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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:   This option is a no-op.
84
85    This is a **non-portable extension**.
86
87**-R**, **-\-no-read-prompt**
88
89:   This option is a no-op.
90
91    This is a **non-portable extension**.
92
93**-x** **-\-extended-register**
94
95:   Enables extended register mode. See the *Extended Register Mode* subsection
96    of the **REGISTERS** section for more information.
97
98    This is a **non-portable extension**.
99
100**-e** *expr*, **-\-expression**=*expr*
101
102:   Evaluates *expr*. If multiple expressions are given, they are evaluated in
103    order. If files are given as well (see below), the expressions and files are
104    evaluated in the order given. This means that if a file is given before an
105    expression, the file is read in and evaluated first.
106
107    If this option is given on the command-line (i.e., not in **DC_ENV_ARGS**,
108    see the **ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES** section), then after processing all
109    expressions and files, dc(1) will exit, unless **-** (**stdin**) was given
110    as an argument at least once to **-f** or **-\-file**, whether on the
111    command-line or in **DC_ENV_ARGS**. However, if any other **-e**,
112    **-\-expression**, **-f**, or **-\-file** arguments are given after **-f-**
113    or equivalent is given, dc(1) will give a fatal error and exit.
114
115    This is a **non-portable extension**.
116
117**-f** *file*, **-\-file**=*file*
118
119:   Reads in *file* and evaluates it, line by line, as though it were read
120    through **stdin**. If expressions are also given (see above), the
121    expressions are evaluated in the order given.
122
123    If this option is given on the command-line (i.e., not in **DC_ENV_ARGS**,
124    see the **ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES** section), then after processing all
125    expressions and files, dc(1) will exit, unless **-** (**stdin**) was given
126    as an argument at least once to **-f** or **-\-file**. However, if any other
127    **-e**, **-\-expression**, **-f**, or **-\-file** arguments are given after
128    **-f-** or equivalent is given, dc(1) will give a fatal error and exit.
129
130    This is a **non-portable extension**.
131
132All long options are **non-portable extensions**.
133
134# STDOUT
135
136Any non-error output is written to **stdout**. In addition, if history (see the
137**HISTORY** section) and the prompt (see the **TTY MODE** section) are enabled,
138both are output to **stdout**.
139
140**Note**: Unlike other dc(1) implementations, this dc(1) will issue a fatal
141error (see the **EXIT STATUS** section) if it cannot write to **stdout**, so if
142**stdout** is closed, as in **dc <file> >&-**, it will quit with an error. This
143is done so that dc(1) can report problems when **stdout** is redirected to a
144file.
145
146If there are scripts that depend on the behavior of other dc(1) implementations,
147it is recommended that those scripts be changed to redirect **stdout** to
148**/dev/null**.
149
150# STDERR
151
152Any error output is written to **stderr**.
153
154**Note**: Unlike other dc(1) implementations, this dc(1) will issue a fatal
155error (see the **EXIT STATUS** section) if it cannot write to **stderr**, so if
156**stderr** is closed, as in **dc <file> 2>&-**, it will quit with an error. This
157is done so that dc(1) can exit with an error code when **stderr** is redirected
158to a file.
159
160If there are scripts that depend on the behavior of other dc(1) implementations,
161it is recommended that those scripts be changed to redirect **stderr** to
162**/dev/null**.
163
164# SYNTAX
165
166Each item in the input source code, either a number (see the **NUMBERS**
167section) or a command (see the **COMMANDS** section), is processed and executed,
168in order. Input is processed immediately when entered.
169
170**ibase** is a register (see the **REGISTERS** section) that determines how to
171interpret constant numbers. It is the "input" base, or the number base used for
172interpreting input numbers. **ibase** is initially **10**. The max allowable
173value for **ibase** is **16**. The min allowable value for **ibase** is **2**.
174The max allowable value for **ibase** can be queried in dc(1) programs with the
175**T** command.
176
177**obase** is a register (see the **REGISTERS** section) that determines how to
178output results. It is the "output" base, or the number base used for outputting
179numbers. **obase** is initially **10**. The max allowable value for **obase** is
180**DC_BASE_MAX** and can be queried with the **U** command. The min allowable
181value for **obase** is **2**. Values are output in the specified base.
