Grist at [gristlabs.github.io/grist-static](https://gristlabs.github.io/grist-static/).
* Or you can download Grist as a desktop app from [github.com/gristlabs/grist-electron](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-electron).
To get `grist-core` running on your computer with [Docker](https://www.docker.com/get-started), do:
@ -150,7 +127,7 @@ Grist formulas in documents will be run using Python executed directly on your
machine. You can configure sandboxing using a `GRIST_SANDBOX_FLAVOR`
environment variable.
* On OSX, `export GRIST_SANDBOX_FLAVOR=macSandboxExec`
* On macOS, `export GRIST_SANDBOX_FLAVOR=macSandboxExec`
uses the native `sandbox-exec` command for sandboxing.
* On Linux with [gVisor's runsc](https://github.com/google/gvisor)
installed, `export GRIST_SANDBOX_FLAVOR=gvisor` is an option.
@ -195,18 +172,15 @@ did the hard work of making a good chunk of the application localizable. Merci b
This repository, [grist-core](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-core), is maintained by Grist
Labs. Our flagship product available at [getgrist.com](https://www.getgrist.com) is built from the code you see
here, combined with business-specific software designed to scale it to many users, handle billing,
here, combined with business-specific software designed to scale to many users, handle billing,
etc.
Grist Labs is an open-core company. We offer Grist hosting as a
service, with free and paid plans. We also develop and sell
features related to Grist using a proprietary license, targeted at the
needs of enterprises with large self-managed installations. We see
data portability and autonomy as a key value Grist can bring to our
users, and `grist-core` as an essential means to deliver that. We are
committed to maintaining and improving the `grist-core` codebase, and
to be thoughtful about how proprietary offerings impact data portability
and autonomy.
needs of enterprises with large self-managed installations.
We see data portability and autonomy as a key value, and `grist-core` is an essential part of that. We are committed to maintaining and improving the `grist-core` codebase, and to be thoughtful about how proprietary offerings impact data portability and autonomy.
By opening its source code and offering an [OSI](https://opensource.org/)-approved free license,
Grist benefits its users:
@ -223,10 +197,9 @@ Grist benefits its users:
- **Price flexibility.** If you are low on funds but have time to invest, self-hosting is a great
option to have. And DIY users may have the technical savvy and motivation to delve in and make improvements,
which can benefit all users of Grist.
- **Extensibility.** For developers, having the source open makes it easier to build extensions (such as the
experimental [Custom Widget](https://support.getgrist.com/widget-custom/)). You can more easily
include Grist in your pipeline. And if a feature is missing, you can just take the source code and
build on top of it.
- **Extensibility.** For developers, having the source open makes it easier to build extensions (such as [Custom Widgets](https://support.getgrist.com/widget-custom/)). You can more easily include Grist in your pipeline. And if a feature is missing, you can just take the source code and build on top of it.
For more on Grist Labs' history and principles, see our [About Us](https://www.getgrist.com/about/) page.
nbush
7 months ago
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