I built this project after seeing how a couple of friends uses Excel-based forms for their work. Coming from a mechanical engineering background, I've seen firsthand how many companies rely on Excel for processes that could be made much simpler with a proper web form. But here's the catch - many can't use external form tools due to compliance requirements.
The main goal was to create a lightweight form application that:
- Runs completely in-house without external services
- Handles matrix-based decision flows (common in manufacturing/engineering processes)
- Works offline
- Complies with internal data handling requirements
- Can be easily distributed to users
I kept the implementation straightforward and practical:
- Built with Python and NiceGUI for the interface
- Used a custom DataMatrix class instead of Pandas to keep it lightweight (especially important if you need to compile it with PyInstaller)
- Implemented dark/light theme support because eye strain is real when you stare at forms all day
├── config/
│ └── settings.py # UI configuration and theme settings
├── core/
│ ├── connection_manager.py
│ └── data_matrix.py # Data handling implementation
├── data/
│ └── default_data.py # Sample data structure
├── ui/
│ ├── components/ # UI components
│ └── app.py # Main application logic
├── utils/
│ └── helpers.py # Utility functions
└── main.py # Application entry point
- Clone the repository
- Install the dependency:
pip install nicegui- Run the application:
python main.pyThe code is modular so you can adapt it for your needs:
- Modify the data structure in
default_data.py - Adjust the UI components in
ui/components - Add your own validation logic
- Change the theme settings in
settings.py
I deliberately avoided using Pandas or other heavy libraries. In my experience, keeping dependencies minimal makes distribution and maintenance much easier, especially in corporate environments.
This is a demonstration project. While it's built based on real-world requirements, make sure it meets your specific compliance needs before using it in production.
MIT License - Free to use and modify.
Built by a mechanical engineer who learned that not everything needs to be done in Excel.