With over 11,200 GitHub stars and adoption by France's sovereign digital workspace LaSuite serving 20,000+ government users, Grist is the relational spreadsheet that ends the false choice between fragile Excel files and expensive custom database development — storing all data in portable SQLite files while providing true relational structure where VLOOKUPs become actual linked records that update instantly across entire documents. Python-powered formulas replace complex Excel syntax with clear, readable logic using the full Python standard library, while familiar Excel functions remain available for users who prefer them. Granular access rules control permissions at row, column, table, and cell levels — not just entire sheets — enabling multi-department documents where each team sees only their authorized data. The flexible layout system combines spreadsheets, card views, charts, calendars, and custom widgets on configurable dashboard pages that transform raw data into operational interfaces. Real-time collaboration lets multiple users edit simultaneously with automatic snapshot history capturing every change for full audit trails and point-in-time recovery. AI formula assistance connects to OpenAI, Llama, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint via OpenRouter to generate formulas from natural language descriptions. The REST API and webhooks enable integration with n8n, Zapier, and custom automation, while incremental imports keep external data sources synchronized. Deployable via Docker with OIDC, SAML, and SCIM authentication support. Running on a dedicated VPS on RepoCloud with guaranteed CPU, RAM, and SSD, full root SSH access, and a browser serial console. Apache 2.0 licensed.