Description

The Date Calculator is a console-based application written in C++ that leverages a custom-built Dates.h library to provide a wide range of date operations. It serves as a practical demonstration of how to transform low-level date utilities into an interactive tool for end-users.

Users can perform complex date-related tasks like calculating the difference between two dates, finding future or past dates, and validating calendar input — all within a simple, menu-driven interface.

This project highlights not only the power of the Dates.h library but also how supporting libraries Readers.h, Files.h contribute to a robust, reusable, and modular system.

Technologies Used

  • C++ — Core language for implementation.
  • Custom Libraries: Dates.h, Readers.h, Files.h.
  • Standard Libraries: <iostream>, <iomanip>, <string>, <vector>.
  • Console-based UI — menu-driven, text-based navigation.

Functionality / Features

Core Date Analysis

  • Leap Year Checker and Year/Month/Day Data: Quickly determine leap years, total days, and time units.
  • Day of Week & Weekend Checks: Get the weekday name for any date, or verify if it falls on a weekend/holiday.
  • Compare Dates: Tell if one date is before, after, or equal to another.

Date Navigation & Arithmetic

  • Add/Subtract Time Units: Calculate future or past dates by days, weeks, or months (handles leap years and varying month lengths).
  • Day Order in Year: Convert a “day number” (e.g., the 200th day) into an exact date.
  • Vacation Tools: Compute total vacation days (excluding weekends) and calculate return dates automatically.

Calendars & Visuals

  • Monthly and Yearly Calendars: Display formatted calendars directly in the console.
  • Inclusive Counters: Show total days from start of year, until end of year, or until the week’s end.

Age & Period Calculations

  • Age Calculator: Determine age up until today or a specific date, with full breakdown (years, months, days).
  • Period Operations:
    • Check if a date exists within a range.
    • Detect if two ranges overlap.
    • Calculate total overlap days between periods.

Customization & Settings

  • Date Formats: Configure accepted formats (e.g., dd/mm/yyyy).
  • Weekend Rules: Define which days count as weekends.
  • End-of-Week Setting: Customize when the week is considered to end.

Implementation Highlights

Modular Design with Reusable Libraries

  • The application relies on the Dates.h library for all core date calculations.
  • Supporting libraries handle different concerns:
    • Readers.h ensures robust, validated input handling.
    • Files.h allows for persistent storage where needed.
    • Utils.h (included in Files.h) provides general-purpose helpers to reduce code duplication.
  • This separation of concerns keeps the main application code clean, focusing on orchestration rather than low-level details.
  • The program presents a clear, user-friendly menu with options to perform each type of calculation.
  • The design mirrors real calculator workflows: the user selects an operation, provides inputs, and receives a formatted, easy-to-read result.
  • Invalid inputs are handled gracefully — the program prompts again instead of crashing or producing incorrect results.

Input & Output Formatting

  • Thanks to Readers.h and <iomanip>, date inputs and outputs are presented in a standardized, human-readable format (e.g. dd/mm/yyyy).
  • This makes results consistent across different features.

Practical Demonstration of Dates.h

  • While Dates.h provides the algorithms, the Date Calculator demonstrates real-world application.
  • Transforms raw functions into a tool that someone can actually use day-to-day (e.g. checking deadlines, calculating due dates).
  • This separation of library vs. app shows skill in both low-level problem solving and high-level system design.

Conclusion

  • Built a console-based application that turns raw date operations into an accessible, menu-driven tool.
  • Showcased the value of modularity by integrating multiple self-built libraries (Dates, Readers, Files, Utils).
  • Ensured a smooth user experience with input validation and consistent formatting.
  • Highlighted practical skills in application orchestration, error handling, and reusable design.
  • Demonstrated how to evolve a low-level library into a complete, user-facing program.

Screenshots

Main Menu Screen
Month Calendar Screen
Age Calculator Screen

Try the Project

You can download the executable file for this project from here.

Since this application is not digitally signed by a recognized publisher, your system may display a warning before running it. You can safely ignore it and continue.

Source Code

  • You can find the source code for this project here.
  • Make sure that you have Dates.h also installed.

Updated: