A problem that bothered me for years: I bought many Excel templates, but none perfectly fit my needs.
This template has fields I don't need. That template is missing columns I want. Another one has ugly colors that I want to change but don't know how.
The Solution: A Generator, Not a Template
I created Creator OS - an Excel template generator. At its core, it's a Python script and a JSON config file.
The logic is simple:
Edit config.json → Run generator.py → Get customized Excel file
6 Pre-built Modules
- Knowledge Base (PARA Method) - Projects, Areas, Resources, Notes
- Network CRM - Contact management, interaction records
- Project Center - Task tracking, goal management
- AI Workflow - Prompt library, AI chat records, generated content
- Content Matrix - Multi-platform content planning, publishing calendar
- Inspiration Capture - Quick capture, read later, idea incubation
That's 17 worksheets, 139 fields, all with dropdown options and conditional formatting.
Why a Generator?
Traditional templates are static. A generator gives you capability, not just a result.
- Want 5 modules? Generate 5.
- Want 20 modules? Generate 20.
- Want to rename "Knowledge Base" to "Second Brain"? Change one line.
- Want a green theme? Change one color code.
Technical Implementation
Core code using Python's openpyxl:
from openpyxl import Workbook
from openpyxl.styles import Font, PatternFill
wb = Workbook()
ws = wb.active
# Header styling
ws['A1'] = 'Project Name'
ws['A1'].fill = PatternFill(start_color='6366F1', fill_type='solid')
ws['A1'].font = Font(bold=True, color='FFFFFF')
# Dropdown validation
from openpyxl.worksheet.datavalidation import DataValidation
dv = DataValidation(type='list', formula1='"In Progress,Completed,Paused"')
ws.add_data_validation(dv)
wb.save('output.xlsx')
The entire generator is about 300 lines of code.
My Decision
I put this generator up for sale at $19. Not free, not open source.
Why? It solves a real problem, contains real value, and I want to test if code can directly become income.
It's been up for a week. Sales are at 0, but I'm not anxious. This is just the first product. If this approach works, I can create more template generators for different niches.
The Takeaway
When you find a problem that keeps bothering you, don't just solve it once—solve it once and for all.
Buying a template is solving once. Writing a generator is solving once and for all.
That shift might be the starting point from "tool user" to "tool creator."
💡 Check out the product:
Includes Python + JavaScript dual versions, complete documentation, and 9 example templates.
Read the full article on my blog: [link]
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