The popular programming language Python is now being integrated into Microsoft’s spreadsheet application Excel, allowing Excel users to use Python code to handle and manipulate data in their worksheets.
Stefan Kinnestrand from Microsoft says:
You can manipulate and explore data in Excel using Python plots and libraries, and then use Excel’s formulas, charts and PivotTables to further refine your insights. Now you can do advanced data analysis in the familiar Excel environment by accessing Python directly from the Excel ribbon.
Python will become a part of Excel’s “Power Query,” which means Excel users won’t need to install any additional software or add-ons to run Python functions in Excel. Microsoft’s significant investment in Python should be further evidenced by its integration with Excel. Three years ago, Microsoft hired Python’s creator, Guido van Rossum. He comments on the integration of Python into Excel:
I’m excited that this excellent, tight integration of Python and Excel is now seeing the light of day. I expect that both communities will find interesting new uses in this collaboration, amplifying each partner’s abilities. When I joined Microsoft three years ago, I would not have dreamed this would be possible.
