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1<!---
2
3SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
4
5Copyright (c) 2018-2021 Gavin D. Howard and contributors.
6
7Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
8modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
9
10* Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
11  list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
12
13* Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
14  this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
15  and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
16
17THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
18AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
19IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
20ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
21LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
22CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
23SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
24INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
25CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
26ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
27POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
28
29-->
30
31# Name
32
33dc - arbitrary-precision decimal reverse-Polish notation calculator
34
35# SYNOPSIS
36
37**dc** [**-hiPRvVx**] [**-\-version**] [**-\-help**] [**-\-interactive**] [**-\-no-prompt**] [**-\-no-read-prompt**] [**-\-extended-register**] [**-e** *expr*] [**-\-expression**=*expr*...] [**-f** *file*...] [**-\-file**=*file*...] [*file*...]
38
39# DESCRIPTION
40
41dc(1) is an arbitrary-precision calculator. It uses a stack (reverse Polish
42notation) to store numbers and results of computations. Arithmetic operations
43pop arguments off of the stack and push the results.
44
45If no files are given on the command-line as extra arguments (i.e., not as
46**-f** or **-\-file** arguments), then dc(1) reads from **stdin**. Otherwise,
47those files are processed, and dc(1) will then exit.
48
49This is different from the dc(1) on OpenBSD and possibly other dc(1)
50implementations, where **-e** (**-\-expression**) and **-f** (**-\-file**)
51arguments cause dc(1) to execute them and exit. The reason for this is that this
52dc(1) allows users to set arguments in the environment variable **DC_ENV_ARGS**
53(see the **ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES** section). Any expressions given on the
54command-line should be used to set up a standard environment. For example, if a
55user wants the **scale** always set to **10**, they can set **DC_ENV_ARGS** to
56**-e 10k**, and this dc(1) will always start with a **scale** of **10**.
57
58If users want to have dc(1) exit after processing all input from **-e** and
59**-f** arguments (and their equivalents), then they can just simply add **-e q**
60as the last command-line argument or define the environment variable
61**DC_EXPR_EXIT**.
62
63# OPTIONS
64
65The following are the options that dc(1) accepts.
66
67**-h**, **-\-help**
68
69:   Prints a usage message and quits.
70
71**-v**, **-V**, **-\-version**
72
73:   Print the version information (copyright header) and exit.
74
75**-i**, **-\-interactive**
76
77:   Forces interactive mode. (See the **INTERACTIVE MODE** section.)
78
79    This is a **non-portable extension**.
80
81**-P**, **-\-no-prompt**
82
83{{ A E H N EH EN HN EHN }}
84:   Disables the prompt in TTY mode. (The prompt is only enabled in TTY mode.
85    See the **TTY MODE** section.) This is mostly for those users that do not
86    want a prompt or are not used to having them in dc(1). Most of those users
87    would want to put this option in **DC_ENV_ARGS**.
88{{ end }}
89{{ P EP HP NP EHP ENP HNP EHNP }}
90:   This option is a no-op.
91{{ end }}
92
93    This is a **non-portable extension**.
94
95**-R**, **-\-no-read-prompt**
96
97{{ A E H N EH EN HN EHN }}
98:   Disables the read prompt in TTY mode. (The read prompt is only enabled in
99    TTY mode. See the **TTY MODE** section.) This is mostly for those users that
100    do not want a read prompt or are not used to having them in dc(1). Most of
101    those users would want to put this option in **BC_ENV_ARGS** (see the
102    **ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES** section). This option is also useful in hash bang
103    lines of dc(1) scripts that prompt for user input.
104
105    This option does not disable the regular prompt because the read prompt is
106    only used when the **?** command is used.
107{{ end }}
108{{ P EP HP NP EHP ENP HNP EHNP }}
109:   This option is a no-op.
110{{ end }}
111
112    This is a **non-portable extension**.
113
114**-x** **-\-extended-register**
115
116:   Enables extended register mode. See the *Extended Register Mode* subsection
117    of the **REGISTERS** section for more information.
118
119    This is a **non-portable extension**.
120
121**-e** *expr*, **-\-expression**=*expr*
122
123:   Evaluates *expr*. If multiple expressions are given, they are evaluated in
124    order. If files are given as well (see below), the expressions and files are
125    evaluated in the order given. This means that if a file is given before an
126    expression, the file is read in and evaluated first.
127
128    If this option is given on the command-line (i.e., not in **DC_ENV_ARGS**,
129    see the **ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES** section), then after processing all
130    expressions and files, dc(1) will exit, unless **-** (**stdin**) was given
131    as an argument at least once to **-f** or **-\-file**, whether on the
132    command-line or in **DC_ENV_ARGS**. However, if any other **-e**,
133    **-\-expression**, **-f**, or **-\-file** arguments are given after **-f-**
134    or equivalent is given, dc(1) will give a fatal error and exit.
135
136    This is a **non-portable extension**.
137
138**-f** *file*, **-\-file**=*file*
139
140:   Reads in *file* and evaluates it, line by line, as though it were read
141    through **stdin**. If expressions are also given (see above), the
142    expressions are evaluated in the order given.
