Haskell Based Spreadsheets - Preventing Errors Through Functional Programming

This conference talk presents an innovative approach to spreadsheet programming that leverages Haskell's functional programming capabilities to prevent errors and enhance safety. Learn about a prototype that uses a subset of Haskell as the expression language for spreadsheet cells, taking advantage of its rich type system to create safer spreadsheet programs. Discover how this approach prevents common errors found in traditional spreadsheets by allowing new data types to be introduced from cell aggregates and supporting user-defined functions and external modules. The presenters from IMDEA Software Institute and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid explain how their tool addresses the widespread issues in spreadsheets that often lead to faulty decision-making in business environments. Presented at the 27th International Symposium on Practical Aspects of Declarative Languages (PADL'25), this 28-minute talk demonstrates a working prototype and explores future features based on advanced functional programming technologies.