xref: /freebsd/contrib/bc/manuals/dc/E.1.md (revision dd41de95a84d979615a2ef11df6850622bf6184e)
1<!---
2
3SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
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5Copyright (c) 2018-2021 Gavin D. Howard and contributors.
6
7Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
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10* Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
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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:   Disables the prompt in TTY mode. (The prompt is only enabled in TTY mode.
84    See the **TTY MODE** section.) This is mostly for those users that do not
85    want a prompt or are not used to having them in dc(1). Most of those users
86    would want to put this option in **DC_ENV_ARGS**.
87
88    This is a **non-portable extension**.
89
90**-R**, **-\-no-read-prompt**
91
92:   Disables the read prompt in TTY mode. (The read prompt is only enabled in
93    TTY mode. See the **TTY MODE** section.) This is mostly for those users that
94    do not want a read prompt or are not used to having them in dc(1). Most of
95    those users would want to put this option in **BC_ENV_ARGS** (see the
96    **ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES** section). This option is also useful in hash bang
97    lines of dc(1) scripts that prompt for user input.
98
99    This option does not disable the regular prompt because the read prompt is
100    only used when the **?** command is used.
101
102    This is a **non-portable extension**.
103
104**-x** **-\-extended-register**
105
106:   Enables extended register mode. See the *Extended Register Mode* subsection
107    of the **REGISTERS** section for more information.
108
109    This is a **non-portable extension**.
110
111**-e** *expr*, **-\-expression**=*expr*
112
113:   Evaluates *expr*. If multiple expressions are given, they are evaluated in
114    order. If files are given as well (see below), the expressions and files are
115    evaluated in the order given. This means that if a file is given before an
116    expression, the file is read in and evaluated first.
117
118    If this option is given on the command-line (i.e., not in **DC_ENV_ARGS**,
119    see the **ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES** section), then after processing all
120    expressions and files, dc(1) will exit, unless **-** (**stdin**) was given
121    as an argument at least once to **-f** or **-\-file**, whether on the
122    command-line or in **DC_ENV_ARGS**. However, if any other **-e**,
123    **-\-expression**, **-f**, or **-\-file** arguments are given after **-f-**
124    or equivalent is given, dc(1) will give a fatal error and exit.
125
126    This is a **non-portable extension**.
127
128**-f** *file*, **-\-file**=*file*
129
130:   Reads in *file* and evaluates it, line by line, as though it were read
131    through **stdin**. If expressions are also given (see above), the
132    expressions are evaluated in the order given.
133
134    If this option is given on the command-line (i.e., not in **DC_ENV_ARGS**,
135    see the **ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES** section), then after processing all
136    expressions and files, dc(1) will exit, unless **-** (**stdin**) was given
137    as an argument at least once to **-f** or **-\-file**. However, if any other
138    **-e**, **-\-expression**, **-f**, or **-\-file** arguments are given after
139    **-f-** or equivalent is given, dc(1) will give a fatal error and exit.
140
141    This is a **non-portable extension**.
142
143All long options are **non-portable extensions**.
144
145# STDOUT
146
147Any non-error output is written to **stdout**. In addition, if history (see the
148**HISTORY** section) and the prompt (see the **TTY MODE** section) are enabled,
149both are output to **stdout**.
150
151**Note**: Unlike other dc(1) implementations, this dc(1) will issue a fatal
152error (see the **EXIT STATUS** section) if it cannot write to **stdout**, so if
153**stdout** is closed, as in **dc <file> >&-**, it will quit with an error. This
154is done so that dc(1) can report problems when **stdout** is redirected to a
155file.
156
157If there are scripts that depend on the behavior of other dc(1) implementations,
158it is recommended that those scripts be changed to redirect **stdout** to
159**/dev/null**.
160
161# STDERR
162
163Any error output is written to **stderr**.
164
165**Note**: Unlike other dc(1) implementations, this dc(1) will issue a fatal
166error (see the **EXIT STATUS** section) if it cannot write to **stderr**, so if
167**stderr** is closed, as in **dc <file> 2>&-**, it will quit with an error. This
168is done so that dc(1) can exit with an error code when **stderr** is redirected
169to a file.
170
171If there are scripts that depend on the behavior of other dc(1) implementations,
172it is recommended that those scripts be changed to redirect **stderr** to
173**/dev/null**.