182
183The *scale* of an expression is the number of digits in the result of the
184expression right of the decimal point, and **scale** is a register (see the
185**REGISTERS** section) that sets the precision of any operations (with
186exceptions). **scale** is initially **0**. **scale** cannot be negative. The max
187allowable value for **scale** can be queried in dc(1) programs with the **V**
188command.
189
190## Comments
191
192Comments go from **#** until, and not including, the next newline. This is a
193**non-portable extension**.
194
195# NUMBERS
196
197Numbers are strings made up of digits, uppercase letters up to **F**, and at
198most **1** period for a radix. Numbers can have up to **DC_NUM_MAX** digits.
199Uppercase letters are equal to **9** + their position in the alphabet (i.e.,
200**A** equals **10**, or **9+1**). If a digit or letter makes no sense with the
201current value of **ibase**, they are set to the value of the highest valid digit
202in **ibase**.
203
204Single-character numbers (i.e., **A** alone) take the value that they would have
205if they were valid digits, regardless of the value of **ibase**. This means that
206**A** alone always equals decimal **10** and **F** alone always equals decimal
207**15**.
208
209# COMMANDS
210
211The valid commands are listed below.
212
213## Printing
214
215These commands are used for printing.
216
217**p**
218
219:   Prints the value on top of the stack, whether number or string, and prints a
220    newline after.
221
222    This does not alter the stack.
223
224**n**
225
226:   Prints the value on top of the stack, whether number or string, and pops it
227    off of the stack.
228
229**P**
230
231:   Pops a value off the stack.
232
233    If the value is a number, it is truncated and the absolute value of the
234    result is printed as though **obase** is **UCHAR_MAX+1** and each digit is
235    interpreted as an ASCII character, making it a byte stream.
236
237    If the value is a string, it is printed without a trailing newline.
238
239    This is a **non-portable extension**.
240
241**f**
242
243:   Prints the entire contents of the stack, in order from newest to oldest,
244    without altering anything.
245
246    Users should use this command when they get lost.
247
248## Arithmetic
249
250These are the commands used for arithmetic.
251
252**+**
253
254:   The top two values are popped off the stack, added, and the result is pushed
255    onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to the max *scale* of
256    both operands.
257
258**-**
259
260:   The top two values are popped off the stack, subtracted, and the result is
261    pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to the max
262    *scale* of both operands.
263
264**\***
265
266:   The top two values are popped off the stack, multiplied, and the result is
267    pushed onto the stack. If **a** is the *scale* of the first expression and
268    **b** is the *scale* of the second expression, the *scale* of the result
269    is equal to **min(a+b,max(scale,a,b))** where **min()** and **max()** return
270    the obvious values.
271
272**/**
273
274:   The top two values are popped off the stack, divided, and the result is
275    pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to **scale**.
276
277    The first value popped off of the stack must be non-zero.
278
279**%**
280
281:   The top two values are popped off the stack, remaindered, and the result is
282    pushed onto the stack.
283
284    Remaindering is equivalent to 1) Computing **a/b** to current **scale**, and
285    2) Using the result of step 1 to calculate **a-(a/b)\*b** to *scale*
286    **max(scale+scale(b),scale(a))**.
287
288    The first value popped off of the stack must be non-zero.
289
290**~**
291
292:   The top two values are popped off the stack, divided and remaindered, and
293    the results (divided first, remainder second) are pushed onto the stack.
294    This is equivalent to **x y / x y %** except that **x** and **y** are only
295    evaluated once.
296
297    The first value popped off of the stack must be non-zero.
298
299    This is a **non-portable extension**.
300
301**\^**
302
303:   The top two values are popped off the stack, the second is raised to the
304    power of the first, and the result is pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of
305    the result is equal to **scale**.
306
307    The first value popped off of the stack must be an integer, and if that
308    value is negative, the second value popped off of the stack must be
309    non-zero.
310
311**v**
312
313:   The top value is popped off the stack, its square root is computed, and the
314    result is pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to
315    **scale**.
316
317    The value popped off of the stack must be non-negative.
318
319**\_**
320
321:   If this command *immediately* precedes a number (i.e., no spaces or other
322    commands), then that number is input as a negative number.
323
324    Otherwise, the top value on the stack is popped and copied, and the copy is
325    negated and pushed onto the stack. This behavior without a number is a
326    **non-portable extension**.
