The document discusses bringing functional programming concepts to end users through Microsoft Excel. It proposes two main ideas: 1) Allowing users to define reusable functions like in other languages to reduce complexity and errors, and 2) Treating arrays as first-class values that can be used and returned from functions like scalars. The goal is to empower non-programmer end users to build more complex and robust models without needing to learn new programming paradigms by building on their existing skills in Excel.

1. Spreadsheets:Spreadsheets:
functional programmingfunctional programming
for the massesfor the masses
Simon Peyton JonesSimon Peyton Jones
Margaret BurnettMargaret Burnett
Alan BlackwellAlan Blackwell

2. Q1: What should a functional programmer
in Microsoft Research do?

3. Q1: What should a functional programmer
in Microsoft Research do?
A1: Persuade developers to implement
stuff in Haskell. No more C#!
Haskell is better!

4. Q1: What should a functional programmer
in Microsoft Research do?
A1: Ask Q2
Q2: What is the worlds most widely used
functional language, by far?

5. Q1: What should a functional programmer
in MSR do?
Q2: What is the worlds most widely used
functional language, by far?
Violent
exothermic
reaction
Excel!

6. Spreadsheets are functionalSpreadsheets are functional
programsprograms
B1 = A1*A1
C1 = A2*A2
D1 = B1-C1
B2 = A1+A2
C2 = A1-A2
D2 = B2*C2
 Just a big bunch ofJust a big bunch of
equationsequations
 No side effectsNo side effects
 Order of evaluationOrder of evaluation
controlled by datacontrolled by data
dependenciesdependencies

7. Q3: What chance does a pointy-headed
researcher have of influencing the
direction of a Microsoft cash cow?

8. Q3: What chance does a pointy-headed
researcher have of influencing the
direction of a Microsoft cash cow?

9. Market
size
Can use VB, C++
Can use
Excel
2m
50m
2m “classic” programmers
(write VB,C++, C#)
50m end-user
programmers
• Real job is engineering,
teaching, financial; NOT
programming
• Use Excel formulae to build
"models"
• No need to "sell" functional
programming: they are already
doing it!
Excel’s market is tall
Programmers
End users

10. Market
size
Can use VB, C++
Can use
Excel
2m
50m
2m “classic”
programmers
(write VB,C+
+, C#)
Research
effort
expended
Not much
Programmers
End users

11. Market
size
2m
50m
Programmers
End users
Application requirements
Tall, but narrow
When the task...
 becomes large or complex
 changes over time
 rewards re-use
 is mission-critical
... cells and formulas are not enough.
Current solution:
shift programming paradigm
Use Excel + VB, C#

12. Market
size
2m
50m Our vision
Programmers
End users
Application requirements
New territory
to colonise
Increase Excel’s
“reach” by
empowering end
users to write
“programs”
without hiring
programmers

13. Excel
Functional
programming
Research inputs
Excel Plus
End user &
visual software
engineering Psychology of
programming
Simon Peyton Jones
Margaret Burnett
Alan Blackwell
Ruthless design-time focus onRuthless design-time focus on
usabilityusability, based on empirically-, based on empirically-
grounded research.grounded research.

14. Our target end users
Of all Excel usersOf all Excel users
 Some just use Excel for listsSome just use Excel for lists
 Some can type very simple formulae e.g. =SUM(A1:A10)Some can type very simple formulae e.g. =SUM(A1:A10)
 Some use formulae, and understand copy-and-paste ofSome use formulae, and understand copy-and-paste of
formulae (absolute and relative cell references)formulae (absolute and relative cell references)
 Some can use Visual BasicSome can use Visual Basic

15. Our target end users
Of all Excel usersOf all Excel users
 Some just use Excel for listsSome just use Excel for lists
 Some can type very simple formulae e.g. =SUM(A1:A10)Some can type very simple formulae e.g. =SUM(A1:A10)
 Some use formulae, and understand copy-and-pasteSome use formulae, and understand copy-and-paste
of formulae (absolute and relative cell references)of formulae (absolute and relative cell references)
 Some can use Visual BasicSome can use Visual Basic
(professional programmers)(professional programmers)
This is our target audience.
A minority of Excel users, but still
extremely numerous