174
175# SYNTAX
176
177Each item in the input source code, either a number (see the **NUMBERS**
178section) or a command (see the **COMMANDS** section), is processed and executed,
179in order. Input is processed immediately when entered.
180
181**ibase** is a register (see the **REGISTERS** section) that determines how to
182interpret constant numbers. It is the "input" base, or the number base used for
183interpreting input numbers. **ibase** is initially **10**. The max allowable
184value for **ibase** is **16**. The min allowable value for **ibase** is **2**.
185The max allowable value for **ibase** can be queried in dc(1) programs with the
186**T** command.
187
188**obase** is a register (see the **REGISTERS** section) that determines how to
189output results. It is the "output" base, or the number base used for outputting
190numbers. **obase** is initially **10**. The max allowable value for **obase** is
191**DC_BASE_MAX** and can be queried with the **U** command. The min allowable
192value for **obase** is **2**. Values are output in the specified base.
193
194The *scale* of an expression is the number of digits in the result of the
195expression right of the decimal point, and **scale** is a register (see the
196**REGISTERS** section) that sets the precision of any operations (with
197exceptions). **scale** is initially **0**. **scale** cannot be negative. The max
198allowable value for **scale** can be queried in dc(1) programs with the **V**
199command.
200
201## Comments
202
203Comments go from **#** until, and not including, the next newline. This is a
204**non-portable extension**.
205
206# NUMBERS
207
208Numbers are strings made up of digits, uppercase letters up to **F**, and at
209most **1** period for a radix. Numbers can have up to **DC_NUM_MAX** digits.
210Uppercase letters are equal to **9** + their position in the alphabet (i.e.,
211**A** equals **10**, or **9+1**). If a digit or letter makes no sense with the
212current value of **ibase**, they are set to the value of the highest valid digit
213in **ibase**.
214
215Single-character numbers (i.e., **A** alone) take the value that they would have
216if they were valid digits, regardless of the value of **ibase**. This means that
217**A** alone always equals decimal **10** and **F** alone always equals decimal
218**15**.
219
220# COMMANDS
221
222The valid commands are listed below.
223
224## Printing
225
226These commands are used for printing.
227
228**p**
229
230:   Prints the value on top of the stack, whether number or string, and prints a
231    newline after.
232
233    This does not alter the stack.
234
235**n**
236
237:   Prints the value on top of the stack, whether number or string, and pops it
238    off of the stack.
239
240**P**
241
242:   Pops a value off the stack.
243
244    If the value is a number, it is truncated and the absolute value of the
245    result is printed as though **obase** is **UCHAR_MAX+1** and each digit is
246    interpreted as an ASCII character, making it a byte stream.
247
248    If the value is a string, it is printed without a trailing newline.
249
250    This is a **non-portable extension**.
251
252**f**
253
254:   Prints the entire contents of the stack, in order from newest to oldest,
255    without altering anything.
256
257    Users should use this command when they get lost.
258
259## Arithmetic
260
261These are the commands used for arithmetic.
262
263**+**
264
265:   The top two values are popped off the stack, added, and the result is pushed
266    onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to the max *scale* of
267    both operands.
268
269**-**
270
271:   The top two values are popped off the stack, subtracted, and the result is
272    pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to the max
273    *scale* of both operands.
274
275**\***
276
277:   The top two values are popped off the stack, multiplied, and the result is
278    pushed onto the stack. If **a** is the *scale* of the first expression and
279    **b** is the *scale* of the second expression, the *scale* of the result
280    is equal to **min(a+b,max(scale,a,b))** where **min()** and **max()** return
281    the obvious values.
282
283**/**
284
285:   The top two values are popped off the stack, divided, and the result is
286    pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to **scale**.
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, remaindered, and the result is
293    pushed onto the stack.
294
295    Remaindering is equivalent to 1) Computing **a/b** to current **scale**, and
296    2) Using the result of step 1 to calculate **a-(a/b)\*b** to *scale*
297    **max(scale+scale(b),scale(a))**.
298
299    The first value popped off of the stack must be non-zero.
300
301**~**
302
303:   The top two values are popped off the stack, divided and remaindered, and
304    the results (divided first, remainder second) are pushed onto the stack.
305    This is equivalent to **x y / x y %** except that **x** and **y** are only
306    evaluated once.
307
308    The first value popped off of the stack must be non-zero.
309
310    This is a **non-portable extension**.
311
312**\^**
313
314:   The top two values are popped off the stack, the second is raised to the
315    power of the first, and the result is pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of
316    the result is equal to **scale**.
