Show HN: While the world builds AI Agents, I'm just building calculators

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Focus on calculators vs AI hype

  • Several commenters resonate with the idea of building “small, concrete tools” instead of AI agents.
  • Some see manual coding skills (even at high level) as gaining leverage in the AI era: AI is a multiplier, not a replacement.
  • A few explicitly contrast the joy of deterministic tools with the opacity and hype of current AI systems.

Low-level learning and determinism

  • Multiple people mention learning or using assembly / reverse-engineering binaries as a hobby.
  • Motivations: deeper understanding of machines, mental challenge, and a sense of robustness (“in case of societal collapse”).
  • Some frame this as both a return to simplicity and a reaffirmation of human reasoning.

Ecosystem of calculators and similar tools

  • Many share their own calculators (running pace, units, Redis sizing, Android converters, immigration tools).
  • General sentiment: calculators are great “small projects” to learn, refresh math, and avoid doomscrolling.
  • A few ask whether this is redundant given Wolfram Alpha and similar sites.

UX, accessibility, and feature feedback

  • Detailed feedback on specific calculators:
    • BMI: better keyboard accessibility, real radio buttons, color contrast, feet/inches input, auto conversions, live recalculation, and mapping BMI categories to weight ranges.
    • Speed: add pace formats for running, swimming, rowing.
    • Unit/time: express values in mixed units (e.g., years/months/days, miles/yards/feet/inches).
    • Interest calculator: handling fractional years, days as a unit, and bug reports for 0.5-year inputs.
    • Basic calculator: scientific notation bugs and floating-point precision issues; some argue for exact arithmetic.
    • General: preserve state on back/forward, accept “$” and “%” in inputs, center layout, consistent naming, add bits/bandwidth units, right-align currency, improve keyboard-only operation.

Math discussions

  • Multiple explanations of continuously compounded interest and its relation to limits and exponentials.
  • Side discussion on dimensional analysis and amusing “uncanceled units.”
  • Requests for better fraction support; suggestions to use Scheme, Python, or handheld calculators.

Security and reputation issues

  • Some users report the site being blocked or flagged as phishing (OpenDNS, Sophos).
  • There is confusion over TLS warnings, with the consensus that blocking infrastructure may be intercepting traffic.