When I started this project, I had a simple goal: create a helpful tool for people to calculate their loan payments. What began as a single calculator evolved into a comprehensive financial planning platform with over 35 specialized calculators, now live at loan-calculator.us.com.
The Foundation: Next.js and Modern Tech Stack
I bootstrapped the project with create-next-app, choosing Next.js 16 as the foundation. The stack includes React 19, Tailwind CSS v4 for styling, and TypeScript for type safety. Using shadcn/ui components gave the interface a clean, professional look while maintaining consistency across all calculator pages.
The first major milestone was building the home page with interactive features. I wanted users to immediately understand the value proposition - quick, accurate loan calculations without complex financial jargon.
Scaling from One to Thirty-Five Calculators
The real work began with building individual calculator pages. Each calculator needed to be unique yet maintain a consistent user experience. I started with the core calculators: mortgage, auto loan, and car payment calculators. Each implementation included comprehensive SEO optimization, semantic HTML structure, and detailed educational content.
The calculator suite grew organically based on user needs: business loan calculators for entrepreneurs, VA loan calculators for veterans, student loan calculators for graduates, and specialized tools like boat loan and mobile home loan calculators. Each calculator was carefully crafted with its own calculation logic, amortization schedules, and contextual financial information.
SEO and User Experience
SEO became a crucial focus. I implemented dynamic sitemaps, enhanced internal linking across calculator pages, and created a comprehensive linking strategy documented in internal-links-mapping.json. Each calculator page includes rich meta descriptions, semantic HTML5 elements, and educational content that helps users make informed financial decisions.
I also built supporting pages: privacy policy, terms of service, cookie policy, disclaimer, and an about page to establish trust and transparency with users.
Security and Production Readiness
Before launching, I conducted a comprehensive security audit. The report revealed several areas for improvement, leading me to implement security headers, CSP policies, and proper error handling. I removed potentially misleading financial advice disclaimers and refined the messaging to be more accurate and helpful.
Deployment: The Cloudflare Pages Journey
Deployment had its challenges. I configured the project for static site export using Next.js's output: 'export' setting. The Cloudflare Pages deployment required specific Node.js version configurations - I iterated through version requirements, ultimately settling on Node.js 20.9.0 or higher.
I went through multiple iterations - configuring Node.js versions, fixing deployment requirements, and adding security headers. Each step represented a lesson learned and brought me closer to a successful production launch.
The Result
Today, loan-calculator.us.com serves users with 35+ specialized calculators, from traditional mortgages to equipment loans, each with detailed calculations, amortization schedules, and educational content. The platform is built on modern web technologies, optimized for search engines, secured with best practices, and deployed on Cloudflare's global edge network for maximum performance.
What started as a simple loan calculator evolved into a comprehensive financial planning platform - a testament to iterative development, user-focused design, and the power of modern web technologies.
Want to follow along on future projects? This is just the beginning. I'm constantly building, learning, and sharing my experiences creating web applications. Subscribe to stay updated on upcoming posts about web development, deployment strategies, SEO optimization techniques, and more real-world project stories. Your next big idea might be inspired by the lessons I share.
Tech Stack: Next.js 16, React 19, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS v4, shadcn/ui
Deployment: Cloudflare Pages
Live Site: loan-calculator.us.com