# GridCraft: spreadsheet workflow reconstruction and XLSX round-trip limits

> The authors describe GridCraft as a clean-room Rust implementation of Excel-style spreadsheet workflows. A workbook model, formula parser and dependency-driven recalculation are connected to XLSX I/O and a shared editing-command layer for desktop, browser and automation interfaces.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: App
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-10-17
- Added to the catalog: 2026-10-17
- Original resource: <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/gridcraft-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/gridcraft-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/gridcraft-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** The pinned workspace identifies version 0.7.0 and declares Rust 1.90+ with Cargo. Browser builds use Trunk and wasm32-unknown-unknown; native Linux CI lists X11/Wayland, GTK, fontconfig/FreeType and graphics dependencies. Fonts and input workbooks are separate.
- **Testing evidence:** Reviewed XLSX tests construct workbooks and OOXML packages, compare modeled values after writing and reading, and check selected unmodeled parts and relationships.
- **Testing evidence:** Calculation tests use expected values for selected formulas, dependency changes and spilled arrays. The dated assessment against Excel for Mac 16.113.4 records the absence of Excel-computed conformance oracles.
- **Limits:** The project remains alpha. File fidelity, advanced workflows, performance and ecosystem compatibility remain bounded, and the README documents graphics-driver startup issues.
- **License:** Code is MIT OR Apache-2.0 with NOTICE obligations; optional fonts and ArtCraft branding have separate terms. Published modified versions must remove the ArtCraft marks, except contribution-only forks. Clean-room is the authors’ characterization.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/Cargo.toml>
3. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/.github/workflows/ci.yml>
4. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/docs/target-app-parity.md>
5. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/crates/xlsx/src/tests/roundtrip.rs>
6. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/crates/xlsx/src/tests/passthrough_tests.rs>
7. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/crates/calc/src/tests.rs>
8. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/LICENSE-MIT>
9. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/LICENSE-APACHE>
10. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/NOTICE>
11. <https://github.com/storytold/gridcraft/blob/f1894c6da64d4326022ae644c767581816a23c2c/docs/brand/LICENSE-brand.txt>

## More in Apps

- [DeckCraft: presentation workflow reconstruction and bounded PPTX interchange](https://awesomerea.org/resources/deckcraft-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Ledger Reborn: an independent accounting app informed by QuickBooks study](https://awesomerea.org/resources/ledger-reborn-accounting-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Pocket Tasks: reconstructing task state and persistence](https://awesomerea.org/resources/pocket-tasks-reconstruction-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Open Scrantic: reconstructing the Johnny Castaway screensaver engine](https://awesomerea.org/resources/open-scrantic-screensaver-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Screen Studio: an author-reported REA study of auto-zoom rules](https://awesomerea.org/resources/screen-studio-auto-zoom-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Claude Code background lab: an REA-informed reimplementation of a desktop animation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/claude-code-background-lab-case/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.