I’ve been checking out some database applications and noticed they have really smooth table interfaces. These tables have awesome features like column resizing, different data types for each column, quick editing capabilities, and they look really professional. The performance is also great when scrolling through lots of data.
I’m wondering if there are any existing components or libraries (either free or commercial) that provide this kind of functionality? The tables I’m thinking of have that spreadsheet feel but work more like a database view. They let you edit cells directly, have proper column headers, and handle different data types nicely.
Does anyone know if these companies built their table components from scratch or if there are third-party solutions available? I’m looking to implement something similar in my project but don’t want to reinvent the wheel if good options already exist.
Been down this road multiple times. Most decent table components come from three main sources.
JavaScript ecosystem first. AG Grid works great for complex stuff, but licensing gets expensive fast. Tanstack Table (formerly React Table) is free and handles most cases well. I’ve shipped products with both.
Component libraries second. Material UI, Ant Design, and similar frameworks include tables that work fine for basic needs. Not as feature-rich but they get the job done.
Specialized solutions third - Luckysheet or OnlyOffice if you need actual spreadsheet functionality.
Here’s what I learned building these systems: Start simple and add complexity only when needed. Virtual scrolling sounds cool but adds bugs. Cell editing gets tricky with validation. Column resizing breaks on mobile.
My approach now? Prototype with a basic library first. See what users actually need. Then either extend that library or switch to something more powerful. Don’t optimize for problems you don’t have yet.
Those companies you mentioned probably started with existing solutions and heavily customized them. Building from scratch only makes sense when you have very specific requirements no library can handle.
Most companies use a hybrid approach instead of building from scratch. I’ve worked on similar projects, and popular apps usually start with established libraries like AG Grid or Luckysheet, then customize the hell out of them. That’s where the real magic happens. The biggest challenge? Balancing features with performance, especially with large datasets. Teams often add virtual scrolling and custom rendering on top of base libraries. Some companies build proprietary solutions when they have very specific needs, but that takes serious dev resources and maintenance. For most projects, it’s way more cost-effective to start with a solid commercial library and extend it rather than building everything yourself.