317
318    The first value popped off of the stack must be an integer, and if that
319    value is negative, the second value popped off of the stack must be
320    non-zero.
321
322**v**
323
324:   The top value is popped off the stack, its square root is computed, and the
325    result is pushed onto the stack. The *scale* of the result is equal to
326    **scale**.
327
328    The value popped off of the stack must be non-negative.
329
330**\_**
331
332:   If this command *immediately* precedes a number (i.e., no spaces or other
333    commands), then that number is input as a negative number.
334
335    Otherwise, the top value on the stack is popped and copied, and the copy is
336    negated and pushed onto the stack. This behavior without a number is a
337    **non-portable extension**.
338
339**b**
340
341:   The top value is popped off the stack, and if it is zero, it is pushed back
342    onto the stack. Otherwise, its absolute value is pushed onto the stack.
343
344    This is a **non-portable extension**.
345
346**|**
347
348:   The top three values are popped off the stack, a modular exponentiation is
349    computed, and the result is pushed onto the stack.
350
351    The first value popped is used as the reduction modulus and must be an
352    integer and non-zero. The second value popped is used as the exponent and
353    must be an integer and non-negative. The third value popped is the base and
354    must be an integer.
355
356    This is a **non-portable extension**.
357
358**G**
359
360:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
361    **1** is pushed if they are equal, or **0** otherwise.
362
363    This is a **non-portable extension**.
364
365**N**
366
367:   The top value is popped off of the stack, and if it a **0**, a **1** is
368    pushed; otherwise, a **0** is pushed.
369
370    This is a **non-portable extension**.
371
372**(**
373
374:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
375    **1** is pushed if the first is less than the second, or **0** otherwise.
376
377    This is a **non-portable extension**.
378
379**{**
380
381:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
382    **1** is pushed if the first is less than or equal to the second, or **0**
383    otherwise.
384
385    This is a **non-portable extension**.
386
387**)**
388
389:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
390    **1** is pushed if the first is greater than the second, or **0** otherwise.
391
392    This is a **non-portable extension**.
393
394**}**
395
396:   The top two values are popped off of the stack, they are compared, and a
397    **1** is pushed if the first is greater than or equal to the second, or
398    **0** otherwise.
399
400    This is a **non-portable extension**.
401
402**M**
403
404:   The top two values are popped off of the stack. If they are both non-zero, a
405    **1** is pushed onto the stack. If either of them is zero, or both of them
406    are, then a **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**m**
414
415:   The top two values are popped off of the stack. If at least one of them is
416    non-zero, a **1** is pushed onto the stack. If both of them are zero, then a
417    **0** is pushed onto the stack.
418
419    This is like the **||** operator in bc(1), and it is *not* a short-circuit
420    operator.
421
422    This is a **non-portable extension**.
423
424## Stack Control
425
426These commands control the stack.
427
428**c**
429
430:   Removes all items from ("clears") the stack.
431
432**d**
433
434:   Copies the item on top of the stack ("duplicates") and pushes the copy onto
435    the stack.
436
437**r**
438
439:   Swaps ("reverses") the two top items on the stack.
440
441**R**
442
443:   Pops ("removes") the top value from the stack.
444
445## Register Control
446
447These commands control registers (see the **REGISTERS** section).
448
449**s**_r_
450
451:   Pops the value off the top of the stack and stores it into register *r*.
452
453**l**_r_
454
455:   Copies the value in register *r* and pushes it onto the stack. This does not
456    alter the contents of *r*.
457
458**S**_r_
459
460:   Pops the value off the top of the (main) stack and pushes it onto the stack
461    of register *r*. The previous value of the register becomes inaccessible.
462
463**L**_r_
464
465:   Pops the value off the top of the stack for register *r* and push it onto
466    the main stack. The previous value in the stack for register *r*, if any, is
467    now accessible via the **l**_r_ command.
468
469## Parameters
470
471These commands control the values of **ibase**, **obase**, and **scale**. Also
472see the **SYNTAX** section.
473
474**i**
475
476:   Pops the value off of the top of the stack and uses it to set **ibase**,
477    which must be between **2** and **16**, inclusive.
478
479    If the value on top of the stack has any *scale*, the *scale* is ignored.
480
481**o**
482
483:   Pops the value off of the top of the stack and uses it to set **obase**,
484    which must be between **2** and **DC_BASE_MAX**, inclusive (see the
485    **LIMITS** section).
