Hello! If you’ve been following my journey, you know I’m transitioning from a background in economics and finance into the world of software development. To bridge these two worlds, I decided to build something that speaks to both: a Depreciation Calculator. This project wasn’t just about writing code; it was about making the accounting concepts I’m studying for my CPA exam tangible and interactive.
As a CPA candidate, depreciation methods (Straight-Line, Declining Balance, etc.) are fundamental. As an aspiring developer, I wanted to build a clean, useful web app. This calculator was the perfect fusion as it reinforced my finance knowledge while forcing me to apply new HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills to solve a real problem.
I didn’t build this alone. As a novice, I collaborated extensively with AI assistants, Claude and DeepSeek, to guide the process. They acted as my technical mentors, helping me:
Structure the project from scratch.
Debug JavaScript logic for accurate financial formulas.
Understand Git and GitHub, which was a major initial hurdle.
Speaking of hurdles, my biggest challenge wasn’t the code—it was version control. As a GitHub novice, I found the process of commits, pushes, and branches confusing. At one point, I even encountered a cryptic error about “Git LFS” that stopped me in my tracks! With patient guidance, I learned to navigate these waters. Figuring out how to successfully deploy the project to GitHub Pages and see it live on the web for the first time was an incredibly satisfying “aha!” moment. It transformed the project from files on my computer into a real, shareable application.
The calculator allows you to input an asset’s cost, salvage value, and useful life. With a click, it generates a year-by-year depreciation schedule using the Straight-Line method (with more methods coming soon!). It presents the data in a clear table and will soon feature charts for visualization. It’s clean, responsive, and, most importantly, accurate to accounting standards.
This is just Phase 1. I’m currently working on Phase 2, which will add the Declining Balance and Sum-of-the-Years-Digits methods. Future plans include interactive charts and export functionality.
This project taught me that the best way to learn is to build. It connected abstract coding syntax to a concrete outcome I care about. It also showed me the value of asking for help, whether from AI or the broader developer community. Try the calculator for yourself and see the code: Live Depreciation Calculator View the Code on GitHub — I’d love to hear your thoughts or feedback. What concepts from your field would you like to see turned into an app?
]]>I graduated from the Technical University of Kenya with a degree in Economics. On paper, I was headed for a career in finance - and for a while, that’s exactly where I went. I worked on internal audits at the Kenya Revenue Authority, dove into CPA certifications, and even spent time in sales at JTL KE.
But there was always something else pulling at me: technology.
My path hasn’t been a linear switch from one field to another. Instead, it’s been a parallel build: deepening my expertise in accounting and financial systems through my CPA studies, while simultaneously expanding my technical toolkit with certifications in AWS Cloud, CCNA networking, and Ethical Hacking. This blog is where these tracks converge. It’s a space for exploring how core principles from one discipline can inform and elevate practical builds in the other.
You can expect content focused on applied knowledge—turning theory into tools. This means translating financial concepts into clean, functional software, breaking down the architecture of fintech solutions, and sharing the hands-on journey of building with purpose.
A perfect example of this intersection in action is a project I’ve just deployed: a professional Depreciation Calculator.
The future of finance is unequivocally tech-enabled. Whether in fintech, automated accounting, or advanced data analysis, the professionals who will lead are those fluent in both the language of business logic and the language of technical implementation. I’m committed to building projects that bridge this gap—creating tools that solve real financial and operational challenges with modern, accessible technology.
My plan is simple: build things, break things, learn from both. I’m documenting my journey here - the wins, the struggles, the “why won’t this code work” moments at 2 AM. I’m particularly interested in exploring:
This blog will document that journey—the process, the hurdles, and the insights.
If you’re a finance professional curious about technology, a developer interested in the “why” behind fintech, or on a similar path of synthesis, I invite you to follow along. Let’s connect and build something insightful.
- Alex