dc: Introduction
1 Introduction
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'dc' is a reverse-polish desk calculator which supports unlimited
precision arithmetic. It also allows you to define and call macros.
Normally 'dc' reads from the standard input; if any command arguments
are given to it, they are filenames, and 'dc' reads and executes the
contents of the files instead of reading from standard input. All
normal output is to standard output; all error messages are written to
standard error.
To exit, use 'q'. 'C-c' (or whatever other keystroke your system
uses to generate a 'SIGINT') does not exit; it is used to abort macros
that are looping, etc.
A reverse-polish calculator stores numbers on a stack. Entering a
number pushes it on the stack. Arithmetic operations pop arguments off
the stack and push the results.
To enter a number in 'dc', type the digits (using upper case letters
'A' through 'F' as "digits" when working with input bases greater than
ten), with an optional decimal point. Exponential notation is not
supported. To enter a negative number, begin the number with '_'. '-'
cannot be used for this, as it is a binary operator for subtraction
instead. To enter two numbers in succession, separate them with spaces
or newlines; these have no meaning as commands.
Info Catalog
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dc: Invocation