Introduction
I recently built a calculator-focused web app called AxarTools, where all calculations run entirely in the browser—no backend, no APIs, and no data storage.
The goal was simple:
- make calculators fast
- keep everything private
- maintain a consistent UX across different tools
You can check it here:
https://axartools.com/
Why I avoided a backend
Most calculators don’t actually need a server.
For things like:
- EMI calculations
- income tax
- BMI
- retirement planning
The logic is deterministic and can run instantly in the browser.
So instead of adding:
- API routes
- databases
- server logic
I kept everything client-side.
This gave me:
- instant performance
- zero server cost
- better privacy (no data leaves the browser)
Tech Stack
- Next.js
- TypeScript
- Fully client-side logic
- Reusable component system
No:
- API routes
- database
- authentication
How I structured the calculators
Each calculator follows a consistent pattern:
- Input section
- Calculation logic (isolated per tool)
- Result display
- Supporting content (explanation, FAQ)
To scale this, I:
- reused layout components
- kept logic modular
- avoided tightly coupling UI and calculation logic
Challenges
- Maintaining consistency
Different calculators need different inputs, but the UX should feel the same.
- Handling precision
Financial calculations require careful rounding and formatting.
- Scaling structure
As the number of calculators grows, organization becomes important.
Key Takeaways
- You don’t always need a backend
- Client-side apps can scale surprisingly well for utility tools
- Consistency in UI matters more than individual page design
- Performance and simplicity go a long way
Feedback
I’d love feedback from other developers on:
architecture choices
scaling approach
performance improvements
Project:
https://axartools.com/
Top comments (0)