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dc (computer program)
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<p>dc (<i>desk calculator</i>) is a <a href="/facts/Cross-platform/16zqdvNR">cross-platform</a> <a href="/facts/Reverse_Polish_notation/a6rDoJ7X">reverse-Polish</a> calculator which supports <a href="/facts/Arbitrary-precision_arithmetic/cXxc8yB2">arbitrary-precision arithmetic</a>. It was written by <a href="/facts/Lorinda_Cherry/RBUNG04e">Lorinda Cherry</a> and <a href="/facts/Robert_Morris_(cryptographer)/3L0QovBu">Robert Morris</a> at <a href="/facts/Bell_Labs/fKP5Gk0H">Bell Labs</a>. It is one of the oldest <a href="/facts/Unix/0pNL2seI">Unix</a> utilities, preceding even the invention of the <a href="/facts/C_(programming_language)/Ky2No763">C programming language</a>. Like other utilities of that vintage, it has a powerful set of features but terse syntax. Traditionally, the <a href="/facts/Bc_(programming_language)/8nUNyNeD">bc</a> calculator program (with <a href="/facts/Infix_notation/LY0dMhay">infix notation</a>) was implemented on top of dc, now the implementation of GNU dc bases on bc. </p><p>This article provides some examples in an attempt to give a general flavour of the language; for a complete list of commands and syntax, one should consult the <a href="/facts/Man_page/S2yYjy0J">man page</a> for one's specific implementation. </p>