samuelcolvin

samuelcolvin / spread

Public

Spreadsheet viewer, in Rust using GPUI

35
2
100% credibility
Found May 21, 2026 at 35 stars -- GitGems finds repos before they trend. Get early access to the next one.
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AI Analysis
Rust
AI Summary

Spread is a fast, lightweight app that lets you view spreadsheet files (CSV, Excel, and Parquet) with a single click. It opens files directly from your file browser, displays formatting like bold text, colors, and dates just like the original, and lets you copy data to other programs or export it for use with AI tools. It's designed for quick local viewing without needing Google Sheets or heavy office software, and loads even very large files (with millions of rows) almost instantly.

How It Works

1
📂 You have a spreadsheet to view

You have a CSV, Excel, or Parquet file that you need to quickly look at, and you don't want to open Google Sheets or heavy office software.

2
⚡ You install Spread on your computer

You download and install the app once, and it automatically becomes the default way your computer opens spreadsheet files.

3
🖱️ You double-click your file

Spread opens instantly, showing your spreadsheet in a clean window with all the formatting intact - colors, bold text, dates, and numbers all look just like they did in Excel.

4
👀 You browse your data effortlessly

Even if your file has millions of rows, it loads in a split second and scrolls smoothly. You can freeze the header row so it stays visible as you scroll down.

5
You need to share your data
🍪
Copy to Excel or Google Sheets

You select cells, press Copy, and paste directly into Excel or Google Sheets - formatting and all.

📊
Export for AI tools or scripts

You run a simple command to export the data as clean JSON or XML that a chatbot or automation script can read.

✅ Your data is exactly where you need it

You got a quick, accurate look at your spreadsheet and shared it exactly the way you needed - no fuss, no heavy software, just your data ready to go.

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Star Growth

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AI-Generated Review

What is spread?

A fast, local spreadsheet viewer built in Rust that opens CSV, Parquet, and Excel files without editing capabilities. Uses GPUI for a native desktop UI and ships a CLI with multiple output modes -- GUI for viewing, JSON/XML for data export, table for terminal display, and audit for formula verification. Loads massive Parquet files in milliseconds and preserves cell formatting like currency symbols, percentages, dates, colors, and text styling. Available for macOS with Finder integration to set it as the default spreadsheet app.

Why is it gaining traction?

Developers working with large analytical datasets benefit from sub-second Parquet loading while data engineers and AI practitioners use the `--display xml` mode to feed spreadsheet data to language models. Formula audit catches cache inconsistencies before they propagate downstream. Unlike browser-based alternatives, it runs entirely offline with no account required.

Who should use this?

Data engineers who need fast, local Parquet inspection without spinning up Python or pandas. Rust developers building tools that handle spreadsheet formats. Business analysts tired of waiting for web-based spreadsheets to load large files. Anyone who wants a native macOS app to replace Excel just for viewing.

Verdict

The credibility score sits at 1.0% with only 35 stars -- this is a hobby project in early stages. That said, the formula auditing and machine-readable output modes are genuinely useful differentiators for developers in data pipelines. If you need fast, offline spreadsheet viewing on macOS and can tolerate an immature tool, give it a try. Don't bet production workflows on it yet.

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