Ask HN: What calculator are you using in 2025? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What calculator are you using in 2025?

3 pointsSurac10 comments

Tell me what calculator are you using? Is it an app a hardware or program on your pc? Is it for programming, science or just a litte bit adding and subtracting?

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I use BVCalc on iPhone/iPad/macOS since it has the best RPN mode of any calculator I have tried. It's the only calculator that shows you the algebraic expression (i.e., infix mode) next to the corresponding result value for each stack item, and it does this recursively as you perform operations on the stack! This helps you check for entry mistakes and makes it easier keep track of what each stack item represents. I still use an old HP48GX occasionally as well as well.

BVCalc is an intresting find. Thank you

Anything too complex for the dead simple calculator on my phone ends up in a spreadsheet. I’m not generally graphing anything or doing complex calculus, tho. Mostly finances. For algebra, geometry, and any calculus that’s about manipulating symbols rather than getting to a number, I’ll use scrap paper. But then I learned math back before the calculators available to the average Joe could do any of that for you.

On my phone when I'm on the go, I use Calctastic. On my desktop, I use KCalc. At my workbench, I use an HP-41C.

I use them mostly for unit and number base conversions, and electronics calculations. Sometimes for programming purposes. I very rarely use them for basic four-banger stuff, as I usually just do those things in my head.

Spigot: an extremly precise calculator. it calulates every formular to the needed precision. Other programs often have problems with longer formulars, especially when it goes to an precision beyond 3 numbers after the comma.

psst ... "formula"

For simple adding of a list of numbers I either use a text file and awk, or Spotlight on the Mac.

bc [1] for a little bit of everything.

[1] - https://linux.die.net/man/1/bc

Speedcrunch

python 3.12

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