327
328**b**
329
330:   The top value is popped off the stack, and if it is zero, it is pushed back
331    onto the stack. Otherwise, its absolute value is pushed onto the stack.
332
333    This is a **non-portable extension**.
334
335**|**
336
337:   The top three values are popped off the stack, a modular exponentiation is
338    computed, and the result is pushed onto the stack.
339
340    The first value popped is used as the reduction modulus and must be an
341    integer and non-zero. The second value popped is used as the exponent and
342    must be an integer and non-negative. The third value popped is the base and
343    must be an integer.
344
345    This is a **non-portable extension**.
346
347**G**
348
349:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
350    **1** is pushed if they are equal, or **0** otherwise.
351
352    This is a **non-portable extension**.
353
354**N**
355
356:   The top value is popped off of the stack, and if it a **0**, a **1** is
357    pushed; otherwise, a **0** is pushed.
358
359    This is a **non-portable extension**.
360
361**(**
362
363:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
364    **1** is pushed if the first is less than the second, or **0** otherwise.
365
366    This is a **non-portable extension**.
367
368**{**
369
370:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
371    **1** is pushed if the first is less than or equal to the second, or **0**
372    otherwise.
373
374    This is a **non-portable extension**.
375
376**)**
377
378:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
379    **1** is pushed if the first is greater than the second, or **0** otherwise.
380
381    This is a **non-portable extension**.
382
383**}**
384
385:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
386    **1** is pushed if the first is greater than or equal to the second, or
387    **0** otherwise.
388
389    This is a **non-portable extension**.
390
391**M**
392
393:   The top two values are popped off of the stack. If they are both non-zero, a
394    **1** is pushed onto the stack. If either of them is zero, or both of them
395    are, then a **0** is pushed onto the stack.
396
397    This is like the **&&** operator in bc(1), and it is *not* a short-circuit
398    operator.
399
400    This is a **non-portable extension**.
401
402**m**
403
404:   The top two values are popped off of the stack. If at least one of them is
405    non-zero, a **1** is pushed onto the stack. If both of them are zero, then a
406    **0** is pushed onto the stack.
407
408    This is like the **||** operator in bc(1), and it is *not* a short-circuit
409    operator.
410
411    This is a **non-portable extension**.
412
413## Stack Control
414
415These commands control the stack.
416
417**c**
418
419:   Removes all items from ("clears") the stack.
420
421**d**
422
423:   Copies the item on top of the stack ("duplicates") and pushes the copy onto
424    the stack.
425
426**r**
427
428:   Swaps ("reverses") the two top items on the stack.
429
430**R**
431
432:   Pops ("removes") the top value from the stack.
433
434## Register Control
435
436These commands control registers (see the **REGISTERS** section).
437
438**s**_r_
439
440:   Pops the value off the top of the stack and stores it into register *r*.
441
442**l**_r_
443
444:   Copies the value in register *r* and pushes it onto the stack. This does not
445    alter the contents of *r*.
446
447**S**_r_
448
449:   Pops the value off the top of the (main) stack and pushes it onto the stack
450    of register *r*. The previous value of the register becomes inaccessible.
451
452**L**_r_
453
454:   Pops the value off the top of the stack for register *r* and push it onto
455    the main stack. The previous value in the stack for register *r*, if any, is
456    now accessible via the **l**_r_ command.
457
458## Parameters
459
460These commands control the values of **ibase**, **obase**, and **scale**. Also
461see the **SYNTAX** section.
462
463**i**
464
465:   Pops the value off of the top of the stack and uses it to set **ibase**,
466    which must be between **2** and **16**, inclusive.
467
468    If the value on top of the stack has any *scale*, the *scale* is ignored.
469
470**o**
471
472:   Pops the value off of the top of the stack and uses it to set **obase**,
473    which must be between **2** and **DC_BASE_MAX**, inclusive (see the
474    **LIMITS** section).
475
476    If the value on top of the stack has any *scale*, the *scale* is ignored.
477
478**k**
479
480:   Pops the value off of the top of the stack and uses it to set **scale**,
481    which must be non-negative.
482
483    If the value on top of the stack has any *scale*, the *scale* is ignored.
484
485**I**
486
487:   Pushes the current value of **ibase** onto the main stack.