486
487    If the value on top of the stack has any *scale*, the *scale* is ignored.
488
489**k**
490
491:   Pops the value off of the top of the stack and uses it to set **scale**,
492    which must be non-negative.
493
494    If the value on top of the stack has any *scale*, the *scale* is ignored.
495
496**I**
497
498:   Pushes the current value of **ibase** onto the main stack.
499
500**O**
501
502:   Pushes the current value of **obase** onto the main stack.
503
504**K**
505
506:   Pushes the current value of **scale** onto the main stack.
507
508**T**
509
510:   Pushes the maximum allowable value of **ibase** onto the main stack.
511
512    This is a **non-portable extension**.
513
514**U**
515
516:   Pushes the maximum allowable value of **obase** onto the main stack.
517
518    This is a **non-portable extension**.
519
520**V**
521
522:   Pushes the maximum allowable value of **scale** onto the main stack.
523
524    This is a **non-portable extension**.
525
526## Strings
527
528The following commands control strings.
529
530dc(1) can work with both numbers and strings, and registers (see the
531**REGISTERS** section) can hold both strings and numbers. dc(1) always knows
532whether the contents of a register are a string or a number.
533
534While arithmetic operations have to have numbers, and will print an error if
535given a string, other commands accept strings.
536
537Strings can also be executed as macros. For example, if the string **[1pR]** is
538executed as a macro, then the code **1pR** is executed, meaning that the **1**
539will be printed with a newline after and then popped from the stack.
540
541**\[**_characters_**\]**
542
543:   Makes a string containing *characters* and pushes it onto the stack.
544
545    If there are brackets (**\[** and **\]**) in the string, then they must be
546    balanced. Unbalanced brackets can be escaped using a backslash (**\\**)
547    character.
548
549    If there is a backslash character in the string, the character after it
550    (even another backslash) is put into the string verbatim, but the (first)
551    backslash is not.
552
553**a**
554
555:   The value on top of the stack is popped.
556
557    If it is a number, it is truncated and its absolute value is taken. The
558    result mod **UCHAR_MAX+1** is calculated. If that result is **0**, push an
559    empty string; otherwise, push a one-character string where the character is
560    the result of the mod interpreted as an ASCII character.
561
562    If it is a string, then a new string is made. If the original string is
563    empty, the new string is empty. If it is not, then the first character of
564    the original string is used to create the new string as a one-character
565    string. The new string is then pushed onto the stack.
566
567    This is a **non-portable extension**.
568
569**x**
570
571:   Pops a value off of the top of the stack.
572
573    If it is a number, it is pushed back onto the stack.
574
575    If it is a string, it is executed as a macro.
576
577    This behavior is the norm whenever a macro is executed, whether by this
578    command or by the conditional execution commands below.
579
580**\>**_r_
581
582:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
583    the first value is greater than the second, then the contents of register
584    *r* are executed.
585
586    For example, **0 1>a** will execute the contents of register **a**, and
587    **1 0>a** will not.
588
589    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
590    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
591
592**>**_r_**e**_s_
593
594:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
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    This is a **non-portable extension**.
600
601**!\>**_r_
602
603:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
604    the first value is not greater than the second (less than or equal to), then
605    the contents of register *r* are executed.
606
607    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
608    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
609
610**!\>**_r_**e**_s_
611
612:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
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    This is a **non-portable extension**.
618
619**\<**_r_
620
621:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
622    the first value is less than the second, then the contents of register *r*
623    are executed.
624
625    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
626    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
627
628**\<**_r_**e**_s_
629
630:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
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    This is a **non-portable extension**.
636
637**!\<**_r_
638
639:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
640    the first value is not less than the second (greater than or equal to), then
641    the contents of register *r* are executed.
642
643    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
644    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
645
646**!\<**_r_**e**_s_
647
648:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
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    This is a **non-portable extension**.
654
655**=**_r_
656
657:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
658    the first value is equal to the second, then the contents of register *r*
659    are executed.
660
661    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
662    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
663
664**=**_r_**e**_s_
665
666:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
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    This is a **non-portable extension**.
672
673**!=**_r_
674
675:   Pops two values off of the stack that must be numbers and compares them. If
676    the first value is not equal to the second, then the contents of register
677    *r* are executed.
678
679    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
680    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
681
682**!=**_r_**e**_s_
683
684:   Like the above, but will execute register *s* if the comparison fails.
