---
title: vicel
related:
  - "[conf.h](conf.h.md)"
  - "[pm-user-repository](pm-user-repository.md)"
categories:
  - Tools and applications
---

**vicel** (Visual Cell editor) is a free and open source TUI spreadsheet
editor. You can read, modify and save data stored in rows and columns. It
aims to be an alternative to the well-known proprietary spreadsheet program
for non-professional use.

![vicel](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hugoocoto/vicel/main/images/image.png)

> [!NOTE]
> The screenshot does not show the latest version. vicel is *kinda usable*
> for now.

## Features

- Edit CSV-like grids interactively in the terminal.
- Numbers, text and formulas.
- Keyboard-focused, Vim-style motions, plus mouse support.
- Configuration through a Lua file (read with [conf.h](conf.h.md)).
- Small code base: the fewer the lines, the better.

## Installation

The build needs the Lua development headers and libraries. Set `LUA` to pick
a different Lua pkg-config module.

```
$ make                  # debug build
$ make clean install    # release build, installed to ~/.local/bin
```

It is also available through the [pm user repository](pm-user-repository.md).

## Usage

The [reference manual](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hugoocoto/vicel/main/docs/vicel_reference.pdf)
(PDF) documents the installation, the motions and the formulas.

### In the browser

vicel can run in a browser through `ttyd`. The `web/start.sh` script serves
it at `http://localhost:8080`:

```
$ cd web
$ ./start.sh
```

## See also

- [Source code](https://github.com/hugoocoto/vicel) (GPL-3.0)