(By popular request: we have a specific write-up of [Grist vs Airtable](https://www.getgrist.com/blog/grist-v-airtable/) that may be helpful).
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 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).
Here are some specific feature highlights of Grist:
* Python formulas.
@ -23,6 +43,8 @@ Here are some specific feature highlights of Grist:
- 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).
- There's a self-contained desktop app available for viewing and editing: [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.
- [References](https://support.getgrist.com/col-refs/#creating-a-new-reference-list-column) and reference lists, for cross-referencing records in other tables.
@ -45,7 +67,7 @@ Here are some specific feature highlights of Grist:
- Can link data with custom widgets hosted externally.
* [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)
- (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/).
- Control access to [individual rows, columns, and tables](https://support.getgrist.com/access-rules/).
- Control access based on cell values and user attributes.
@ -56,6 +78,8 @@ Here are some specific feature highlights of Grist:
[gVisor](https://github.com/google/gvisor) sandboxing at the individual
document level.
- On OSX, you can use native sandboxing.
- On any OS, including Windows, you can use a wasm-based sandbox.
* Translated to many languages.
If you are curious about where Grist is going heading,
see [our roadmap](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-core/projects/1), drop a
@ -64,11 +88,16 @@ or browse [our extensive documentation](https://support.getgrist.com).
## Using Grist
There are docker images set up for individual use, or (with some
configuration) for self-hosting. Grist Labs offers a hosted service
at [docs.getgrist.com](https://docs.getgrist.com).
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/).
* Or you can download Grist as a desktop app from [github.com/gristlabs/grist-electron](https://github.com/gristlabs/grist-electron).
To get Grist running on your computer with [Docker](https://www.docker.com/get-started), do:
To get `grist-core` running on your computer with [Docker](https://www.docker.com/get-started), do:
```sh
docker pull gristlabs/grist
@ -120,6 +149,7 @@ environment variable.
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.
* On any OS including Windows, `export GRIST_SANDBOX_FLAVOR=pyodide` is available.
These sandboxing methods have been written for our own use at Grist Labs and
may need tweaking to work in your own environment - pull requests
@ -348,5 +378,3 @@ This repository, `grist-core`, is released under the [Apache License, Version
2.0](http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0), which is an
Paul Fitzpatrick
1 year ago
committed by
GitHub