685
686    If either or both of the values are not numbers, dc(1) will raise an error
687    and reset (see the **RESET** section).
688
689    This is a **non-portable extension**.
690
691**?**
692
693:   Reads a line from the **stdin** and executes it. This is to allow macros to
694    request input from users.
695
696**q**
697
698:   During execution of a macro, this exits the execution of that macro and the
699    execution of the macro that executed it. If there are no macros, or only one
700    macro executing, dc(1) exits.
701
702**Q**
703
704:   Pops a value from the stack which must be non-negative and is used the
705    number of macro executions to pop off of the execution stack. If the number
706    of levels to pop is greater than the number of executing macros, dc(1)
707    exits.
708
709## Status
710
711These commands query status of the stack or its top value.
712
713**Z**
714
715:   Pops a value off of the stack.
716
717    If it is a number, calculates the number of significant decimal digits it
718    has and pushes the result.
719
720    If it is a string, pushes the number of characters the string has.
721
722**X**
723
724:   Pops a value off of the stack.
725
726    If it is a number, pushes the *scale* of the value onto the stack.
727
728    If it is a string, pushes **0**.
729
730**z**
731
732:   Pushes the current stack depth (before execution of this command).
733
734## Arrays
735
736These commands manipulate arrays.
737
738**:**_r_
739
740:   Pops the top two values off of the stack. The second value will be stored in
741    the array *r* (see the **REGISTERS** section), indexed by the first value.
742
743**;**_r_
744
745:   Pops the value on top of the stack and uses it as an index into the array
746    *r*. The selected value is then pushed onto the stack.
747
748# REGISTERS
749
750Registers are names that can store strings, numbers, and arrays. (Number/string
751registers do not interfere with array registers.)
752
753Each register is also its own stack, so the current register value is the top of
754the stack for the register. All registers, when first referenced, have one value
755(**0**) in their stack.
756
757In non-extended register mode, a register name is just the single character that
758follows any command that needs a register name. The only exception is a newline
759(**'\\n'**); it is a parse error for a newline to be used as a register name.
760
761## Extended Register Mode
762
763Unlike most other dc(1) implentations, this dc(1) provides nearly unlimited
764amounts of registers, if extended register mode is enabled.
765
766If extended register mode is enabled (**-x** or **-\-extended-register**
767command-line arguments are given), then normal single character registers are
768used *unless* the character immediately following a command that needs a
769register name is a space (according to **isspace()**) and not a newline
770(**'\\n'**).
771
772In that case, the register name is found according to the regex
773**\[a-z\]\[a-z0-9\_\]\*** (like bc(1) identifiers), and it is a parse error if
774the next non-space characters do not match that regex.
775
776# RESET
777
778When dc(1) encounters an error or a signal that it has a non-default handler
779for, it resets. This means that several things happen.
780
781First, any macros that are executing are stopped and popped off the stack.
782The behavior is not unlike that of exceptions in programming languages. Then
783the execution point is set so that any code waiting to execute (after all
784macros returned) is skipped.
785
786Thus, when dc(1) resets, it skips any remaining code waiting to be executed.
787Then, if it is interactive mode, and the error was not a fatal error (see the
788**EXIT STATUS** section), it asks for more input; otherwise, it exits with the
789appropriate return code.
790
791# PERFORMANCE
792
793Most dc(1) implementations use **char** types to calculate the value of **1**
794decimal digit at a time, but that can be slow. This dc(1) does something
795different.
796
797It uses large integers to calculate more than **1** decimal digit at a time. If
798built in a environment where **DC_LONG_BIT** (see the **LIMITS** section) is
799**64**, then each integer has **9** decimal digits. If built in an environment
800where **DC_LONG_BIT** is **32** then each integer has **4** decimal digits. This
801value (the number of decimal digits per large integer) is called
802**DC_BASE_DIGS**.
803
804In addition, this dc(1) uses an even larger integer for overflow checking. This
805integer type depends on the value of **DC_LONG_BIT**, but is always at least
806twice as large as the integer type used to store digits.
807
808# LIMITS
809
810The following are the limits on dc(1):
811
812**DC_LONG_BIT**
813
814:   The number of bits in the **long** type in the environment where dc(1) was
815    built. This determines how many decimal digits can be stored in a single
816    large integer (see the **PERFORMANCE** section).
