Pinned Tweet

2026 needs a new CSV format that supports multiple sheets and that doesn't require escaping.
ASCII US (Unit Separator) for comma
ASCII RS (Record Separator) for newline
ASCII GS (Group Separator) between worksheets
*maybe* ASCII FS (File Separator) for embedded images
Three header rows:
1. name of worksheet
2. Names (like usual)
3. Types (string, int, date, etc)
Editors should treat Unit Separator like tab, except that it should be calculated to the data-width and data can wrap within the column based on maximum display width or column width. RS should obviously represent rows, and GS for tabs.
Binary data must be hex encoded (because it compresses better than base64). Any data containing those control characters or other non-printing, non-UTF characters is considered binary.
Metadata can be stored in a group before the worksheet begins. Lines starting with `#` and followed by `.` and no other separator until GS can be used to pad groups to a rounded standard size to avoid full-file rewrites on simple metadata or single-value update.
No formulas or user-oriented spreadsheet stuff. This is just a data format for APIs and AIs.
English






