flatsheet

A realtime editor for curating data.

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What is Flatsheet?

Flatsheet is a tool for managing tabular data with a friendly editor and a simple JSON API. The editor allows the creation of rows and columns of data, similar to a spreadsheet. The JSON API exposes that data so it can be easily utilized by websites and applications.

The current goals are to improve the editor UI to create the simplest possible editing experience, to create integrations with other tools, like syncing with Google Spreadsheets and dat, and to allow group collaboration on a dataset through the UI.

From the blog:

EditData.org early release - 3 September 2015

Flatsheet status – August 2015 - 7 August 2015

Dat/Flatsheet workshop at SRCCON - 9 July 2015

Stay up to date on Flatsheet news:

What kind of projects can I use this for?

Any project where you have a simple dataset that a client or team member needs to edit regularly, but is simple enough that creating it as a part of the website/app database would be overkill.

We don't need to create a model, controller, and views just for a list of locations with descriptions that are going on a map.

We don't need to create a custom post type in Wordpress just to manage a regularly changing list of projects that an organization is working on.

But for projects like those listed above, it is useful to be able to present that kind of information dynamically. Non-technical teammates need to have a place where they can edit each item in the list. We need a JSON API for that list so that we can integrate it into our other content.

Example projects:

This map made for a Seattle non-profit shows their locations of art installed in empty storefronts around the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, WA. The non-profit staff is able to quickly update artist profiles, and the map markers are positioned using the lat/long values from each row in the sheet.

See the site, the code, and the flatsheet editor.


I created blogs.seattle.io to act as a directory of the active blogs and other online publications focused on Seattle, WA. It's easy to update the list with a new local blog.

See the site, the code, and the flatsheet editor.


Have a project you'd like to see featured?

Email Seth Vincent at hi@flatsheet.io!

Is this open source? Can I contribute?

Yes. Always. Forever. Find the code here github.com/flatsheet

The parts that make up Flatsheet will always be open source, so you'll be able to run your own instance on your own server if needed.

It would be great to hear about your potential use cases, ideas you have for projects that use flatsheet in some way, requests for help launching an instance of flatsheet, or your interest in getting involved with flatsheet development.

Contact & contribution info:

What happens next?

Conducting user testing with the existing proof of concept version of the project, and iteratively creating new versions of flatsheet based on what's learned from each round of user testing.

Writing documentation, developing API client libraries (the javascript client is in development), creating example projects that show usage of the API, and integrating with related tools.

Learn more by reading the roadmap for getting to v1.0 of Flatsheet.

Who is working on this?

Seth Vincent is a designer, writer, & programmer focused on storytelling & civic engagement. Previously he's worked as a writing tutor and as an advisor of a student news organization, advising on technology, journalism, and leadership. He's a co-organizer of Code for Seattle, and writes about JavaScript at learnjs.io & about Seattle at seattle.io.

sethvincent.com ~ github.com/sethvincent ~ twitter.com/sethdvincent

Flatsheet supporters

Supporters include backers of the Indiegogo campaign that ran in May 2014.

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