Get Started with CLI Calculator
A fast, script-friendly command-line calculator with a REPL, rich expression support, and power features for everyday math and developer workflows.
1) First run
Interactive Menu
Start the menu:
calculator
Then select modes:
Welcome to the CLI Calculator!
=== Main Menu ===
1) Basic operations
2) Conversion tools
3) Divisor finder
4) Equation solver
5) Matrix operations
6) Square root calculator
7) Variable manager
8) Prime factorization
9) Statistical tools
10) Graph utility
11) Launch REPL mode
12) Report a bug
0) Exit
Select option: 1
--- Expression Evaluator ---
1) Standard (double)
2) Bigint (integers only)
3) Bigdouble (high-precision decimals)
0) Back
Select option: 1
Enter an expression (type 'back' to return): 2*2
Result: 4
Interactive REPL
Start the REPL:
cli-calculator --repl
Then type expressions:
> 2 + 2
4
> (3 + 5) * 2
16
One-shot evaluation
If you prefer non-interactive usage (great for scripts), run a single expression and exit:
cli-calculator --eval "2 + 2"
Tip: quote expressions to avoid shell interpretation.
3) Core syntax
Numbers & operators
- Supports standard arithmetic:
+ - * /and parentheses(...) - Use decimals normally:
3.14,0.001
Examples:
> 10 / 4
2.5
> 2*(7-3)
8
Variables
Assign and reuse values:
> x = 42
> x * 2
84
Functions
Typical scientific-style functions are available (names may vary by build). Try:
> sin(0)
0
> sqrt(81)
9
If a function name fails, use help (see below) to list what your build supports.
4) Useful commands
Inside the REPL, these are commonly available:
help— show commands and featuresexit/quit— leave the REPLclear— clear the screen (if supported)
Example:
> help
... lists commands, operators, and modules ...
5) Big numbers (BigInt / BigDouble)
CLI Calculator can handle larger-than-standard values depending on your build configuration.
Try:
> 999999999999999999999999 + 1
1000000000000000000000000
If you see a limitation message, your build may be using a standard numeric backend.
6) Matrices (if enabled)
Some builds include matrix operations.
Example idea (syntax may vary):
> A = [[1,2],[3,4]]
> det(A)
-2
If this doesn’t parse, use help to see the exact matrix syntax in your version.
7) Tips for scripting
Exit codes
Use one-shot evaluation for scripts and CI:
cli-calculator "3*3"
Avoid shell pitfalls
- Quote expressions containing ,
(,),^, or spaces. - On PowerShell, prefer double quotes and escape where needed.
8) Troubleshooting
“Command not found”
- Snap: make sure
~/snap/binis in yourPATH(or log out/in). - Docker: confirm you’re running the image command correctly.
Unexpected parsing errors
- Wrap the expression in quotes.
- Use
helpto check supported operators/functions.
Build issues
- Ensure your compiler supports modern C++ (C++17/20).
- Reconfigure from a clean build folder:
rm -rf build
cmake -S . -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
cmake --build build -j
9) Next steps
- Explore
helpto discover modules and advanced features (graphing, extra functions, etc.). - Check the repository README for the full feature list, releases, and platform-specific notes.