Unnamed Desktop Calculator

Where it started

This project was a bit unexpected. I initially set out to build a LaTeX parser—something quick and dirty that would translate my messy, plain-text math into clean, beautiful LaTeX. Inadvertently, I was becoming more familiar with SymPy around the same time. It struck me that if I glued my LaTeX parser to a SymPy backend, I’d be left with a pretty compelling calculator application.

Every application I've developed previously has been built almost exclusively in JavaScript and HTML. Stitching together my Python and Swift skills was a challenge, but I've been careful to follow best practices and keep the architecture modular.

Overview

The application is split into four distinct parts: a SwiftUI frontend, a backend parser, a backend solver, and the wonderful MathJax library to render the LaTeX. In its current state, it's become my absolute favorite way to handle symbolic math and day-to-day calculations—easily giving my handheld CAS a run for its money when I'm at my desk.

A few of my friends are currently testing demo builds, and I am continuing to expand the toolset as I use the calculator for classwork, homework, and everything in between.

Example of calculation being performed in the calculator. — An example workflow: defining variables, and evaluating a definite integral.

Close-up of the UI — Hovering over the output reveals the buttons to save a rendered image, copy the uncompiled LaTeX, or paste the result into the input box.

Reference Manual — The built-in reference documents every tool, and includes examples.