488
489**O**
490
491:   Pushes the current value of **obase** onto the main stack.
492
493**K**
494
495:   Pushes the current value of **scale** onto the main stack.
496
497**T**
498
499:   Pushes the maximum allowable value of **ibase** onto the main stack.
500
501    This is a **non-portable extension**.
502
503**U**
504
505:   Pushes the maximum allowable value of **obase** onto the main stack.
506
507    This is a **non-portable extension**.
508
509**V**
510
511:   Pushes the maximum allowable value of **scale** onto the main stack.
512
513    This is a **non-portable extension**.
514
515## Strings
516
517The following commands control strings.
518
519dc(1) can work with both numbers and strings, and registers (see the
520**REGISTERS** section) can hold both strings and numbers. dc(1) always knows
521whether the contents of a register are a string or a number.
522
523While arithmetic operations have to have numbers, and will print an error if
524given a string, other commands accept strings.
525
526Strings can also be executed as macros. For example, if the string **[1pR]** is
527executed as a macro, then the code **1pR** is executed, meaning that the **1**
528will be printed with a newline after and then popped from the stack.
529
530**\[**_characters_**\]**
531
532:   Makes a string containing *characters* and pushes it onto the stack.
533
534    If there are brackets (**\[** and **\]**) in the string, then they must be
535    balanced. Unbalanced brackets can be escaped using a backslash (**\\**)
536    character.
537
538    If there is a backslash character in the string, the character after it
539    (even another backslash) is put into the string verbatim, but the (first)
540    backslash is not.
541
542**a**
543
544:   The value on top of the stack is popped.
545
546    If it is a number, it is truncated and its absolute value is taken. The
547    result mod **UCHAR_MAX+1** is calculated. If that result is **0**, push an
548    empty string; otherwise, push a one-character string where the character is
549    the result of the mod interpreted as an ASCII character.
550
551    If it is a string, then a new string is made. If the original string is
552    empty, the new string is empty. If it is not, then the first character of
553    the original string is used to create the new string as a one-character
554    string. The new string is then pushed onto the stack.
555
556    This is a **non-portable extension**.
557
558**x**
559
560:   Pops a value off of the top of the stack.
561
562    If it is a number, it is pushed back onto the stack.
563
564    If it is a string, it is executed as a macro.
565
566    This behavior is the norm whenever a macro is executed, whether by this
567    command or by the conditional execution commands below.
568
569**\>**_r_
570
571:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
572    the first value is greater than the second, then the contents of register
573    *r* are executed.
574
575    For example, **0 1>a** will execute the contents of register **a**, and
576    **1 0>a** will not.
577
578    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
579    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
580
581**>**_r_**e**_s_
582
583:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
584
585    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
586    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
587
588    This is a **non-portable extension**.
589
590**!\>**_r_
591
592:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
593    the first value is not greater than the second (less than or equal to), then
594    the contents of register *r* are executed.
595
596    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
597    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
598
599**!\>**_r_**e**_s_
600
601:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
602
603    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
604    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
605
606    This is a **non-portable extension**.
607
608**\<**_r_
609
610:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
611    the first value is less than the second, then the contents of register *r*
612    are executed.
613
614    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
615    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
616
617**\<**_r_**e**_s_
618
619:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
620
621    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
622    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
623
624    This is a **non-portable extension**.
625
626**!\<**_r_
627
628:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
629    the first value is not less than the second (greater than or equal to), then
630    the contents of register *r* are executed.
631
632    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
633    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
634
635**!\<**_r_**e**_s_
636
637:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
638
639    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
640    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
641
642    This is a **non-portable extension**.
643
644**=**_r_
645
646:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
647    the first value is equal to the second, then the contents of register *r*
648    are executed.
649
650    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
651    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
652
653**=**_r_**e**_s_
654
655:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
656
657    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
658    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
659
660    This is a **non-portable extension**.
661
662**!=**_r_
663
664:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
665    the first value is not equal to the second, then the contents of register
666    *r* are executed.
667
668    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
669    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
670
671**!=**_r_**e**_s_
672
673:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
674
675    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
676    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
677
678    This is a **non-portable extension**.
679
680**?**
681
682:   Reads a line from the **stdin** and executes it. This is to allow macros to
683    request input from users.