143
144    If this option is given on the command-line (i.e., not in **DC_ENV_ARGS**,
145    see the **ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES** section), then after processing all
146    expressions and files, dc(1) will exit, unless **-** (**stdin**) was given
147    as an argument at least once to **-f** or **-\-file**. However, if any other
148    **-e**, **-\-expression**, **-f**, or **-\-file** arguments are given after
149    **-f-** or equivalent is given, dc(1) will give a fatal error and exit.
150
151    This is a **non-portable extension**.
152
153All long options are **non-portable extensions**.
154
155# STDOUT
156
157Any non-error output is written to **stdout**. In addition, if history (see the
158**HISTORY** section) and the prompt (see the **TTY MODE** section) are enabled,
159both are output to **stdout**.
160
161**Note**: Unlike other dc(1) implementations, this dc(1) will issue a fatal
162error (see the **EXIT STATUS** section) if it cannot write to **stdout**, so if
163**stdout** is closed, as in **dc <file> >&-**, it will quit with an error. This
164is done so that dc(1) can report problems when **stdout** is redirected to a
165file.
166
167If there are scripts that depend on the behavior of other dc(1) implementations,
168it is recommended that those scripts be changed to redirect **stdout** to
169**/dev/null**.
170
171# STDERR
172
173Any error output is written to **stderr**.
174
175**Note**: Unlike other dc(1) implementations, this dc(1) will issue a fatal
176error (see the **EXIT STATUS** section) if it cannot write to **stderr**, so if
177**stderr** is closed, as in **dc <file> 2>&-**, it will quit with an error. This
178is done so that dc(1) can exit with an error code when **stderr** is redirected
179to a file.
180
181If there are scripts that depend on the behavior of other dc(1) implementations,
182it is recommended that those scripts be changed to redirect **stderr** to
183**/dev/null**.
184
185# SYNTAX
186
187Each item in the input source code, either a number (see the **NUMBERS**
188section) or a command (see the **COMMANDS** section), is processed and executed,
189in order. Input is processed immediately when entered.
190
191**ibase** is a register (see the **REGISTERS** section) that determines how to
192interpret constant numbers. It is the "input" base, or the number base used for
193interpreting input numbers. **ibase** is initially **10**. The max allowable
194value for **ibase** is **16**. The min allowable value for **ibase** is **2**.
195The max allowable value for **ibase** can be queried in dc(1) programs with the
196**T** command.
197
198**obase** is a register (see the **REGISTERS** section) that determines how to
199output results. It is the "output" base, or the number base used for outputting
200numbers. **obase** is initially **10**. The max allowable value for **obase** is
201**DC_BASE_MAX** and can be queried with the **U** command. The min allowable
202{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
203value for **obase** is **0**. If **obase** is **0**, values are output in
204scientific notation, and if **obase** is **1**, values are output in engineering
205notation. Otherwise, values are output in the specified base.
206
207Outputting in scientific and engineering notations are **non-portable
208extensions**.
209{{ end }}
210{{ E EH EN EP EHN EHP ENP EHNP }}
211value for **obase** is **2**. Values are output in the specified base.
212{{ end }}
213
214The *scale* of an expression is the number of digits in the result of the
215expression right of the decimal point, and **scale** is a register (see the
216**REGISTERS** section) that sets the precision of any operations (with
217exceptions). **scale** is initially **0**. **scale** cannot be negative. The max
218allowable value for **scale** can be queried in dc(1) programs with the **V**
219command.
220
221{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
222**seed** is a register containing the current seed for the pseudo-random number
223generator. If the current value of **seed** is queried and stored, then if it is
224assigned to **seed** later, the pseudo-random number generator is guaranteed to
225produce the same sequence of pseudo-random numbers that were generated after the
226value of **seed** was first queried.
227
228Multiple values assigned to **seed** can produce the same sequence of
229pseudo-random numbers. Likewise, when a value is assigned to **seed**, it is not
230guaranteed that querying **seed** immediately after will return the same value.
231In addition, the value of **seed** will change after any call to the **'**
232command or the **"** command that does not get receive a value of **0** or
233**1**. The maximum integer returned by the **'** command can be queried with the
234**W** command.
235
236**Note**: The values returned by the pseudo-random number generator with the
237**'** and **"** commands are guaranteed to **NOT** be cryptographically secure.
238This is a consequence of using a seeded pseudo-random number generator. However,
239they *are* guaranteed to be reproducible with identical **seed** values. This
240means that the pseudo-random values from dc(1) should only be used where a
241reproducible stream of pseudo-random numbers is *ESSENTIAL*. In any other case,
242use a non-seeded pseudo-random number generator.
243
244The pseudo-random number generator, **seed**, and all associated operations are
245**non-portable extensions**.
246{{ end }}
247
248## Comments
249
250Comments go from **#** until, and not including, the next newline. This is a
251**non-portable extension**.
252
253# NUMBERS
254
255Numbers are strings made up of digits, uppercase letters up to **F**, and at
256most **1** period for a radix. Numbers can have up to **DC_NUM_MAX** digits.
257Uppercase letters are equal to **9** + their position in the alphabet (i.e.,
258**A** equals **10**, or **9+1**). If a digit or letter makes no sense with the
259current value of **ibase**, they are set to the value of the highest valid digit
260in **ibase**.
261
262Single-character numbers (i.e., **A** alone) take the value that they would have
263if they were valid digits, regardless of the value of **ibase**. This means that
264**A** alone always equals decimal **10** and **F** alone always equals decimal
265**15**.
