The Origin Story

In February 2012, I built Adad Calculator as my first Android app. The goal was to bring the ancient Abjad numerical system (also known as Adad) to mobile devices, where each Arabic letter corresponds to a specific numerical value. This system, rooted in Arabic linguistic tradition, is used for calculating numerical values of words, names, and phrases. What started as a learning project and educational tool became something far bigger. Published in 2013, the app has now served 850K+ users over 13 years, approaching the 1 million download milestone.

First Project Philosophy

"Make it simple to use, but comprehensive in functionality. Real-time feedback is essential for an educational tool."

The Challenge

Building an Abjad calculator required solving several technical and design challenges to make a complex numerical system accessible on mobile devices.

Critical Pain Points

Supporting two different calculation systems (Mashriqi and Maghribi) with different letter values
Handling special cases like Hamzah, carrier letters, and final letters with optional rules
Providing detailed letter breakdowns including repeating letters, sun/moon letters, connected groups
Instant calculations as users type without lag even on older devices
Looking great on everything from small phones to large tablets and Chromebooks

The Abjad numerical system has deep cultural and historical significance. The app needed to be both technically accurate and respectful of that tradition.

The Solution

Over 13 years of development and refinement, built a robust architecture that evolved from my first Android app into a comprehensive Abjad calculation tool.

Modern App Design

Built with Material Design 3 for a clean, modern interface. Calculations happen instantly as you type, with smooth animations and no lag.

Two Calculation Modes

Supports both Mashriqi (Eastern) and Maghribi (Western) Abjad systems, each with different letter values. Switch modes instantly in settings.

Flexible Calculation Rules

Includes optional rules for special cases: treat Hamzah as zero, handle carrier letters differently, or calculate final letters based on pronunciation.

Detailed Letter Analysis

Beyond just the total value, see 11+ detailed statistics: repeating letters, sun vs moon letters, connected letter groups, dotted vs non-dotted letters.

Results & Business Impact

850,000+ Downloads Approaching 1 Million

My first Android app has achieved 850K+ downloads with exceptional 4.75 star rating maintained over 13 years, serving students, scholars, and Arabic language enthusiasts worldwide.

Exceptional 4.75 Star Rating

Users consistently rate the app highly with testimonials praising it as one of the best apps for studying Abjad calculations and Arabic numerology.

13+ Years of Evolution

Continuously maintained through Android 6 to Android 15+, with regular updates adding features like dual calculation modes and Material Design 3 UI.

Completely Free Educational Tool

Maintained completely free with no ads, in-app purchases, or data collection for 13+ years as an educational resource for the Arabic language community.

Lessons Learned

First Projects Can Have Lasting Impact

What began as my first Android app in 2012 has served nearly 1 million users over 13+ years, proving that even early projects can achieve significant scale and longevity with consistent maintenance and user focus.

Instant Feedback Makes Learning Better

Making calculations happen instantly as users type made the app feel responsive and educational. Users can immediately see how each letter contributes to the total Adad value.

Supporting All Device Sizes Takes Extra Work

Creating layouts that work perfectly on phones, tablets, and Chromebooks requires careful attention but ensures users have a great experience no matter what device they use.

Listen to Your Users

Special calculation rules, detailed letter analysis, and appearance customization were all added based on user feedback. Listening to the community shaped the app into a comprehensive tool.

Adad Calculator: 850K+ Users Trust This Arabic Abjad App