Show HN: Treesum – Replace MS Excel/Project with a Code Editor
treesum.app
The goal of this software is to make it easy to get the plan that's in your head onto the page. Start with the outline then add details. Then more details. Then numbers: costs, time, quantities. Then organize and categorize with #tags. All the sums, graphs and pivot table functionality happens automatically in the Calcs, Timeline, Stats views. And everything looks nice without you having to format it.
Currently, it's all local, saved in your browser. Save your plan permanently by downloading the '.tsum' file. Open (upload) the '.tsum' to start working again. Everything happens in the browser. The files are stored where ever you like. The '.tsum' file is just text - human and AI readable. Use it to plan anything. We hope it works like your brain does - by organizing things in trees.
# Story
This software is entirely vibe-coded. It had to be - none of my developer friends would help me out. The front end JS on this app is too complex for a part time developer like myself. I've had this idea for a while and was only able to bring it to life because of AI. It may not gain traction, but at least I can put it out there, use it myself, or stop thinking about it altogether. It's amazing to see it and actually use it - to know if my idea was good or not, at least for me. And I'm actually happy with it and have been using it. If you have thoughts about the idea, feel free to let me know. I'm open to suggestions for improvement.
# Disclaimer
This tool is mainly intended to help with project planning. But it can be used for any data that looks more like a tree than a table. Creating a quote or estimate for one-off projects is my favorite use case. The varying structure of costs across lumber, electrical, concrete and labor fits well.
Obviously, it doesn't replace all the many things Excel can do. It tries to improve on MS Project by making it easier to get your schedule on the page by coding into an editor instead of poking at menus in a GUI. It is still a proof of concept at this point, not a bullet-proof software package. If there's interest, it will be developed further. For now, it's good enough for me.
# Roadmap
I want this software to be the Excalidraw of Excel: free, simple, browser-based and fun to use. There are great things that Excalidraw does that would require servers and more costs. These features could be turned into a paid product if there is interest. So, if you're interested, please let me know: treesum.app (at) gmail.com.
# Thanks HN
This project would not have been possible with out AI. But also not without HN. Reading HN nearly every work day really shapes how to think about software and presenting it to people - especially for someone who is not a full-time developer. It's a great community and I've happily been a member since (at least) 2013.