684
685**q**
686
687:   During execution of a macro, this exits the execution of that macro and the
688    execution of the macro that executed it. If there are no macros, or only one
689    macro executing, dc(1) exits.
690
691**Q**
692
693:   Pops a value from the stack which must be non-negative and is used the
694    number of macro executions to pop off of the execution stack. If the number
695    of levels to pop is greater than the number of executing macros, dc(1)
696    exits.
697
698## Status
699
700These commands query status of the stack or its top value.
701
702**Z**
703
704:   Pops a value off of the stack.
705
706    If it is a number, calculates the number of significant decimal digits it
707    has and pushes the result.
708
709    If it is a string, pushes the number of characters the string has.
710
711**X**
712
713:   Pops a value off of the stack.
714
715    If it is a number, pushes the *scale* of the value onto the stack.
716
717    If it is a string, pushes **0**.
718
719**z**
720
721:   Pushes the current stack depth (before execution of this command).
722
723## Arrays
724
725These commands manipulate arrays.
726
727**:**_r_
728
729:   Pops the top two values off of the stack. The second value will be stored in
730    the array *r* (see the **REGISTERS** section), indexed by the first value.
731
732**;**_r_
733
734:   Pops the value on top of the stack and uses it as an index into the array
735    *r*. The selected value is then pushed onto the stack.
736
737# REGISTERS
738
739Registers are names that can store strings, numbers, and arrays. (Number/string
740registers do not interfere with array registers.)
741
742Each register is also its own stack, so the current register value is the top of
743the stack for the register. All registers, when first referenced, have one value
744(**0**) in their stack.
745
746In non-extended register mode, a register name is just the single character that
747follows any command that needs a register name. The only exception is a newline
748(**'\\n'**); it is a parse error for a newline to be used as a register name.
749
750## Extended Register Mode
751
752Unlike most other dc(1) implentations, this dc(1) provides nearly unlimited
753amounts of registers, if extended register mode is enabled.
754
755If extended register mode is enabled (**-x** or **-\-extended-register**
756command-line arguments are given), then normal single character registers are
757used *unless* the character immediately following a command that needs a
758register name is a space (according to **isspace()**) and not a newline
759(**'\\n'**).
760
761In that case, the register name is found according to the regex
762**\[a-z\]\[a-z0-9\_\]\*** (like bc(1) identifiers), and it is a parse error if
763the next non-space characters do not match that regex.
764
765# RESET
766
767When dc(1) encounters an error or a signal that it has a non-default handler
768for, it resets. This means that several things happen.
769
770First, any macros that are executing are stopped and popped off the stack.
771The behavior is not unlike that of exceptions in programming languages. Then
772the execution point is set so that any code waiting to execute (after all
773macros returned) is skipped.
774
775Thus, when dc(1) resets, it skips any remaining code waiting to be executed.
776Then, if it is interactive mode, and the error was not a fatal error (see the
777**EXIT STATUS** section), it asks for more input; otherwise, it exits with the
778appropriate return code.
779
780# PERFORMANCE
781
782Most dc(1) implementations use **char** types to calculate the value of **1**
783decimal digit at a time, but that can be slow. This dc(1) does something
784different.
785
786It uses large integers to calculate more than **1** decimal digit at a time. If
787built in a environment where **DC_LONG_BIT** (see the **LIMITS** section) is
788**64**, then each integer has **9** decimal digits. If built in an environment
789where **DC_LONG_BIT** is **32** then each integer has **4** decimal digits. This
790value (the number of decimal digits per large integer) is called
791**DC_BASE_DIGS**.
792
793In addition, this dc(1) uses an even larger integer for overflow checking. This
794integer type depends on the value of **DC_LONG_BIT**, but is always at least
795twice as large as the integer type used to store digits.
796
797# LIMITS
798
799The following are the limits on dc(1):
800
801**DC_LONG_BIT**
802
803:   The number of bits in the **long** type in the environment where dc(1) was
804    built. This determines how many decimal digits can be stored in a single
805    large integer (see the **PERFORMANCE** section).
806
807**DC_BASE_DIGS**
808
809:   The number of decimal digits per large integer (see the **PERFORMANCE**
810    section). Depends on **DC_LONG_BIT**.