266
267{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
268In addition, dc(1) accepts numbers in scientific notation. These have the form
269**\<number\>e\<integer\>**. The exponent (the portion after the **e**) must be
270an integer. An example is **1.89237e9**, which is equal to **1892370000**.
271Negative exponents are also allowed, so **4.2890e_3** is equal to **0.0042890**.
272
273**WARNING**: Both the number and the exponent in scientific notation are
274interpreted according to the current **ibase**, but the number is still
275multiplied by **10\^exponent** regardless of the current **ibase**. For example,
276if **ibase** is **16** and dc(1) is given the number string **FFeA**, the
277resulting decimal number will be **2550000000000**, and if dc(1) is given the
278number string **10e_4**, the resulting decimal number will be **0.0016**.
279
280Accepting input as scientific notation is a **non-portable extension**.
281{{ end }}
282
283# COMMANDS
284
285The valid commands are listed below.
286
287## Printing
288
289These commands are used for printing.
290
291{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
292Note that both scientific notation and engineering notation are available for
293printing numbers. Scientific notation is activated by assigning **0** to
294**obase** using **0o**, and engineering notation is activated by assigning **1**
295to **obase** using **1o**. To deactivate them, just assign a different value to
296**obase**.
297
298Printing numbers in scientific notation and/or engineering notation is a
299**non-portable extension**.
300{{ end }}
301
302**p**
303
304:   Prints the value on top of the stack, whether number or string, and prints a
305    newline after.
306
307    This does not alter the stack.
308
309**n**
310
311:   Prints the value on top of the stack, whether number or string, and pops it
312    off of the stack.
313
314**P**
315
316:   Pops a value off the stack.
317
318    If the value is a number, it is truncated and the absolute value of the
319    result is printed as though **obase** is **UCHAR_MAX+1** and each digit is
320    interpreted as an ASCII character, making it a byte stream.
321
322    If the value is a string, it is printed without a trailing newline.
323
324    This is a **non-portable extension**.
325
326**f**
327
328:   Prints the entire contents of the stack, in order from newest to oldest,
329    without altering anything.
330
331    Users should use this command when they get lost.
332
333## Arithmetic
334
335These are the commands used for arithmetic.
336
337**+**
338
339:   The top two values are popped off the stack, added, and the result is pushed
340    onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to the max *scale* of
341    both operands.
342
343**-**
344
345:   The top two values are popped off the stack, subtracted, and the result is
346    pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to the max
347    *scale* of both operands.
348
349**\***
350
351:   The top two values are popped off the stack, multiplied, and the result is
352    pushed onto the stack. If **a** is the *scale* of the first expression and
353    **b** is the *scale* of the second expression, the *scale* of the result
354    is equal to **min(a+b,max(scale,a,b))** where **min()** and **max()** return
355    the obvious values.
356
357**/**
358
359:   The top two values are popped off the stack, divided, and the result is
360    pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to **scale**.
361
362    The first value popped off of the stack must be non-zero.
363
364**%**
365
366:   The top two values are popped off the stack, remaindered, and the result is
367    pushed onto the stack.
368
369    Remaindering is equivalent to 1) Computing **a/b** to current **scale**, and
370    2) Using the result of step 1 to calculate **a-(a/b)\*b** to *scale*
371    **max(scale+scale(b),scale(a))**.
372
373    The first value popped off of the stack must be non-zero.
374
375**~**
376
377:   The top two values are popped off the stack, divided and remaindered, and
378    the results (divided first, remainder second) are pushed onto the stack.
379    This is equivalent to **x y / x y %** except that **x** and **y** are only
380    evaluated once.
381
382    The first value popped off of the stack must be non-zero.
383
384    This is a **non-portable extension**.
385
386**\^**
387
388:   The top two values are popped off the stack, the second is raised to the
389    power of the first, and the result is pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of
390    the result is equal to **scale**.
391
392    The first value popped off of the stack must be an integer, and if that
393    value is negative, the second value popped off of the stack must be
394    non-zero.
395
396**v**
397
398:   The top value is popped off the stack, its square root is computed, and the
399    result is pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to
400    **scale**.
401
402    The value popped off of the stack must be non-negative.
403
404**\_**
405
406:   If this command *immediately* precedes a number (i.e., no spaces or other
407    commands), then that number is input as a negative number.
408
409    Otherwise, the top value on the stack is popped and copied, and the copy is
410    negated and pushed onto the stack. This behavior without a number is a
411    **non-portable extension**.
412
413**b**
414
415:   The top value is popped off the stack, and if it is zero, it is pushed back
416    onto the stack. Otherwise, its absolute value is pushed onto the stack.
417
418    This is a **non-portable extension**.
419
420**|**
421
422:   The top three values are popped off the stack, a modular exponentiation is
423    computed, and the result is pushed onto the stack.
424
425    The first value popped is used as the reduction modulus and must be an
426    integer and non-zero. The second value popped is used as the exponent and
427    must be an integer and non-negative. The third value popped is the base and
428    must be an integer.
429
430    This is a **non-portable extension**.
431
432{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
433**\$**
434
435:   The top value is popped off the stack and copied, and the copy is truncated
436    and pushed onto the stack.
