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. The challenge was translating a complex numerical system with multiple calculation modes into a simple, accessible mobile interface that could handle real-time calculations as users type Arabic text.

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:

1. Supporting Two Different Calculation Systems

The Abjad system has two primary calculation methods: Mashriqi (Eastern) and Maghribi (Western), each assigning different numerical values to certain Arabic letters. For example, س (seen) equals 60 in Mashriqi but 300 in Maghribi. The app needed to support both systems and let users switch between them without losing their typed text.

Solution: Smart Mode Switching

Built a system that stores letter-to-number mappings for each mode. When you switch modes in settings, the app instantly recalculates your text using the new values without losing anything you've typed.

2. Handling Special Cases and Exceptions

Beyond the two main modes, users needed options for special cases: treating Hamzah (ء) as 0 instead of 1, handling carrier letters (ؤ and ئ) based on pronunciation rather than the base letter, and treating final letters (ة and ى) by their pronunciation. These options needed to be easy to understand and toggle on or off.

Solution: Clear Settings with Helpful Explanations

Organized settings into simple categories with helpful descriptions. Active rules are shown on the main screen with an info icon you can tap to understand what each rule does and how it affects your calculations.

3. Providing Detailed Letter Breakdowns

Users wanted more than just the total Adad value. They needed detailed breakdowns: which letters repeat, which are sun vs moon letters (Shamsiyyah/Qamariyyah), how many connected letter groups exist, and counts of dotted vs non-dotted letters. This required analyzing every letter in multiple ways.

Solution: Comprehensive Statistics View

Created a detailed view that shows 11+ statistics about your text. Tap "View Details" to see a complete breakdown with each letter's value, how many times it appears, and all the different categorizations (dotted, sun/moon, repeating, etc.).

4. Instant Calculations as You Type

As users type Arabic text, the app needed to instantly calculate and display the Adad value without any lag or delay, even on older or budget phones. The calculations needed to happen smoothly no matter how much text was entered.

Solution: Lightning-Fast Calculations

Optimized the calculation system to work instantly, no matter how much text you type. The app recalculates values in real-time as you type each letter, with smooth performance even on budget devices.

5. Looking Great on Every Device

The app needed to look great and work perfectly on everything from small phones to large tablets and Chromebooks. When you rotate your phone or resize the screen, your text and calculations should stay exactly as they were.

Solution: Adaptive Layouts

Designed different screen layouts that automatically adjust for phones, tablets, and large screens. Text sizes and button spacing scale appropriately, and your input is preserved even when you rotate your device.

The Solution

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

Technical Architecture

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. The app remembers your text even when you rotate your phone or resize the screen.

Two Calculation Modes

Supports both Mashriqi (Eastern) and Maghribi (Western) Abjad systems, each with different letter values. Switch between modes instantly in settings, and your text automatically recalculates using the new system.

Flexible Calculation Rules

Includes optional rules for special cases: treat Hamzah (ء) as zero, handle carrier letters (ؤ and ئ) differently, or calculate final letters (ة and ى) based on pronunciation. All rules are optional and can be toggled on/off in settings with helpful explanations.

Detailed Letter Analysis

Beyond just the total value, see 11+ detailed statistics: which letters repeat, sun vs moon letters, connected letter groups, dotted vs non-dotted letters, and more. Tap "View Details" to see a complete breakdown with each letter's individual value and frequency.

Share Your Calculations

Easily share your calculations with others. The details view includes a share button that formats all statistics and letter breakdowns in a clean, readable format perfect for messaging or social media.

Works on All Devices

Optimized layouts for phones, tablets, and Chromebooks. Text and buttons automatically resize for perfect readability whether you're on a small phone or a large tablet. Everything stays responsive and easy to use.

Customizable Appearance

Choose between Arabic and Urdu fonts for optimal readability. Switch between light, dark, or automatic theme that follows your phone's settings. Adjust text size from small to extra-large to match your preference.

Impact & User Response

850,000+ Downloads Approaching 1 Million

My first Android app has achieved 850K+ downloads with exceptional 4.75 star rating maintained over 13 years. Closing in on the 1 million download milestone, serving students, scholars, and Arabic language enthusiasts worldwide.

Exceptional 4.75 Star Rating

Users consistently rate the app highly with testimonials like "Very helpful and unique, it's one of the best app, I recommend everyone to download it" and numerous mentions of the app being "useful" for studying Abjad calculations and Arabic numerology.

13+ Years of Evolution

Developed in February 2012 and published in 2013, the app has been continuously maintained through 13+ years of Android evolution (Android 6 to Android 15+). Regular updates added features like dual calculation modes, special rules system, comprehensive letter analysis, and Material Design 3 UI while maintaining backward compatibility.

Completely Free Educational Tool

Maintained completely free with no ads, in-app purchases, or data collection for 13+ years. Built as an educational resource for the Arabic language community, the app remains focused on providing genuine value without commercial motivations.

Smooth Migration Without Breaking Changes

Continuously evolved the app over 13+ years through multiple major updates, always ensuring existing users could upgrade seamlessly without losing their settings or data. Each update brought new features while maintaining the simple, accessible interface users love.

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, user focus, and willingness to evolve with the platform.

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, turning the app into an interactive learning tool rather than just a calculator.

Supporting All Device Sizes Takes Extra Work

Creating layouts that work perfectly on phones, tablets, and Chromebooks requires careful attention. Every design change needs to work across all screen sizes, which takes discipline but ensures users have a great experience no matter what device they use.

Listen to Your Users

Special calculation rules, detailed letter analysis (sun/moon letters, connected groups, dotted letters), and appearance customization were all added based on user feedback. Listening to the community shaped the app from a basic calculator into a comprehensive Abjad analysis tool.

Never Lose User Data

Making sure your text and calculations stay saved when you rotate your phone or resize the screen is critical. Losing user data during screen rotations would have been a major problem in a text-heavy app like this.

My First Android App: Arabic Abjad Calculator Closing in on 1 Million Users