#Rust console calculator code

It even has useful defaults so you don't have to remember to set the decimal precision to non-zero before you solve 10/3. That's what the Bash shell script calc does-offer a simple, user-friendly command-line calculator. Saddled with a clumsy interface and distinct lack of useful command-line options, how bc is still a part of the operating system is a mystery.įortunately, we're talking about Linux, which means we can solve the problem by wrapping a better interface around a tool that offers the raw functionality we need-in Linux parlance, a 'wrapper program', for obvious reasons.

You can use the basic calculator bc, but that's a tool with a language only a grizzled old-school hacker could possibly love, and it's hard to understand its purpose in the system all these years later. You can use expr or even the shell $(( )) notation, but they're quite limited, as is immediately obvious when you try to solve 10/3 or anything else that's not simple integer math. There are features missing from the command line in a typical Unix or Linux system, however, notably a powerful and flexible calculator. There's a lot about modern GUIs that make them superior, but in terms of power, speed, and flexibility, the command line still rocks, and even more so if you can type quickly.

#Rust console calculator code

I understand-I've been using the command line since that was the only option in the computing world, and even contributed code to BSD Unix, back in the day. If you're reading this article, odds are good that you're not only familiar with the command line on your computer system, but that you're quite comfortable using it to the exclusion of the graphical interface.