Intent
Use Sheets as a controlled interface for edits or reporting.
When to use
- Non-technical users need to view or edit data.
- Approvals or small datasets fit in Sheets.
- You need a boundary object for integrations.
Core mechanics
- Define a sheet schema and protected columns.
- Sync data in and out with clear ownership.
- Track edits and resolve conflicts.
Implementation checklist
- Define the sheet schema and permissions.
- Protect columns and add data validation.
- Implement sync with rate limit handling.
- Log changes and sync outcomes.
- Document ownership and update cadence.
Failure modes and mitigations
- Unauthorized edits -> lock cells and use protected ranges.
- Rate limits -> batch updates and retry.
- Schema drift -> validate headers each run.
Observability and validation
- Last sync timestamp and row counts.
- Change log or diff summary.
Artifacts
- Sheet template.
- Sync logs and runbook.