How to Build Your Own Calamari
Replace Calamari with a custom build. HR Tools For High‑Performing Teams
Build Difficulty: 3/5
Plan for 1-2 weeks of building with AI assistance
Estimated Timeline
Based on 135 features at 1-2 Weeks difficulty, expect about 1-2 weeks with AI-assisted development.
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Key Features to Replicate
Top features across 8 categories. See all 135 features
Integration(21 features)
Public web API to manage absences and timesheet entries
Import holidays from Google Calendar and synchronize time off requests to Google Calendar
Automatically import employees from Google account
Easy-to-use Slack HR bot to manage time off, vacation, and sick leave in one place
Access Calamari features through Microsoft 365 dashboard
+16 more in this category
Notifications(19 features)
Recurring notifications about employee birthdays to Slack, MS Teams, and email
Reminders to employees about clocking in/out
Automatic reminders for custom date fields created by administrators
Recurring daily or weekly notifications about other employees' absences
Notifications about requests for approval, approvals, rejections, and other HR events
+14 more in this category
Reporting(14 features)
Generate comprehensive reports on all absence requests
View attendance reports across the organization
Report on employees' data
List of all employee profiles with basic information
Reports on employee leave entitlements and balances
+9 more in this category
Authentication(10 features)
Centralize user management through SAML integration
Enhance security with Single Sign-On through SAML
Faster login process with SAML integration
Log in with Google account
Log in with Microsoft 365 account
+5 more in this category
Leave Management(10 features)
Shared time off calendar showing all employee absences in one place
Automatically calculate entitlements based on accrual rules and contract types
Automatically carry over unused leave entitlement to the next year with configurable rules
Set leave duration as hours or days based on organizational needs
Monitor and control leave entitlements with ability to adjust for individual employees
+5 more in this category
Time Tracking(9 features)
Adjust, edit, or remove shifts and attendance records
Automatically close unfinished shifts with notification
Track time against particular projects or activities
Mark and track remote work or work from home in timesheets
Multiple clock in/out options: web browser, QR codes, mobile app with GPS, API, and iBeacon
+4 more in this category
Workflow Automation(9 features)
Full history of all approvals and rejections for audit purposes
Multi-step comprehensive approval flows with backup approvers, auto-approval options, and different flows for different absence types
Set up automatic approval of leave requests based on configured rules
Designate backup approvers in case of manager's absence
Configure approval flows for request cancellations
+4 more in this category
Core HR(8 features)
Allow employees to access basic information about their coworkers
Add specific custom fields in various formats such as dates, text, checkboxes to organize HR information
Edit entitlements, team assignments, employment forms, personal details, and documents from admin view
Easy access to employee profiles with personal information, organizational structure, and contact details
Central HR database with employee profiles, people directory, and organized document storage
+3 more in this category
Cost Calculator
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Build It Yourself
Total Cost Comparison
DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 135 features at moderate complexity.