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Recomputer

A free web app, a smart calculator with instantly updating results.

https://recomputer.github.io/

Examples | Guide

For bug reports file an issue.

Alternatives

Other Use Cases

  • One-off simple calculations: Alfred/WoX
  • Tabular data, simple charts: Google Sheets, Excel
  • Charts, visualizations: Observable, Jupyter
  • More complicated algorithms: R, JavaScript, Python...

Same Use Case

Why yet another smart calculator?

Update Aug 2022: I've discovered several new (and some old) projects with great similarity to Recomputer. Here's an attempt at a comparitive overview. More alternatives are listed below.

Recomputer Soulver Numpad Cruncher Insect Frink
Platform macOS web web web web, npm Java
Interface immediate immediate immediate immediate REPL programming lang / REPL
Price free paid free free free free
Development open source closed source closed source open source open source closed source
Syntax strict mixed text mixed text mixed text strict strict
Variables yes yes yes no yes yes
Functions yes ? no no yes yes
Fractions yes no no no no yes
Units yes yes yes no yes yes

There's lots of interesting differences and features between all of these. Frink is especially interesting being developed for 20 years now and having a vast list of built-in constants for all sorts of physical values.

Written in May 2021:

  • Soulver: Native, macOS only. Free only 30 days. Not open-source. By far the best of the alternatives. Differs in some design decisions. It leans more towards free text-like input, while Recomputer is more strict (and less error prone).
  • Numi: Doesn't support all rates, in general the grammar doesn't handle a lot of expressions. Multi-word names are not sometimes recognized.
  • Math Notepad: A Jupyter-like interface, enter needs to be hit to see results. No currency support. Very slow / laggy.
  • calcula.tech: Latex reprinting of input, requires = ? to see results.
  • NoteCalc: Custom text editor that doesn't support basic native keyboard commands (like go to word boundary). No currency support.
  • Parsify: Free version limited to 5 lines. Some bugs in grammar. Doesn't support all rates or arbitrary physics expressions.
  • Numbr: Doesn't support all rates. Not open-source. Broken exponentiation.
  • Caligator: Download didn't work on Mac.

Acknowledgements

marijnh for CodeMirror.next

fawazahmed0 for currency API

Soulver and Numi for inspiration