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     HOC(1)                                                     HOC(1)

     NAME
          hoc - interactive floating point language

     SYNOPSIS
          hoc [ file ... ]

     DESCRIPTION
          Hoc interprets a simple language for floating point arith-
          metic, at about the level of BASIC, with C-like syntax and
          functions.

          The named files are read and interpreted in order.  If no
          file is given or if file is `-' hoc interprets the standard
          input.

          Hoc input consists of expressions and statements. Expres-
          sions are evaluated and their results printed.  Statements,
          typically assignments and function or procedure definitions,
          produce no output unless they explicitly call print.

          Variable names are the usual syntax, including `_'; the name
          `_' by itself contains the value of the last expression
          evaluated.  The variables E, PI, PHI, GAMMA and DEG are pre-
          defined; the last is 59.25..., degrees per radian.

          Expressions are formed with these operators:
               ^         exponentiation
               ! - ++ -- unary logical and arithmetic negation, ...
               * / %     the obvious
               + -       ditto
               > >= < <= == !=
               &&
               oror
               = += -= *= /= %=
          Built in functions include abs, atan (one argument), cos,
          exp, int, log, log10, sin, and sqrt. The function read(x)
          reads a value into the variable x; the statement print
          prints a list of expressions that may include string con-
          stants such as

          Control flow includes if-else, while, and for, with braces
          for grouping.  End of line marks end of statement, as does a
          semicolon.

          Functions and procedures are introduced by the words func
          and proc; return is used to return, with a value from a
          function.  Within a function or procedure, arguments are
          referred to as $1, $2, etc.; all other variables are global.

     HOC(1)                                                     HOC(1)

     SEE ALSO
          The Unix Programming Environment by Brian Kernighan and Rob
          Pike.
          bc(1), dc(1)

     BUGS
          Error recovery is imperfect within function and procedure
          definitions.
          The treatment of newlines is not exactly user-friendly.