16. Market
size
2m
50m How?
Programmers
End users
Application requirements
Two
complementary
ideas
1. Functions
as ordinary
spreadsheets
2. First class
array values

17. Functions as ordinaryFunctions as ordinary
spreadsheetsspreadsheets

18. What's missing?What's missing?
B1 = A1*A1
C1 = A2*A2
D1 = B1-C1
B2 = A1+A2
C2 = A1-A2
D2 = B2*C2

19. ScenarioScenario
 teacher types formula to compute student gradeteacher types formula to compute student grade
 copies and pastes down a columncopies and pastes down a column
 (much later) wants to change the formula(much later) wants to change the formula
ProblemProblem
 must alter many cells to implement a single changemust alter many cells to implement a single change
 impacts re-use, error-proneness, modularityimpacts re-use, error-proneness, modularity
Obvious solutionObvious solution (to a programmer)(to a programmer)
 Make a named function to encapsulate the formulaMake a named function to encapsulate the formula
Functions as ordinary spreadsheetsFunctions as ordinary spreadsheets

20. User is working on a formulaUser is working on a formula

21. User brings up the right clickUser brings up the right click
menumenu
Cut
Copy
Paste
…
Make a function
…

22. A new function is automaticallyA new function is automatically
created in a sheet and calledcreated in a sheet and called
New
function
worksheet
Formula replaced
by call to
function

23. Now, fill down does not loseNow, fill down does not lose
sharingsharing
Regular
fill down

24. User can see/modify the functionUser can see/modify the function
definition as desireddefinition as desired

25. Functions as worksheetsFunctions as worksheets
 CreatingCreating a function is fasta function is fast
 UnderstandingUnderstanding a function requires no newa function requires no new
skills:skills: no paradigm shiftno paradigm shift
 UsingUsing a functiona function improves qualityimproves quality
Named abstraction is our primary weaponNamed abstraction is our primary weapon
in the war against complexity. Imaginein the war against complexity. Imagine
conventional programming with noconventional programming with no
procedures, only smart copy/paste!procedures, only smart copy/paste!

26. Creating a function from scratchCreating a function from scratch
 Build a worksheetBuild a worksheet to calculate the distance a ballto calculate the distance a ball
will travel, when at a particular angle and velocitywill travel, when at a particular angle and velocity
 Turn it into a functionTurn it into a function by identifying the inputby identifying the input
cells (a bit like “scenarios”, only callable)cells (a bit like “scenarios”, only callable)
 Call the functionCall the function many times to see the distancemany times to see the distance
the ball goes for different throwing anglesthe ball goes for different throwing angles

27. DebuggingDebugging
 The “call tree” becomes a tree of linkedThe “call tree” becomes a tree of linked
worksheets,worksheets, laid out in space, not in timelaid out in space, not in time..
 So debugging is particularly easy. Need newSo debugging is particularly easy. Need new
mechanisms for navigating the plethora ofmechanisms for navigating the plethora of
worksheets, via the tree structure.worksheets, via the tree structure.
 First year programming courses will be taughtFirst year programming courses will be taught
this way!this way!

28. Main program
Function CylVol
Function CircArea
Calls
Calls

29. Domain-specific librariesDomain-specific libraries
 Every domain (physics, electronics, statistics,Every domain (physics, electronics, statistics,
financial, marketing...) has domain-specificfinancial, marketing...) has domain-specific
abstractions.abstractions.
 Excel’s function libraries are an ideal way ofExcel’s function libraries are an ideal way of
packaging those abstractions for Excel users.packaging those abstractions for Excel users.
 Hence, we want to make it easy for end users toHence, we want to make it easy for end users to
build, encapsulate, and share their own functionbuild, encapsulate, and share their own function
libraries,libraries, without help from professional programmerswithout help from professional programmers..

