Why did you create yet another calculator app?
After switching from Android to iOS, I found the stock calculator app disappointing (this was circa iOS 14). It felt like a step backward: “What do you mean I have to press equals to see the result?!” and “Why can’t I see the full expression or my past calculations?“.
I couldn’t find a simple calculator in the App Store that didn’t have ads, require a subscription, or wasn’t overly complicated. So I decided it’d be the perfect first app…I mean, how hard could it be? Famous last words!! 🤣
Why don’t you offer a free, ad-supported version?
Personally, I can’t stand ads—they’re distracting and take up valuable real estate, which is especially frustrating in mobile apps. I do realize people like to try before they buy, and if the App Store supported time-limited trials, I’d offer that. But since that’s not an option and I don’t want to support the ad industry, I decided to give it a fair, one-time price. If you’re on the fence, Apple usually allows refunds within a short period.
Why doesn’t it have any scientific or advanced math functions?
Personally, I’ve never needed trigonometry, square roots, or similar functions on a phone calculator. If I ever do, I’d use a spreadsheet or, these days, just ask an AI chatbot. My goal was to keep this calculator simple and fast—no bloat, just what most people need when on the go.
Why isn’t Dash Calc available outside the United States?
I’ve limited Dash Calc to the U.S. to protect my privacy, as I’d otherwise need to publish my personal home address. This is due to two reasons:
- Apple’s App Store rules don’t allow PO Boxes for organization developer accounts, even though my LLC is officially registered with one.
- The EU Digital Services Act requires “traders” to provide a physical address in their contact information.
As a result, I’m forced to use my home address to comply with these rules. If Apple or the EU update their policies, I’ll reconsider. I may expand to non-EU countries once I improve localization.
Does Dash Calc ever go on sale?
No, not even on Black Friday. I believe in fair pricing, which means everyone pays the same price, no matter when they buy. I also avoid psychological pricing, which is why the app is a simple $4 USD. While $3.99 might bring in more sales, I want its price to be as clear and honest as the app itself.
So no need to wait for a sale—buy Dash Calc when you need it!
What framework did you use to build Dash Calc?
Dash Calc is built entirely with SwiftUI. When I shifted careers from product design to indie development, I knew I wanted to create something within the Apple ecosystem. Since Apple is positioning SwiftUI as the future, I decided to fully embrace it.
I also set a personal goal to avoid using any third-party libraries or packages, so Dash Calc has no external dependencies.
While this approach led to a few headaches (like, “What do you mean I can’t do ‘x’?” or, “Oh, that’s a SwiftUI bug!“), it turned out to be a valuable learning experience.