811
812**DC_BASE_POW**
813
814:   The max decimal number that each large integer can store (see
815    **DC_BASE_DIGS**) plus **1**. Depends on **DC_BASE_DIGS**.
816
817**DC_OVERFLOW_MAX**
818
819:   The max number that the overflow type (see the **PERFORMANCE** section) can
820    hold. Depends on **DC_LONG_BIT**.
821
822**DC_BASE_MAX**
823
824:   The maximum output base. Set at **DC_BASE_POW**.
825
826**DC_DIM_MAX**
827
828:   The maximum size of arrays. Set at **SIZE_MAX-1**.
829
830**DC_SCALE_MAX**
831
832:   The maximum **scale**. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
833
834**DC_STRING_MAX**
835
836:   The maximum length of strings. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
837
838**DC_NAME_MAX**
839
840:   The maximum length of identifiers. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
841
842**DC_NUM_MAX**
843
844:   The maximum length of a number (in decimal digits), which includes digits
845    after the decimal point. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
846
847Exponent
848
849:   The maximum allowable exponent (positive or negative). Set at
850    **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX**.
851
852Number of vars
853
854:   The maximum number of vars/arrays. Set at **SIZE_MAX-1**.
855
856These limits are meant to be effectively non-existent; the limits are so large
857(at least on 64-bit machines) that there should not be any point at which they
858become a problem. In fact, memory should be exhausted before these limits should
859be hit.
860
861# ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
862
863dc(1) recognizes the following environment variables:
864
865**DC_ENV_ARGS**
866
867:   This is another way to give command-line arguments to dc(1). They should be
868    in the same format as all other command-line arguments. These are always
869    processed first, so any files given in **DC_ENV_ARGS** will be processed
870    before arguments and files given on the command-line. This gives the user
871    the ability to set up "standard" options and files to be used at every
872    invocation. The most useful thing for such files to contain would be useful
873    functions that the user might want every time dc(1) runs. Another use would
874    be to use the **-e** option to set **scale** to a value other than **0**.
875
876    The code that parses **DC_ENV_ARGS** will correctly handle quoted arguments,
877    but it does not understand escape sequences. For example, the string
878    **"/home/gavin/some dc file.dc"** will be correctly parsed, but the string
879    **"/home/gavin/some \"dc\" file.dc"** will include the backslashes.
880
881    The quote parsing will handle either kind of quotes, **'** or **"**. Thus,
882    if you have a file with any number of single quotes in the name, you can use
883    double quotes as the outside quotes, as in **"some 'dc' file.dc"**, and vice
884    versa if you have a file with double quotes. However, handling a file with
885    both kinds of quotes in **DC_ENV_ARGS** is not supported due to the
886    complexity of the parsing, though such files are still supported on the
887    command-line where the parsing is done by the shell.
888
889**DC_LINE_LENGTH**
890
891:   If this environment variable exists and contains an integer that is greater
892    than **1** and is less than **UINT16_MAX** (**2\^16-1**), dc(1) will output
893    lines to that length, including the backslash newline combo. The default
894    line length is **70**.
895
896**DC_EXPR_EXIT**
897
898:   If this variable exists (no matter the contents), dc(1) will exit
899    immediately after executing expressions and files given by the **-e** and/or
900    **-f** command-line options (and any equivalents).
901
902# EXIT STATUS
903
904dc(1) returns the following exit statuses:
905
906**0**
907
908:   No error.
909
910**1**
911
912:   A math error occurred. This follows standard practice of using **1** for
913    expected errors, since math errors will happen in the process of normal
914    execution.
915
916    Math errors include divide by **0**, taking the square root of a negative
917    number, attempting to convert a negative number to a hardware integer,
918    overflow when converting a number to a hardware integer, and attempting to
919    use a non-integer where an integer is required.
920
921    Converting to a hardware integer happens for the second operand of the power
922    (**\^**) operator.
923
924**2**
925
926:   A parse error occurred.
927
928    Parse errors include unexpected **EOF**, using an invalid character, failing
929    to find the end of a string or comment, and using a token where it is
930    invalid.
931
932**3**
933
934:   A runtime error occurred.
935
936    Runtime errors include assigning an invalid number to **ibase**, **obase**,
937    or **scale**; give a bad expression to a **read()** call, calling **read()**
938    inside of a **read()** call, type errors, and attempting an operation when
939    the stack has too few elements.
