Numla: The Notepad That Thinks in Numbers

Source: Dev.to

Overview

Numla is a minimal, privacy‑focused calculator notepad that lets you solve problems the way you think about them—using natural language. It sits between traditional calculators and full‑blown spreadsheets, providing a scratchpad where you can type out your thoughts and have the math happen automatically.

Inspired by tools like Numi and Soulver, Numla combines a text editor with a powerful math engine, making it ideal for budgeting, unit conversions, or quick back‑of‑the‑napkin calculations.

Features

• Natural language input – no strict syntax required.
• Live currency conversion – supports over 50 currencies with up‑to‑date exchange rates.
• Unit conversions – length, temperature, and more.
• Local‑only storage – all data stays in the browser via localStorage; no servers, accounts, or tracking.
• Variables – define constants (e.g., $rate = 75) and reuse them.
• Date math – calculate deadlines (e.g., today + 2 weeks).
• Timezone lookup – e.g., time in Tokyo.
• Spotlight search – press Cmd+K to jump between notes instantly.
• Focus mode – hide the UI to concentrate on numbers only.

Example Usage

Rent: $1,200
Utilities: $150
Groceries: $400
sum                     → $1,750

$500 in EUR             → €460
100 fahrenheit in celsius → 37.78 celsius
5 km to miles           → 3.1 miles

Technical Details

• Built with Vanilla JavaScript and Tailwind CSS for a lightweight, fast experience.
• Uses mathjs for calculations and chrono-node for natural‑language date parsing.

Open Source

Numla is open source and available on GitHub. Feel free to try it out and share your feedback!

View on GitHub