437
438    This is a **non-portable extension**.
439
440**\@**
441
442:   The top two values are popped off the stack, and the precision of the second
443    is set to the value of the first, whether by truncation or extension.
444
445    The first value popped off of the stack must be an integer and non-negative.
446
447    This is a **non-portable extension**.
448
449**H**
450
451:   The top two values are popped off the stack, and the second is shifted left
452    (radix shifted right) to the value of the first.
453
454    The first value popped off of the stack must be an integer and non-negative.
455
456    This is a **non-portable extension**.
457
458**h**
459
460:   The top two values are popped off the stack, and the second is shifted right
461    (radix shifted left) to the value of the first.
462
463    The first value popped off of the stack must be an integer and non-negative.
464
465    This is a **non-portable extension**.
466{{ end }}
467
468**G**
469
470:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
471    **1** is pushed if they are equal, or **0** otherwise.
472
473    This is a **non-portable extension**.
474
475**N**
476
477:   The top value is popped off of the stack, and if it a **0**, a **1** is
478    pushed; otherwise, a **0** is pushed.
479
480    This is a **non-portable extension**.
481
482**(**
483
484:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
485    **1** is pushed if the first is less than the second, or **0** otherwise.
486
487    This is a **non-portable extension**.
488
489**{**
490
491:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
492    **1** is pushed if the first is less than or equal to the second, or **0**
493    otherwise.
494
495    This is a **non-portable extension**.
496
497**)**
498
499:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
500    **1** is pushed if the first is greater than the second, or **0** otherwise.
501
502    This is a **non-portable extension**.
503
504**}**
505
506:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
507    **1** is pushed if the first is greater than or equal to the second, or
508    **0** otherwise.
509
510    This is a **non-portable extension**.
511
512**M**
513
514:   The top two values are popped off of the stack. If they are both non-zero, a
515    **1** is pushed onto the stack. If either of them is zero, or both of them
516    are, then a **0** is pushed onto the stack.
517
518    This is like the **&&** operator in bc(1), and it is *not* a short-circuit
519    operator.
520
521    This is a **non-portable extension**.
522
523**m**
524
525:   The top two values are popped off of the stack. If at least one of them is
526    non-zero, a **1** is pushed onto the stack. If both of them are zero, then a
527    **0** is pushed onto the stack.
528
529    This is like the **||** operator in bc(1), and it is *not* a short-circuit
530    operator.
531
532    This is a **non-portable extension**.
533
534{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
535## Pseudo-Random Number Generator
536
537dc(1) has a built-in pseudo-random number generator. These commands query the
538pseudo-random number generator. (See Parameters for more information about the
539**seed** value that controls the pseudo-random number generator.)
540
541The pseudo-random number generator is guaranteed to **NOT** be
542cryptographically secure.
543
544**'**
545
546:   Generates an integer between 0 and **DC_RAND_MAX**, inclusive (see the
547    **LIMITS** section).
548
549    The generated integer is made as unbiased as possible, subject to the
550    limitations of the pseudo-random number generator.
551
552    This is a **non-portable extension**.
553
554**"**
555
556:   Pops a value off of the stack, which is used as an **exclusive** upper bound
557    on the integer that will be generated. If the bound is negative or is a
558    non-integer, an error is raised, and dc(1) resets (see the **RESET**
559    section) while **seed** remains unchanged. If the bound is larger than
560    **DC_RAND_MAX**, the higher bound is honored by generating several
561    pseudo-random integers, multiplying them by appropriate powers of
562    **DC_RAND_MAX+1**, and adding them together. Thus, the size of integer that
563    can be generated with this command is unbounded. Using this command will
564    change the value of **seed**, unless the operand is **0** or **1**. In that
565    case, **0** is pushed onto the stack, and **seed** is *not* changed.
566
567    The generated integer is made as unbiased as possible, subject to the
568    limitations of the pseudo-random number generator.
569
570    This is a **non-portable extension**.
571{{ end }}
572
573## Stack Control
574
575These commands control the stack.
576
577**c**
578
579:   Removes all items from ("clears") the stack.
580
581**d**
582
583:   Copies the item on top of the stack ("duplicates") and pushes the copy onto
584    the stack.
585
586**r**
587
588:   Swaps ("reverses") the two top items on the stack.
589
590**R**
591
592:   Pops ("removes") the top value from the stack.
593
594## Register Control
595
596These commands control registers (see the **REGISTERS** section).
597
598**s**_r_
599
600:   Pops the value off the top of the stack and stores it into register *r*.
601
602**l**_r_
603
604:   Copies the value in register *r* and pushes it onto the stack. This does not
605    alter the contents of *r*.
606
607**S**_r_
608
609:   Pops the value off the top of the (main) stack and pushes it onto the stack
610    of register *r*. The previous value of the register becomes inaccessible.
611
612**L**_r_
613
614:   Pops the value off the top of the stack for register *r* and push it onto
615    the main stack. The previous value in the stack for register *r*, if any, is
616    now accessible via the **l**_r_ command.
617
618## Parameters
619
620{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
621These commands control the values of **ibase**, **obase**, **scale**, and
622**seed**. Also see the **SYNTAX** section.
623{{ end }}
624{{ E EH EN EP EHN EHP ENP EHNP }}
625These commands control the values of **ibase**, **obase**, and **scale**. Also
626see the **SYNTAX** section.