940
941**4**
942
943:   A fatal error occurred.
944
945    Fatal errors include memory allocation errors, I/O errors, failing to open
946    files, attempting to use files that do not have only ASCII characters (dc(1)
947    only accepts ASCII characters), attempting to open a directory as a file,
948    and giving invalid command-line options.
949
950The exit status **4** is special; when a fatal error occurs, dc(1) always exits
951and returns **4**, no matter what mode dc(1) is in.
952
953The other statuses will only be returned when dc(1) is not in interactive mode
954(see the **INTERACTIVE MODE** section), since dc(1) resets its state (see the
955**RESET** section) and accepts more input when one of those errors occurs in
956interactive mode. This is also the case when interactive mode is forced by the
957**-i** flag or **-\-interactive** option.
958
959These exit statuses allow dc(1) to be used in shell scripting with error
960checking, and its normal behavior can be forced by using the **-i** flag or
961**-\-interactive** option.
962
963# INTERACTIVE MODE
964
965Like bc(1), dc(1) has an interactive mode and a non-interactive mode.
966Interactive mode is turned on automatically when both **stdin** and **stdout**
967are hooked to a terminal, but the **-i** flag and **-\-interactive** option can
968turn it on in other cases.
969
970In interactive mode, dc(1) attempts to recover from errors (see the **RESET**
971section), and in normal execution, flushes **stdout** as soon as execution is
972done for the current input.
973
974# TTY MODE
975
976If **stdin**, **stdout**, and **stderr** are all connected to a TTY, dc(1) turns
977on "TTY mode."
978
979TTY mode is required for history to be enabled (see the **COMMAND LINE HISTORY**
980section). It is also required to enable special handling for **SIGINT** signals.
981
982TTY mode is different from interactive mode because interactive mode is required
983in the [bc(1) specification][1], and interactive mode requires only **stdin**
984and **stdout** to be connected to a terminal.
985
986# SIGNAL HANDLING
987
988Sending a **SIGINT** will cause dc(1) to stop execution of the current input. If
989dc(1) is in TTY mode (see the **TTY MODE** section), it will reset (see the
990**RESET** section). Otherwise, it will clean up and exit.
991
992Note that "current input" can mean one of two things. If dc(1) is processing
993input from **stdin** in TTY mode, it will ask for more input. If dc(1) is
994processing input from a file in TTY mode, it will stop processing the file and
995start processing the next file, if one exists, or ask for input from **stdin**
996if no other file exists.
997
998This means that if a **SIGINT** is sent to dc(1) as it is executing a file, it
999can seem as though dc(1) did not respond to the signal since it will immediately
1000start executing the next file. This is by design; most files that users execute
1001when interacting with dc(1) have function definitions, which are quick to parse.
1002If a file takes a long time to execute, there may be a bug in that file. The
1003rest of the files could still be executed without problem, allowing the user to
1004continue.
1005
1006**SIGTERM** and **SIGQUIT** cause dc(1) to clean up and exit, and it uses the
1007default handler for all other signals. The one exception is **SIGHUP**; in that
1008case, when dc(1) is in TTY mode, a **SIGHUP** will cause dc(1) to clean up and
1009exit.
1010
1011# COMMAND LINE HISTORY
1012
1013dc(1) supports interactive command-line editing. If dc(1) is in TTY mode (see
1014the **TTY MODE** section), history is enabled. Previous lines can be recalled
1015and edited with the arrow keys.
1016
1017**Note**: tabs are converted to 8 spaces.
1018
1019# LOCALES
1020
1021This dc(1) ships with support for adding error messages for different locales
1022and thus, supports **LC_MESSAGS**.
1023
1024# SEE ALSO
1025
1026bc(1)
1027
1028# STANDARDS
1029
1030The dc(1) utility operators are compliant with the operators in the bc(1)
1031[IEEE Std 1003.1-2017 (“POSIX.1-2017”)][1] specification.
1032
1033# BUGS
1034
1035None are known. Report bugs at https://git.yzena.com/gavin/bc.
1036
1037# AUTHOR
1038
1039Gavin D. Howard <gavin@yzena.com> and contributors.
1040
1041[1]: https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/bc.html
1042