30. First class data valuesFirst class data values

31. First class data valuesFirst class data values
 User-defined functions need array arguments.User-defined functions need array arguments.
e.g. SUM( A1:B9 )e.g. SUM( A1:B9 )
 Simple but powerful idea:Simple but powerful idea: anything a scalar can do,anything a scalar can do,
an array can doan array can do::
 be the value of a formulabe the value of a formula
 be the value of a cellbe the value of a cell
 be the argument or result of a functionbe the argument or result of a function
 Make Excel’s existing “array formulae”Make Excel’s existing “array formulae”
simplersimpler andand more powerful.more powerful.

32. First class valuesFirst class values
 Currency; units in general (unit-aware arithmetic)Currency; units in general (unit-aware arithmetic)
 HyperlinkHyperlink
 Matrix (index, add, multiply…)Matrix (index, add, multiply…)
 Relation (filter, select, join…)Relation (filter, select, join…)
 XML blob (query, combine)XML blob (query, combine)
 Picture (generate picture from numbers, combinePicture (generate picture from numbers, combine
pictures)pictures)
Each value type comes complete withEach value type comes complete with
a repertoire of functions over ita repertoire of functions over it

33. Bulk data operationsBulk data operations
A1 = …connect to a database relation…A1 = …connect to a database relation…
A2 = EXTEND( A1, [First Name], GetFirst( [Name] ) )A2 = EXTEND( A1, [First Name], GetFirst( [Name] ) )
A3 = EXTEND( A1, [Last Name], GetLast( [Name] ) )A3 = EXTEND( A1, [Last Name], GetLast( [Name] ) )
A4 = FILTER( A3, AND( [Age] > 30, [Age] < 50 ) )A4 = FILTER( A3, AND( [Age] > 30, [Age] < 50 ) )
A5 = SELECT( A4, [First Name], [Last Name], [Age] )A5 = SELECT( A4, [First Name], [Last Name], [Age] )
This stuff can be done today, by hand (e.g.
Data/AutoFilter), but it can’t be automated
robustly

34. Extensible typesExtensible types
It should be easy for a VB or C# programmer toIt should be easy for a VB or C# programmer to
add aadd a new data typenew data type. All Excel needs to know. All Excel needs to know
about it is:about it is:
 How to display itHow to display it
 How to “drill into” it to display its full valueHow to “drill into” it to display its full value
 Perhaps, how to downcast it to a number/stringPerhaps, how to downcast it to a number/string
The recalc chain and dependency analysis areThe recalc chain and dependency analysis are
completely unaffectedcompletely unaffected

35. Back to the supertankerBack to the supertanker
 Small crew, high-value payload, many customerSmall crew, high-value payload, many customer
requests, so systemic changes are not easyrequests, so systemic changes are not easy
 Excel 2003 is out -- the next version is beingExcel 2003 is out -- the next version is being
designeddesigned
 We’re talking to the Excel team regularlyWe’re talking to the Excel team regularly
(weekly)(weekly)

36. Back to the supertankerBack to the supertanker
 Small crew, high-value payload, many customerSmall crew, high-value payload, many customer
requests, so systemic changes are not easyrequests, so systemic changes are not easy
 Excel 2003 is out -- the next version is beingExcel 2003 is out -- the next version is being
designeddesigned
 We’re talking to the Excel team weeklyWe’re talking to the Excel team weekly
 Next:Next:
 higher order functionshigher order functions
 assertions, test generationassertions, test generation
 static type system?static type system?

37. Functional
programming
End user &
visual software
engineering
Psychology of
programming
Empower non-programmer end
users (accountants, engineers,
salesmen...) to do things they
could not do before
• Control complexity through building
re-usable abstractions
• Succeed in more ambitious applications
• Encapsulate domain-specific expertise
in function libraries
• Crush more errors earlier
SummarySummary
Multi-disciplinary inputs
http://research.microsoft.com/~simonpj/papers/excel