BrainHack vs ThetaCalc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BrainHack
This app serves as an interpreter for the esoteric B*******k programming language. It allows users to execute B*******k code, which is known for its extreme minimalism and is designed for programmer challenge and amusement rather than practical use.
- B*******k programming language interpreter
- Execute esoteric code
- Minimalist programming language support
- ASCII character output
- Byte input and manipulation
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BrainHack is an interpreter app for B*******k. The B*******k programming language is an esoteric programming language noted for its extreme minimalism. It is a Turing tarpit, designed to challenge and amuse programmers, and was not made to be suitable for practical use. It was created in 1993 by Urban Muller. Commands: > increment the data pointer (to point to the next cell to the right). < decrement the data pointer (to point to the next cell to the left). + increment (increase by one) the byte at the data pointer. - decrement (decrease by one) the byte at the data pointer. . output a character, the ASCII value of which being the byte at the data pointer. , accept one byte of input, storing its value in the byte at the data pointer. [ if the byte at the data pointer is zero, then instead of moving the instruction pointer forward to the next command, jump it forward to the command after the matching ] command. ] if the byte at the data pointer is nonzero, then instead of moving the instruction pointer forward to the next command, jump it back to the command after the matching [ command.
ThetaCalc
This utility app provides a Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) calculator. Users can extend its functionality by programming custom functions and equations using JavaScript.
- Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) calculator
- User-programmable functions
- JavaScript equation support
- Extensible functionality
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ThetaCalc is a RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) calculator which can be extended by functions and equations programmed by the user in JavaScript.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: BrainHack at every 6 weeks against ThetaCalc's every 3 months. BrainHack also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for BrainHack against 4.3 for ThetaCalc. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 4 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
BrainHack ships an update every 6 weeks, ThetaCalc every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BrainHack | ThetaCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (6 ratings) | 4.3 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Katsuma Tanaka | Felix Stehli |
Customer experience
BrainHack
ThetaCalc
In-app purchases
BrainHack
No in-app purchases
ThetaCalc
No in-app purchases
