Executive Summary
Query Streams transforms Excel and Google Sheets into powerful BI tools by enabling real-time database queries directly within the spreadsheet—no coding required. Built as a nights-and-weekends side project by Chris using Anvil, Query Streams soft launched just four weeks ago and is already being used by data analysts across multiple companies.
- Built by a solo developer
- Production-ready in under 5 months
- Google Sheets add-on is live
- Microsoft Excel add-in is live
The Challenge: When BI Tools Meet Reality
Every data team knows the cycle: Companies invest heavily in BI tools because everyone loves beautiful dashboards. Yet somehow, the most common follow-up question is still:
“The dashboards look great… uh, how do I export this to a spreadsheet?”
And then it all ends up in a spreadsheet anyway. Despite years of trying to move away from Excel and Google Sheets, spreadsheets are more popular than ever. According to a 2025 survey by Alteryx, 76% of data analysts still use spreadsheets as their primary tool.
What If We Stopped Fighting Spreadsheets?
Chris had been thinking about this for years. What if, instead of replacing spreadsheets, we empowered them? “What if we didn’t try to replace spreadsheets with BI tools? What if we made spreadsheets the BI tool?” This idea stuck with him until just after Thanksgiving 2024, when he started building a solution.
The Solution: Turn Spreadsheets Into the BI Tool
Query Streams is a real-time data integration platform that lets users run SQL queries from Google Sheets and Excel directly against remote databases, without exposing credentials, setting up VPNs, or configuring firewalls. It supports SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Access, and other databases. You can:
- Share and receive queries
- Build live dashboards
- Securely expose specific database queries
- Choose what data to share and with whom
No hassle. No copy-pasting. No manual exports. Just real-time data, right where analysts already work.
Building Query Streams: Smarter Tools, Built Faster with Anvil
The most challenging part of building Query Streams was building the network agent in C# and other technologies that Chris wasn’t familiar with. Once he overcame that technical hurdle, building the web app in Anvil was straightforward.
With minimal experience in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, Chris leaned heavily on Anvil’s custom HTML support and Anvil components to bring his unique UI ideas to life.
Chris Houston
Founder and CEO, Query Streams
In just four months, Query Streams was ready to use. Built entirely in Chris’s spare time while working a full-time job. Since Anvil is web-based, he could work on Query Streams wherever and whenever he had time—whether at home, in early mornings, or even while travelling with just his laptop.
The Results: From Idea to Impact
Query Streams has begun gaining traction even before its official launch. In the four weeks since its soft launch with the Google Sheets add-on, teams and analysts across several organizations have started using the platform.
Now, with the Excel add-in also live on the Microsoft AppSource marketplace, Query Streams has expanded its reach to both major spreadsheet platforms. With both add-ons available, Chris is preparing for the official launch and broader publicity efforts. You can follow along and get updates on X and LinkedIn.
Chris Houston
Founder and CEO, Query Streams
More Information
Query Streams lets you run real-time database queries directly from Excel or Google Sheets — no code required.
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