Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Underscore.js VS NumPad

Compare Underscore.js VS NumPad and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Underscore.js logo Underscore.js

Underscore is a utility-belt library for JavaScript that provides a lot of the functional...

NumPad logo NumPad

A web-based text editor with a powerful built-in calculator
  • Underscore.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-12-17
  • NumPad Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-09

Underscore.js features and specs

  • Utility Functions
    Underscore.js provides a wealth of utility functions for common tasks such as map, reduce, filter, and more, making it easier to perform operations on arrays, objects, and collections.
  • Consistency
    The library offers a consistent API, which can make your code more readable and maintainable by providing a standard way to perform common programming tasks.
  • Lightweight
    Underscore.js is lightweight compared to full-featured libraries like Lodash, which can be a benefit if you're looking to minimize your application's footprint.
  • Browser Compatibility
    It supports a wide range of JavaScript environments, making it a good choice for projects that need to work across different browsers and Node.js.
  • Quick to Learn
    Easy to pick up for developers with even a basic understanding of JavaScript, due to its straightforward documentation and familiar function names.

Possible disadvantages of Underscore.js

  • Performance
    Underscore.js may not offer the same level of performance optimizations as more modern utility libraries like Lodash, potentially leading to slower execution for some tasks.
  • Limited Functionality
    While it covers many basic utility functions, its feature set is not as extensive as Lodash or other similar libraries, which provide a broader range of capabilities.
  • Outdated
    With the advent of ECMAScript 5 and later versions, many of the functions provided by Underscore.js are now natively available in JavaScript, reducing its necessity.
  • No Modularization
    Underscore does not support modular builds in the same way Lodash does, meaning you might end up including the entire library even if you only need a few functions.
  • Community and Maintenance
    While still maintained, Underscore.js has seen less active development and contributions compared to newer libraries, which could impact its long-term viability and support.

NumPad features and specs

  • Enhanced Productivity
    NumPad offers customizable shortcut keys that can speed up data entry and enhance productivity for users who frequently input numerical data.
  • Ergonomic Design
    The design of NumPad is likely ergonomic, catering to comfort during prolonged use and reducing strain on hands and wrists.
  • Wide Compatibility
    NumPad is compatible with various devices and operating systems, making it versatile for different users across multiple platforms.
  • Portability
    Being a standalone device, NumPad is portable and can easily be used with laptops and devices lacking a built-in numeric keypad.

Possible disadvantages of NumPad

  • Additional Cost
    Purchasing a NumPad can be an additional expense, especially for users who already have a keyboard with a built-in numeric keypad.
  • Requires USB/Bluetooth Connection
    Using NumPad requires an available USB port or Bluetooth connection, which might be limited on some devices, especially laptops.
  • Learning Curve
    Customization features might introduce a learning curve for some users, requiring time to set up and adapt to the new functionalities.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Although designed for wide compatibility, some users might experience compatibility issues with less common devices or software.

Analysis of Underscore.js

Overall verdict

  • Underscore.js is a reasonable choice if you need a lightweight library for concise, functional programming helpers. While newer libraries or vanilla JavaScript have made some of its functions less essential, Underscore.js remains useful for its simplicity and comprehensive utility set.

Why this product is good

  • Underscore.js is a popular JavaScript library that provides a comprehensive set of utility functions for common programming tasks. It is valued for its simplicity and ease of integration, especially in projects that require functional programming patterns but do not need the full capabilities of larger libraries like Lodash. Underscore.js is lightweight and can significantly enhance productivity by offering functions for tasks such as object manipulation, array operations, and function binding, making code more readable and maintainable.

Recommended for

    Developers working on smaller projects or legacy codebases that require a reliable utility library with functional programming techniques. Itโ€™s also suitable for those who prefer a minimalistic approach and donโ€™t require the extensive features of heavier alternatives.

Underscore.js videos

Introduction to Underscore.JS

NumPad videos

Glorious Numpad Review | Is The Most Expensive Numpad Good Value?

More videos:

  • Review - Why would you buy JUST a numpad?
  • Review - Buy this numpad!!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Underscore.js and NumPad)
Javascript UI Libraries
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100
Development Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Calculators
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Underscore.js should be more popular than NumPad. It has been mentiond 24 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Underscore.js mentions (24)

  • JavaScript Awesome Package
    Underscore - JavaScript library that provides a whole mess of useful functional programming. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • JavaScript evolution: From Lodash and Underscore to vanilla
    Underscore was created by Jeremy Ashkenas (the creator of Backbone.js) in 2009 to provide a set of utility functions that JavaScript lacked at the time. It was also created to work with Backbone.js, but it slowly became a favorite among developers who needed utility functions that they could just call and get stuff done with without having to worry about the inner implementations and browser compatibility. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • KlongPy: High-Performance Array Programming in Python
    There was a step-change improvement for me when I tried expressing some JS patterns via `underscore.js` instead of procedurally: eg: http://underscorejs.org/#each Thinking of something as `each | map | filter | sum` is waaay less buggy than writing bespoke procedural code to do the same thing. No doubt there is a "cost" to it as well, but the _abstraction_ is valuable. Now, if there were a "compiler" which could... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • 100+ Must-Have Web Development Resources
    Underscore.js: A utility library that offers a full set of functional programming helpers without extending any built-in JavaScript objects. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Mastering Node.js
    Underscore contains just about every core utility method you want. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
View more

NumPad mentions (6)

  • Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (June 2025)
    Numpad: https://numpad.io/ It's a web-based notepad calculator, which means it's a notes app but it can evaluate inline calculations like ```. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What are you working on? (April 2025)
    I launched my web-based notepad calculator, https://numpad.io/, a few years ago. Right now I'm working on a version 2 that has user accounts, multiple documents, markdown support, and document exports. Everything is local-first and it uses CRDTs to sync documents. It looks like this: https://i.imgur.com/Plk1DQ4.png the calculator is mostly the same for now, with a few improvements. It's unstable right now, so I... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Show HN: Heynote โ€“ A Dedicated Scratchpad for Developers
    This is awesome! I currently use numpad[0] for this, but would much prefer a local app. I would love to switch but the only thing holding me back is lack of Vim support. Are there any plans to add Vim keymap in the future? 0: https://numpad.io/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Show HN: Heynote โ€“ A Dedicated Scratchpad for Developers
    This looks fantastic. I will definitely give it a spin. I've been tracking what I call "computational scratchpad" apps for a while now but haven't found one that fits my environment/workflow yet. Maybe Heynote will. Here are some others that I've looked at: * https://soulver.app Granddad of them all, Mac-only, proprietary, expensive * https://numi.app Mac-only, proprietary, semi-expensive. Has a Github and claims... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What side projects landed you a job?
    My side project NumPad https://numpad.io got me my current job at Decipad https://www.decipad.com/ (the similar naming scheme is a coincidence!). I came across Decipad while looking for a job, and messaged the founder, highlighting my work on NumPad. They were impressed enough that the hiring process ended up being just a few interviews, I've been there for almost a year now, and it's been pretty good! If there's... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Underscore.js and NumPad, you can also consider the following products

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

Soulver - Soulver is a software application that functions as a calculator that allows you type a continuous stream of information rather than having to input data into multiple cells.

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

Numbr - An elegant calculator for the web

Babel - Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.

Numi App - Numi is a beautiful text calculator for Mac.