fast-excel

Pros of Spout

• More feature-rich, supporting both reading and writing of spreadsheets
• Handles large files efficiently with low memory usage
• Supports multiple spreadsheet formats (XLSX, CSV, ODS)

Cons of Spout

• Slightly more complex API, requiring more setup code
• Slower performance for simple, small-scale operations
• Less actively maintained (last release in 2021)

Code Comparison

Fast-Excel (writing):

$fastExcel = new FastExcel();
$fastExcel->data($data)->export('file.xlsx');

Spout (writing):

$writer = WriterFactory::create(Type::XLSX);
$writer->openToFile($filePath);
$writer->addRows($data);
$writer->close();

Both libraries offer straightforward APIs for writing Excel files, but Fast-Excel provides a more concise syntax for simple operations. Spout requires more explicit setup and closing of the writer object, which can be beneficial for more complex scenarios but may be overkill for basic tasks.

Fast-Excel is focused on speed and simplicity, making it ideal for quick exports of data to Excel format. Spout, on the other hand, offers more flexibility and features, including support for reading spreadsheets and handling various file formats, at the cost of a slightly more verbose API.

Pros of PhpSpreadsheet

• More comprehensive feature set, supporting a wide range of Excel functionalities
• Better support for complex formulas and cell formatting
• Actively maintained with regular updates and improvements

Cons of PhpSpreadsheet

• Slower performance, especially when dealing with large datasets
• Higher memory consumption compared to Fast-Excel
• Steeper learning curve due to its extensive API

Code Comparison

PhpSpreadsheet:

$spreadsheet = new Spreadsheet();
$sheet = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet();
$sheet->setCellValue('A1', 'Hello World');
$writer = new Xlsx($spreadsheet);
$writer->save('hello_world.xlsx');

Fast-Excel:

$sheets = new FastExcel();
$sheets->addSheet([[
    'Hello' => 'World'
]]);
$sheets->export('hello_world.xlsx');

Fast-Excel offers a more straightforward API for basic operations, while PhpSpreadsheet provides more granular control over spreadsheet creation and manipulation. PhpSpreadsheet is better suited for complex Excel operations, while Fast-Excel excels in scenarios where performance is crucial, especially when working with large datasets or generating simple spreadsheets.

Pros of XlsxWriter

• More feature-rich, supporting a wide range of Excel functionalities
• Better documentation and extensive examples
• Actively maintained with frequent updates

Cons of XlsxWriter

• Slower performance for large datasets
• Higher memory usage, especially for complex spreadsheets
• Steeper learning curve due to more complex API

Code Comparison

XlsxWriter:

import xlsxwriter

workbook = xlsxwriter.Workbook('example.xlsx')
worksheet = workbook.add_worksheet()
worksheet.write('A1', 'Hello')
worksheet.write('B1', 'World')
workbook.close()

FastExcel:

use OpenSpout\Writer\XLSX\Writer;

$writer = new Writer();
$writer->openToFile('example.xlsx');
$writer->addRow(['Hello', 'World']);
$writer->close();

XlsxWriter offers more control and flexibility, allowing for detailed customization of cells and worksheets. FastExcel, on the other hand, provides a simpler API focused on quickly writing data to Excel files. XlsxWriter is Python-based, while FastExcel is primarily used in PHP environments, which may influence the choice depending on the project's tech stack.

Pros of PHP_XLSXWriter

• Lightweight and has minimal dependencies
• Supports streaming, allowing for creation of large files with low memory usage
• Provides more fine-grained control over cell formatting and styles

Cons of PHP_XLSXWriter

• Less actively maintained compared to Fast-Excel
• Documentation is not as comprehensive
• Lacks some advanced features like formula support

Code Comparison

PHP_XLSXWriter:

$writer = new XLSXWriter();
$writer->writeSheetHeader('Sheet1', array('Name' => 'string', 'Age' => 'integer'));
$writer->writeSheetRow('Sheet1', array('John Doe', 30));
$writer->writeToFile('example.xlsx');

Fast-Excel:

$sheets = SheetCollection::make([
    'Sheet1' => [
        ['Name' => 'John Doe', 'Age' => 30]
    ]
]);
FastExcel::data($sheets)->export('example.xlsx');

Both libraries offer straightforward ways to create Excel files, but Fast-Excel provides a more concise API for simple use cases. PHP_XLSXWriter offers more granular control over the writing process, which can be beneficial for complex scenarios or when optimizing for large datasets.

Pros of Laravel-Excel

• More feature-rich, offering advanced functionality like queuing, chunking, and multiple sheet support
• Seamless integration with Laravel, including Eloquent and Query Builder
• Extensive documentation and community support

Cons of Laravel-Excel

• Heavier and potentially slower for simple tasks
• Steeper learning curve due to more complex API
• Requires more system resources

Code Comparison

Laravel-Excel:

use Maatwebsite\Excel\Facades\Excel;

Excel::download(new UsersExport, 'users.xlsx');

Fast-Excel:

$users = User::all();
(new FastExcel($users))->export('users.xlsx');

Summary

Laravel-Excel is a comprehensive solution for Excel operations in Laravel, offering advanced features and seamless integration. However, it may be overkill for simple tasks. Fast-Excel, on the other hand, is lightweight and easy to use, making it ideal for basic Excel operations. The choice between the two depends on the complexity of your project requirements and the level of Laravel integration needed.