817
818**DC_BASE_DIGS**
819
820:   The number of decimal digits per large integer (see the **PERFORMANCE**
821    section). Depends on **DC_LONG_BIT**.
822
823**DC_BASE_POW**
824
825:   The max decimal number that each large integer can store (see
826    **DC_BASE_DIGS**) plus **1**. Depends on **DC_BASE_DIGS**.
827
828**DC_OVERFLOW_MAX**
829
830:   The max number that the overflow type (see the **PERFORMANCE** section) can
831    hold. Depends on **DC_LONG_BIT**.
832
833**DC_BASE_MAX**
834
835:   The maximum output base. Set at **DC_BASE_POW**.
836
837**DC_DIM_MAX**
838
839:   The maximum size of arrays. Set at **SIZE_MAX-1**.
840
841**DC_SCALE_MAX**
842
843:   The maximum **scale**. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
844
845**DC_STRING_MAX**
846
847:   The maximum length of strings. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
848
849**DC_NAME_MAX**
850
851:   The maximum length of identifiers. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
852
853**DC_NUM_MAX**
854
855:   The maximum length of a number (in decimal digits), which includes digits
856    after the decimal point. Set at **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX-1**.
857
858Exponent
859
860:   The maximum allowable exponent (positive or negative). Set at
861    **DC_OVERFLOW_MAX**.
862
863Number of vars
864
865:   The maximum number of vars/arrays. Set at **SIZE_MAX-1**.
866
867These limits are meant to be effectively non-existent; the limits are so large
868(at least on 64-bit machines) that there should not be any point at which they
869become a problem. In fact, memory should be exhausted before these limits should
870be hit.
871
872# ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
873
874dc(1) recognizes the following environment variables:
875
876**DC_ENV_ARGS**
877
878:   This is another way to give command-line arguments to dc(1). They should be
879    in the same format as all other command-line arguments. These are always
880    processed first, so any files given in **DC_ENV_ARGS** will be processed
881    before arguments and files given on the command-line. This gives the user
882    the ability to set up "standard" options and files to be used at every
883    invocation. The most useful thing for such files to contain would be useful
884    functions that the user might want every time dc(1) runs. Another use would
885    be to use the **-e** option to set **scale** to a value other than **0**.
886
887    The code that parses **DC_ENV_ARGS** will correctly handle quoted arguments,
888    but it does not understand escape sequences. For example, the string
889    **"/home/gavin/some dc file.dc"** will be correctly parsed, but the string
890    **"/home/gavin/some \"dc\" file.dc"** will include the backslashes.
891
892    The quote parsing will handle either kind of quotes, **'** or **"**. Thus,
893    if you have a file with any number of single quotes in the name, you can use
894    double quotes as the outside quotes, as in **"some 'dc' file.dc"**, and vice
895    versa if you have a file with double quotes. However, handling a file with
896    both kinds of quotes in **DC_ENV_ARGS** is not supported due to the
897    complexity of the parsing, though such files are still supported on the
898    command-line where the parsing is done by the shell.
899
900**DC_LINE_LENGTH**
901
902:   If this environment variable exists and contains an integer that is greater
903    than **1** and is less than **UINT16_MAX** (**2\^16-1**), dc(1) will output
904    lines to that length, including the backslash newline combo. The default
905    line length is **70**.
906
907**DC_EXPR_EXIT**
908
909:   If this variable exists (no matter the contents), dc(1) will exit
910    immediately after executing expressions and files given by the **-e** and/or
911    **-f** command-line options (and any equivalents).
912
913# EXIT STATUS
914
915dc(1) returns the following exit statuses:
916
917**0**
918
919:   No error.
920
921**1**
922
923:   A math error occurred. This follows standard practice of using **1** for
924    expected errors, since math errors will happen in the process of normal
925    execution.
926
927    Math errors include divide by **0**, taking the square root of a negative
928    number, attempting to convert a negative number to a hardware integer,
929    overflow when converting a number to a hardware integer, and attempting to
930    use a non-integer where an integer is required.
931
932    Converting to a hardware integer happens for the second operand of the power
933    (**\^**) operator.
934
935**2**
936
937:   A parse error occurred.
938
939    Parse errors include unexpected **EOF**, using an invalid character, failing
940    to find the end of a string or comment, and using a token where it is
941    invalid.
942
943**3**
944
945:   A runtime error occurred.
