I always see the programmer sentiment that “people should not be using excel for (project). It should be a database.”
I am guessing by that they mean SQL? I dont know a thing about that except the acronym. The most ive done is a basic linux script and 2 hours of a VBA course. I suck at understanding programming, so id like to understand exactly how one uses a database vs excel. Like whay are the actual steps id have to do?
There is no right answer. The only hard rule i have is that if it only requires key-value pairs keep it real simple. I use a variety of databases and things I can used as a database. One project uses Google sheets. Another uses a bunch of CSVs on a NAS as document oriented type database. And then there are the usuals; SQLite, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Mongo, and some god awful MS Azure crap that uses KQL.