Exploring Bidirectional Spreadsheets: When Formulas Update Both Forward and Backward

Summary

The article explores the concept of a 'bidirectional spreadsheet' where formulas can update both forward (changing inputs updates outputs) and backward (changing outputs updates inputs). The author describes their obsession with this idea, questioning whether it's technically possible, how it would work with complex mathematical functions, and what the user experience would look like. The piece examines the potential for a spreadsheet that allows users to work backward from desired results to required inputs, fundamentally changing how spreadsheets function.