Many engineering platforms rely on proprietary or custom-built math engines. While this can sound innovative, it often results in software that is difficult to audit, hard to verify, and susceptible to hidden errors.
In critical fields like structural and civil engineering, such risks are unacceptable. Engineering calculations must be correct, traceable, and standards-compliant.
The Risks of Custom Engines
Custom or opaque engines often mean:
- Undocumented assumptions behind formulas
- Limited testing outside of controlled QA scenarios
- Difficulty reproducing or verifying results
- Vendor lock-in without visibility into core logic
These risks are amplified when tools do not provide access to underlying math or logic. Engineers must be able to validate assumptions, inspect inputs and outputs, and confirm unit consistency—particularly when working to standards such as AS3600, AS4100, or Eurocode.
CalcTree’s Approach: Use What Already Works for Engineering Calculations
CalcTree avoids these issues by using Python and MathJS—widely used engineering software engines that are trusted across science, engineering, and research.
- Python is used in structural mechanics, earthquake simulations, aerospace modeling, and research applications.
- NumPy and Pandas are standard modules in numerical computing and data analysis.
- MathJS provides reliable symbolic and numerical math in the browser and is actively maintained by the open-source community.
These libraries are tested at scale every day, with contributions from thousands of developers and scientists. Their correctness is verified across domains far more rigorous and diverse than any internal QA process could replicate.
These tools offer powerful automation capabilities and key features that streamline engineering workflows, enhance efficiency, and support advanced structural analysis and design tasks.
Benefits for Structural Engineers and Civil Engineers
CalcTree ensures that engineering logic:
- Remains transparent and editable
- Executes on widely accepted computation stacks
- Aligns with familiar libraries and workflows
- Avoids silent errors or locked-down logic paths
Engineers can define and maintain code checks, custom calculations, and reporting logic using technologies already familiar to the community. Whether automating reinforcement checks or managing collaborative workflows, CalcTree provides a reliable foundation. By streamlining routine tasks, CalcTree helps engineers save time and improve efficiency, enabling more efficient calculation management and reducing manual work.
Conclusion
Reinventing the math engine is rarely a good idea—especially when robust, open, and well-tested alternatives already exist.
By building on top of Python and MathJS, CalcTree focuses on enabling collaboration, reusability, and compliance—without compromising on the reliability of its core calculations.