627{{ end }}
628
629**i**
630
631:   Pops the value off of the top of the stack and uses it to set **ibase**,
632    which must be between **2** and **16**, inclusive.
633
634    If the value on top of the stack has any *scale*, the *scale* is ignored.
635
636**o**
637
638:   Pops the value off of the top of the stack and uses it to set **obase**,
639{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
640    which must be between **0** and **DC_BASE_MAX**, inclusive (see the
641    **LIMITS** section and the **NUMBERS** section).
642{{ end }}
643{{ E EH EN EP EHN EHP ENP EHNP }}
644    which must be between **2** and **DC_BASE_MAX**, inclusive (see the
645    **LIMITS** section).
646{{ end }}
647
648    If the value on top of the stack has any *scale*, the *scale* is ignored.
649
650**k**
651
652:   Pops the value off of the top of the stack and uses it to set **scale**,
653    which must be non-negative.
654
655    If the value on top of the stack has any *scale*, the *scale* is ignored.
656
657{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
658**j**
659
660:   Pops the value off of the top of the stack and uses it to set **seed**. The
661    meaning of **seed** is dependent on the current pseudo-random number
662    generator but is guaranteed to not change except for new major versions.
663
664    The *scale* and sign of the value may be significant.
665
666    If a previously used **seed** value is used again, the pseudo-random number
667    generator is guaranteed to produce the same sequence of pseudo-random
668    numbers as it did when the **seed** value was previously used.
669
670    The exact value assigned to **seed** is not guaranteed to be returned if the
671    **J** command is used. However, if **seed** *does* return a different value,
672    both values, when assigned to **seed**, are guaranteed to produce the same
673    sequence of pseudo-random numbers. This means that certain values assigned
674    to **seed** will not produce unique sequences of pseudo-random numbers.
675
676    There is no limit to the length (number of significant decimal digits) or
677    *scale* of the value that can be assigned to **seed**.
678
679    This is a **non-portable extension**.
680{{ end }}
681
682**I**
683
684:   Pushes the current value of **ibase** onto the main stack.
685
686**O**
687
688:   Pushes the current value of **obase** onto the main stack.
689
690**K**
691
692:   Pushes the current value of **scale** onto the main stack.
693
694{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
695**J**
696
697:   Pushes the current value of **seed** onto the main stack.
698
699    This is a **non-portable extension**.
700{{ end }}
701
702**T**
703
704:   Pushes the maximum allowable value of **ibase** onto the main stack.
705
706    This is a **non-portable extension**.
707
708**U**
709
710:   Pushes the maximum allowable value of **obase** onto the main stack.
711
712    This is a **non-portable extension**.
713
714**V**
715
716:   Pushes the maximum allowable value of **scale** onto the main stack.
717
718    This is a **non-portable extension**.
719
720{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
721**W**
722
723:   Pushes the maximum (inclusive) integer that can be generated with the **'**
724    pseudo-random number generator command.
725
726    This is a **non-portable extension**.
727{{ end }}
728
729## Strings
730
731The following commands control strings.
732
733dc(1) can work with both numbers and strings, and registers (see the
734**REGISTERS** section) can hold both strings and numbers. dc(1) always knows
735whether the contents of a register are a string or a number.
736
737While arithmetic operations have to have numbers, and will print an error if
738given a string, other commands accept strings.
739
740Strings can also be executed as macros. For example, if the string **[1pR]** is
741executed as a macro, then the code **1pR** is executed, meaning that the **1**
742will be printed with a newline after and then popped from the stack.
743
744**\[**_characters_**\]**
745
746:   Makes a string containing *characters* and pushes it onto the stack.
747
748    If there are brackets (**\[** and **\]**) in the string, then they must be
749    balanced. Unbalanced brackets can be escaped using a backslash (**\\**)
750    character.
751
752    If there is a backslash character in the string, the character after it
753    (even another backslash) is put into the string verbatim, but the (first)
754    backslash is not.
755
756**a**
757
758:   The value on top of the stack is popped.
759
760    If it is a number, it is truncated and its absolute value is taken. The
761    result mod **UCHAR_MAX+1** is calculated. If that result is **0**, push an
762    empty string; otherwise, push a one-character string where the character is
763    the result of the mod interpreted as an ASCII character.
764
765    If it is a string, then a new string is made. If the original string is
766    empty, the new string is empty. If it is not, then the first character of
767    the original string is used to create the new string as a one-character
768    string. The new string is then pushed onto the stack.
769
770    This is a **non-portable extension**.
771
772**x**
773
774:   Pops a value off of the top of the stack.
775
776    If it is a number, it is pushed back onto the stack.
777
778    If it is a string, it is executed as a macro.
779
780    This behavior is the norm whenever a macro is executed, whether by this
781    command or by the conditional execution commands below.
782
783**\>**_r_
784
785:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
786    the first value is greater than the second, then the contents of register
787    *r* are executed.
788
789    For example, **0 1>a** will execute the contents of register **a**, and
790    **1 0>a** will not.
791
792    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
793    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
794
795**>**_r_**e**_s_
796
797:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
798
799    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
800    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
801
802    This is a **non-portable extension**.
803
804**!\>**_r_
805
806:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
807    the first value is not greater than the second (less than or equal to), then
808    the contents of register *r* are executed.
