Case study
UPLB students often plan grades with spreadsheets passed around in group chats. GradeSim turns that habit into a small browser tool for GWA calculations, Latin honors targets, and course what-ifs.
Reasoning
A mobile app would have added store friction, and a server-backed planner would create privacy work without a clear benefit. A browser extension kept the tool close to where students already checked academic pages.
Choice
I used Next.js and a Manifest V3 extension build, then automated releases with semantic-release. Grade calculations run locally so students can plan without creating an account.
What I'd repeat
The export feature uses the Chrome downloads API so students can save grade scenarios offline. It is a small feature, but it turns a temporary calculation into something they can revisit before enlistment.
Outcome
GradeSim launched across web and extension flows and now helps around 200 students a year plan course loads. The project stayed intentionally small because local calculation solved the real problem.
Postmortem: I would add better import checks next, especially for messy copied grade tables from different campus systems.
Impact: 200+ student users yearly · store releases · offline exports
