As software engineers, we spend a lot of time building features for clients, employers, or businesses. But every now and then, we get the chance to build something entirely our own—something that solves everyday problems for thousands of people.
Over the past few months, I've been working on Utility, a collection of 30+ free online tools built with ASP.NET Core and .NET 10.
The goal wasn't to build another "tool website." Instead, I wanted to create a fast, clean, and consistent platform where developers, students, professionals, content creators, and everyday users could find useful utilities without dealing with cluttered interfaces or excessive ads.
Why I Started This Project
I kept running into the same situation.
Need a JSON formatter?
Open Google.
Need a password generator?
Another website.
Need a UUID generator?
Another website again.
Need a word counter or BMI calculator?
Yet another website.
Although plenty of these tools already exist, the experience often feels inconsistent. Every website has a different interface, different navigation, different performance, and sometimes more advertisements than actual functionality.
I wanted to build one platform that offered a consistent experience from start to finish.
That idea eventually became Utility.
What's Included?
Today, Utility contains more than 30 online tools across several categories:
Core Utilities
Age Calculator
BMI Calculator
Age Difference Calculator
Number to Words
Password Generator
Username Generator
Random Number Generator
IP Address Finder
Converters & Text Tools
Unit Converter
JSON Formatter
Case Converter
Word Counter
Developer Suite
JWT Encoder
JWT Decoder
UUID Generator
SQL Formatter
YAML Formatter
Education Tools
GPA Calculator
Study Planner
Pomodoro Timer
Islamic Tools
Zakat Calculator
Business Zakat
Zakat on Gold
Sadaqah Planner
Marriage Budget Planner
Social Media Suite
LinkedIn Post Formatter
Instagram Caption Formatter
Twitter/X Formatter
Threads Formatter
Universal Text Formatter
Each tool focuses on solving a single problem while keeping the user experience simple and intuitive.
Technology Stack
The project is built with technologies I work with every day:
ASP.NET Core
.NET 10
C#
Responsive UI
Modern component-based architecture
SEO-friendly pages
Performance-focused design
Instead of creating isolated pages for every tool, I focused on building reusable components and maintaining a consistent architecture throughout the project.
That approach makes the application easier to maintain while providing users with a familiar experience across every feature.
Lessons Learned
Building Utility taught me several valuable lessons.
Small Problems Matter
A password generator might seem like a tiny feature.
A JSON formatter might take only a few hours to build.
But when you combine dozens of useful tools into one platform, they become something much more valuable.
Consistency Is Underrated
Users shouldn't have to learn a new interface every time they switch tools.
Keeping layouts, navigation, interactions, and design patterns consistent significantly improves usability.
Performance Is a Feature
Since most tools perform relatively small tasks, users expect them to be instant.
That encouraged me to focus on performance, responsiveness, and reducing unnecessary complexity throughout the project.
Side Projects Are Great Learning Opportunities
Building Utility allowed me to practice much more than coding.
It helped me improve areas like:
Product thinking
UI consistency
Architecture
SEO
Performance optimization
Content strategy
Long-term maintainability
Those lessons are just as valuable as the code itself.
What's Next?
Utility is an ongoing project, and I plan to continue expanding it.
Some ideas on the roadmap include:
More developer tools
AI-powered utilities
Additional productivity tools
More educational resources
Android app improvements
Community-requested features
The goal is to build a platform that developers and everyday users can rely on for years to come.
Explore the Project
If you'd like to try the tools, you can explore Utility here:
🌐 Utility:
https://utility.saddamhossain.net/
I also wrote a detailed article covering the complete journey behind the project—from the motivation and architecture to the challenges, lessons learned, and an overview of every tool.
📖 Read the full blog:
https://saddamhossain.net/blog/building-utility-30-plus-free-online-tools
I'd Love Your Feedback
Building in public has always helped me improve as a developer.
If you get a chance to explore Utility, I'd genuinely appreciate your feedback.
Which tool do you find most useful?
Is there a utility you use regularly that you'd like to see added?
What would you improve?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. I'm always looking for ideas that can make the platform more useful for everyone.
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