809
810    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
811    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
812
813**!\>**_r_**e**_s_
814
815:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
816
817    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
818    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
819
820    This is a **non-portable extension**.
821
822**\<**_r_
823
824:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
825    the first value is less than the second, then the contents of register *r*
826    are executed.
827
828    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
829    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
830
831**\<**_r_**e**_s_
832
833:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
834
835    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
836    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
837
838    This is a **non-portable extension**.
839
840**!\<**_r_
841
842:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
843    the first value is not less than the second (greater than or equal to), then
844    the contents of register *r* are executed.
845
846    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
847    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
848
849**!\<**_r_**e**_s_
850
851:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
852
853    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
854    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
855
856    This is a **non-portable extension**.
857
858**=**_r_
859
860:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
861    the first value is equal to the second, then the contents of register *r*
862    are executed.
863
864    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
865    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
866
867**=**_r_**e**_s_
868
869:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
870
871    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
872    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
873
874    This is a **non-portable extension**.
875
876**!=**_r_
877
878:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
879    the first value is not equal to the second, then the contents of register
880    *r* are executed.
881
882    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
883    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
884
885**!=**_r_**e**_s_
886
887:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
888
889    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
890    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
891
892    This is a **non-portable extension**.
893
894**?**
895
896:   Reads a line from the **stdin** and executes it. This is to allow macros to
897    request input from users.
898
899**q**
900
901:   During execution of a macro, this exits the execution of that macro and the
902    execution of the macro that executed it. If there are no macros, or only one
903    macro executing, dc(1) exits.
904
905**Q**
906
907:   Pops a value from the stack which must be non-negative and is used the
908    number of macro executions to pop off of the execution stack. If the number
909    of levels to pop is greater than the number of executing macros, dc(1)
910    exits.
911
912## Status
913
914These commands query status of the stack or its top value.
915
916**Z**
917
918:   Pops a value off of the stack.
919
920    If it is a number, calculates the number of significant decimal digits it
921    has and pushes the result.
922
923    If it is a string, pushes the number of characters the string has.
924
925**X**
926
927:   Pops a value off of the stack.
928
929    If it is a number, pushes the *scale* of the value onto the stack.
930
931    If it is a string, pushes **0**.
932
933**z**
934
935:   Pushes the current stack depth (before execution of this command).
936
937## Arrays
938
939These commands manipulate arrays.
940
941**:**_r_
942
943:   Pops the top two values off of the stack. The second value will be stored in
944    the array *r* (see the **REGISTERS** section), indexed by the first value.
945
946**;**_r_
947
948:   Pops the value on top of the stack and uses it as an index into the array
949    *r*. The selected value is then pushed onto the stack.
950
951# REGISTERS
952
953Registers are names that can store strings, numbers, and arrays. (Number/string
954registers do not interfere with array registers.)
955
956Each register is also its own stack, so the current register value is the top of
957the stack for the register. All registers, when first referenced, have one value
958(**0**) in their stack.
959
960In non-extended register mode, a register name is just the single character that
961follows any command that needs a register name. The only exception is a newline
962(**'\\n'**); it is a parse error for a newline to be used as a register name.
963
964## Extended Register Mode
965
966Unlike most other dc(1) implentations, this dc(1) provides nearly unlimited
967amounts of registers, if extended register mode is enabled.
968
969If extended register mode is enabled (**-x** or **-\-extended-register**
970command-line arguments are given), then normal single character registers are
971used *unless* the character immediately following a command that needs a
972register name is a space (according to **isspace()**) and not a newline
973(**'\\n'**).
974
975In that case, the register name is found according to the regex
976**\[a-z\]\[a-z0-9\_\]\*** (like bc(1) identifiers), and it is a parse error if
977the next non-space characters do not match that regex.
978
979# RESET
980
981When dc(1) encounters an error or a signal that it has a non-default handler
982for, it resets. This means that several things happen.
983
984First, any macros that are executing are stopped and popped off the stack.
985The behavior is not unlike that of exceptions in programming languages. Then
986the execution point is set so that any code waiting to execute (after all
987macros returned) is skipped.
988
989Thus, when dc(1) resets, it skips any remaining code waiting to be executed.
990Then, if it is interactive mode, and the error was not a fatal error (see the
991**EXIT STATUS** section), it asks for more input; otherwise, it exits with the
992appropriate return code.
993
994# PERFORMANCE
995
996Most dc(1) implementations use **char** types to calculate the value of **1**
997decimal digit at a time, but that can be slow. This dc(1) does something
998different.
999
1000It uses large integers to calculate more than **1** decimal digit at a time. If
1001built in a environment where **DC_LONG_BIT** (see the **LIMITS** section) is
1002**64**, then each integer has **9** decimal digits. If built in an environment
1003where **DC_LONG_BIT** is **32** then each integer has **4** decimal digits. This
1004value (the number of decimal digits per large integer) is called
1005**DC_BASE_DIGS**.
1006
1007In addition, this dc(1) uses an even larger integer for overflow checking. This
1008integer type depends on the value of **DC_LONG_BIT**, but is always at least
1009twice as large as the integer type used to store digits.
1010
1011# LIMITS
1012
1013The following are the limits on dc(1):
1014
1015**DC_LONG_BIT**
1016
1017:   The number of bits in the **long** type in the environment where dc(1) was
1018    built. This determines how many decimal digits can be stored in a single
1019    large integer (see the **PERFORMANCE** section).