946
947    Runtime errors include assigning an invalid number to **ibase**, **obase**,
948    or **scale**; give a bad expression to a **read()** call, calling **read()**
949    inside of a **read()** call, type errors, and attempting an operation when
950    the stack has too few elements.
951
952**4**
953
954:   A fatal error occurred.
955
956    Fatal errors include memory allocation errors, I/O errors, failing to open
957    files, attempting to use files that do not have only ASCII characters (dc(1)
958    only accepts ASCII characters), attempting to open a directory as a file,
959    and giving invalid command-line options.
960
961The exit status **4** is special; when a fatal error occurs, dc(1) always exits
962and returns **4**, no matter what mode dc(1) is in.
963
964The other statuses will only be returned when dc(1) is not in interactive mode
965(see the **INTERACTIVE MODE** section), since dc(1) resets its state (see the
966**RESET** section) and accepts more input when one of those errors occurs in
967interactive mode. This is also the case when interactive mode is forced by the
968**-i** flag or **-\-interactive** option.
969
970These exit statuses allow dc(1) to be used in shell scripting with error
971checking, and its normal behavior can be forced by using the **-i** flag or
972**-\-interactive** option.
973
974# INTERACTIVE MODE
975
976Like bc(1), dc(1) has an interactive mode and a non-interactive mode.
977Interactive mode is turned on automatically when both **stdin** and **stdout**
978are hooked to a terminal, but the **-i** flag and **-\-interactive** option can
979turn it on in other cases.
980
981In interactive mode, dc(1) attempts to recover from errors (see the **RESET**
982section), and in normal execution, flushes **stdout** as soon as execution is
983done for the current input.
984
985# TTY MODE
986
987If **stdin**, **stdout**, and **stderr** are all connected to a TTY, dc(1) turns
988on "TTY mode."
989
990TTY mode is required for history to be enabled (see the **COMMAND LINE HISTORY**
991section). It is also required to enable special handling for **SIGINT** signals.
992
993The prompt is enabled in TTY mode.
994
995TTY mode is different from interactive mode because interactive mode is required
996in the [bc(1) specification][1], and interactive mode requires only **stdin**
997and **stdout** to be connected to a terminal.
998
999# SIGNAL HANDLING
1000
1001Sending a **SIGINT** will cause dc(1) to stop execution of the current input. If
1002dc(1) is in TTY mode (see the **TTY MODE** section), it will reset (see the
1003**RESET** section). Otherwise, it will clean up and exit.
1004
1005Note that "current input" can mean one of two things. If dc(1) is processing
1006input from **stdin** in TTY mode, it will ask for more input. If dc(1) is
1007processing input from a file in TTY mode, it will stop processing the file and
1008start processing the next file, if one exists, or ask for input from **stdin**
1009if no other file exists.
1010
1011This means that if a **SIGINT** is sent to dc(1) as it is executing a file, it
1012can seem as though dc(1) did not respond to the signal since it will immediately
1013start executing the next file. This is by design; most files that users execute
1014when interacting with dc(1) have function definitions, which are quick to parse.
1015If a file takes a long time to execute, there may be a bug in that file. The
1016rest of the files could still be executed without problem, allowing the user to
1017continue.
1018
1019**SIGTERM** and **SIGQUIT** cause dc(1) to clean up and exit, and it uses the
1020default handler for all other signals. The one exception is **SIGHUP**; in that
1021case, when dc(1) is in TTY mode, a **SIGHUP** will cause dc(1) to clean up and
1022exit.
1023
1024# COMMAND LINE HISTORY
1025
1026dc(1) supports interactive command-line editing. If dc(1) is in TTY mode (see
1027the **TTY MODE** section), history is enabled. Previous lines can be recalled
1028and edited with the arrow keys.
1029
1030**Note**: tabs are converted to 8 spaces.
1031
1032# LOCALES
1033
1034This dc(1) ships with support for adding error messages for different locales
1035and thus, supports **LC_MESSAGS**.
1036
1037# SEE ALSO
1038
1039bc(1)
1040
1041# STANDARDS
1042
1043The dc(1) utility operators are compliant with the operators in the bc(1)
1044[IEEE Std 1003.1-2017 (“POSIX.1-2017”)][1] specification.
1045
1046# BUGS
1047
1048None are known. Report bugs at https://git.yzena.com/gavin/bc.
1049
1050# AUTHOR
1051
1052Gavin D. Howard <gavin@yzena.com> and contributors.
1053
1054[1]: https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/bc.html
1055