1020
1021**DC_BASE_DIGS**
1022
1023:   The number of decimal digits per large integer (see the **PERFORMANCE**
1024    section). Depends on **DC_LONG_BIT**.
1025
1026**DC_BASE_POW**
1027
1028:   The max decimal number that each large integer can store (see
1029    **DC_BASE_DIGS**) plus **1**. Depends on **DC_BASE_DIGS**.
1030
1031**DC_OVERFLOW_MAX**
1032
1033:   The max number that the overflow type (see the **PERFORMANCE** section) can
1034    hold. Depends on **DC_LONG_BIT**.
1035
1036**DC_BASE_MAX**
1037
1038:   The maximum output base. Set at **DC_BASE_POW**.
1039
1040**DC_DIM_MAX**
1041
1042:   The maximum size of arrays. Set at **SIZE_MAX-1**.
1043
1044**DC_SCALE_MAX**
1045
1046:   The maximum **scale**. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
1047
1048**DC_STRING_MAX**
1049
1050:   The maximum length of strings. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
1051
1052**DC_NAME_MAX**
1053
1054:   The maximum length of identifiers. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
1055
1056**DC_NUM_MAX**
1057
1058:   The maximum length of a number (in decimal digits), which includes digits
1059    after the decimal point. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
1060
1061{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
1062**DC_RAND_MAX**
1063
1064:   The maximum integer (inclusive) returned by the **'** command, if dc(1). Set
1065    at **2\^DC_LONG_BIT-1**.
1066{{ end }}
1067
1068Exponent
1069
1070:   The maximum allowable exponent (positive or negative). Set at
1071    **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX**.
1072
1073Number of vars
1074
1075:   The maximum number of vars/arrays. Set at **SIZE_MAX-1**.
1076
1077These limits are meant to be effectively non-existent; the limits are so large
1078(at least on 64-bit machines) that there should not be any point at which they
1079become a problem. In fact, memory should be exhausted before these limits should
1080be hit.
1081
1082# ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
1083
1084dc(1) recognizes the following environment variables:
1085
1086**DC_ENV_ARGS**
1087
1088:   This is another way to give command-line arguments to dc(1). They should be
1089    in the same format as all other command-line arguments. These are always
1090    processed first, so any files given in **DC_ENV_ARGS** will be processed
1091    before arguments and files given on the command-line. This gives the user
1092    the ability to set up "standard" options and files to be used at every
1093    invocation. The most useful thing for such files to contain would be useful
1094    functions that the user might want every time dc(1) runs. Another use would
1095    be to use the **-e** option to set **scale** to a value other than **0**.
1096
1097    The code that parses **DC_ENV_ARGS** will correctly handle quoted arguments,
1098    but it does not understand escape sequences. For example, the string
1099    **"/home/gavin/some dc file.dc"** will be correctly parsed, but the string
1100    **"/home/gavin/some \"dc\" file.dc"** will include the backslashes.
1101
1102    The quote parsing will handle either kind of quotes, **'** or **"**. Thus,
1103    if you have a file with any number of single quotes in the name, you can use
1104    double quotes as the outside quotes, as in **"some 'dc' file.dc"**, and vice
1105    versa if you have a file with double quotes. However, handling a file with
1106    both kinds of quotes in **DC_ENV_ARGS** is not supported due to the
1107    complexity of the parsing, though such files are still supported on the
1108    command-line where the parsing is done by the shell.
1109
1110**DC_LINE_LENGTH**
1111
1112:   If this environment variable exists and contains an integer that is greater
1113    than **1** and is less than **UINT16_MAX** (**2\^16-1**), dc(1) will output
1114    lines to that length, including the backslash newline combo. The default
1115    line length is **70**.
1116
1117**DC_EXPR_EXIT**
1118
1119:   If this variable exists (no matter the contents), dc(1) will exit
1120    immediately after executing expressions and files given by the **-e** and/or
1121    **-f** command-line options (and any equivalents).
1122
1123# EXIT STATUS
1124
1125dc(1) returns the following exit statuses:
1126
1127**0**
1128
1129:   No error.
1130
1131**1**
1132
1133:   A math error occurred. This follows standard practice of using **1** for
1134    expected errors, since math errors will happen in the process of normal
1135    execution.
1136
1137    Math errors include divide by **0**, taking the square root of a negative
1138{{ A H N P HN HP NP HNP }}
1139    number, using a negative number as a bound for the pseudo-random number
1140    generator, attempting to convert a negative number to a hardware integer,
1141    overflow when converting a number to a hardware integer, and attempting to
1142    use a non-integer where an integer is required.
1143
1144    Converting to a hardware integer happens for the second operand of the power
1145    (**\^**), places (**\@**), left shift (**H**), and right shift (**h**)
1146    operators.
1147{{ end }}
1148{{ E EH EN EP EHN EHP ENP EHNP }}
1149    number, attempting to convert a negative number to a hardware integer,
1150    overflow when converting a number to a hardware integer, and attempting to
1151    use a non-integer where an integer is required.
1152
1153    Converting to a hardware integer happens for the second operand of the power
1154    (**\^**) operator.
1155{{ end }}
1156
1157**2**
1158
1159:   A parse error occurred.
1160
1161    Parse errors include unexpected **EOF**, using an invalid character, failing
1162    to find the end of a string or comment, and using a token where it is
1163    invalid.
1164
1165**3**
1166
1167:   A runtime error occurred.
1168
1169    Runtime errors include assigning an invalid number to **ibase**, **obase**,
1170    or **scale**; give a bad expression to a **read()** call, calling **read()**
1171    inside of a **read()** call, type errors, and attempting an operation when
1172    the stack has too few elements.
1173
1174**4**
1175
1176:   A fatal error occurred.
1177
1178    Fatal errors include memory allocation errors, I/O errors, failing to open
1179    files, attempting to use files that do not have only ASCII characters (dc(1)
1180    only accepts ASCII characters), attempting to open a directory as a file,
1181    and giving invalid command-line options.
1182
1183The exit status **4** is special; when a fatal error occurs, dc(1) always exits
1184and returns **4**, no matter what mode dc(1) is in.
1185
1186The other statuses will only be returned when dc(1) is not in interactive mode
1187(see the **INTERACTIVE MODE** section), since dc(1) resets its state (see the
1188**RESET** section) and accepts more input when one of those errors occurs in
1189interactive mode. This is also the case when interactive mode is forced by the
1190**-i** flag or **-\-interactive** option.
1191
1192These exit statuses allow dc(1) to be used in shell scripting with error
1193checking, and its normal behavior can be forced by using the **-i** flag or
1194**-\-interactive** option.
1195
1196# INTERACTIVE MODE
1197
1198Like bc(1), dc(1) has an interactive mode and a non-interactive mode.
1199Interactive mode is turned on automatically when both **stdin** and **stdout**
1200are hooked to a terminal, but the **-i** flag and **-\-interactive** option can
1201turn it on in other cases.
1202
1203In interactive mode, dc(1) attempts to recover from errors (see the **RESET**
1204section), and in normal execution, flushes **stdout** as soon as execution is
1205done for the current input.
1206
1207# TTY MODE
1208
1209If **stdin**, **stdout**, and **stderr** are all connected to a TTY, dc(1) turns
1210on "TTY mode."
1211
1212{{ A E N P EN EP NP ENP }}
1213TTY mode is required for history to be enabled (see the **COMMAND LINE HISTORY**
1214section). It is also required to enable special handling for **SIGINT** signals.
1215{{ end }}
1216
1217{{ A E H N EH EN HN EHN }}
1218The prompt is enabled in TTY mode.
1219{{ end }}
1220
1221TTY mode is different from interactive mode because interactive mode is required
1222in the [bc(1) specification][1], and interactive mode requires only **stdin**
1223and **stdout** to be connected to a terminal.
1224
1225# SIGNAL HANDLING
1226
1227Sending a **SIGINT** will cause dc(1) to stop execution of the current input. If
1228dc(1) is in TTY mode (see the **TTY MODE** section), it will reset (see the
1229**RESET** section). Otherwise, it will clean up and exit.
1230
1231Note that "current input" can mean one of two things. If dc(1) is processing
1232input from **stdin** in TTY mode, it will ask for more input. If dc(1) is
1233processing input from a file in TTY mode, it will stop processing the file and
1234start processing the next file, if one exists, or ask for input from **stdin**
1235if no other file exists.
1236
1237This means that if a **SIGINT** is sent to dc(1) as it is executing a file, it
1238can seem as though dc(1) did not respond to the signal since it will immediately
1239start executing the next file. This is by design; most files that users execute
1240when interacting with dc(1) have function definitions, which are quick to parse.
1241If a file takes a long time to execute, there may be a bug in that file. The
1242rest of the files could still be executed without problem, allowing the user to
1243continue.
1244
1245**SIGTERM** and **SIGQUIT** cause dc(1) to clean up and exit, and it uses the
1246{{ A E N P EN EP NP ENP }}
1247default handler for all other signals. The one exception is **SIGHUP**; in that
1248case, when dc(1) is in TTY mode, a **SIGHUP** will cause dc(1) to clean up and
1249exit.
1250{{ end }}
1251{{ H EH HN HP EHN EHP HNP EHNP }}
1252default handler for all other signals.
1253{{ end }}
1254
1255{{ A E N P EN EP NP ENP }}
1256# COMMAND LINE HISTORY
1257
1258dc(1) supports interactive command-line editing. If dc(1) is in TTY mode (see
1259the **TTY MODE** section), history is enabled. Previous lines can be recalled
1260and edited with the arrow keys.
1261
1262**Note**: tabs are converted to 8 spaces.
1263{{ end }}
1264
1265{{ A E H P EH EP HP EHP }}
1266# LOCALES
1267
1268This dc(1) ships with support for adding error messages for different locales
1269and thus, supports **LC_MESSAGS**.
1270{{ end }}
1271
1272# SEE ALSO
1273
1274bc(1)
1275
1276# STANDARDS
1277
1278The dc(1) utility operators are compliant with the operators in the bc(1)
1279[IEEE Std 1003.1-2017 (“POSIX.1-2017”)][1] specification.
1280
1281# BUGS
1282
1283None are known. Report bugs at https://git.yzena.com/gavin/bc.
1284
1285# AUTHOR
1286
1287Gavin D. Howard <gavin@yzena.com> and contributors.
1288
1289[1]: https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/bc.html
1290