Compute Numerical Values at the Command Line
Basic Math
Experts use tools such as bc and dc for arithmetic in the shell. The num-utils and datamash packages open up further opportunities for processing numerical values at the command line.
Keyboard fans love working at the command line: The shell carries out your commands without any compromises. Only if you enter incorrect information does it let you know its dissatisfaction, but it even does that in an extremely courteous way.
Whether Bash, Dash, zsh, or ksh, the shell initially processes inputs as character strings, making it perfect for most tasks. When it comes to interpreting the input, the command line sometimes needs a little help since it cannot guess on its own when it needs to evaluate input as numeric. Read on to learn how to tell the shell to do this.
The use cases mostly relate to admin and statistics and often involve evaluating logfiles, say for failed login attempts, network statistics, or memory usage. Although there are specialist utilities that do this, knowing how to handle these tasks without their help is a good thing.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Nitrux 6.0 Now Ready to Rock Your World
The latest iteration of the Debian-based distribution includes all kinds of newness.
-
Linux Foundation Reports that Open Source Delivers Better ROI
In a report that may surprise no one in the Linux community, the Linux Foundation found that businesses are finding a 5X return on investment with open source software.
-
Keep Android Open
Google has announced that, soon, anyone looking to develop Android apps will have to first register centrally with Google.
-
Kernel 7.0 Now in Testing
Linus Torvalds has announced the first Release Candidate (RC) for the 7.x kernel is available for those who want to test it.
-
Introducing matrixOS, an Immutable Gentoo-Based Linux Distro
It was only a matter of time before a developer decided one of the most challenging Linux distributions needed to be immutable.
-
Chaos Comes to KDE in KaOS
KaOS devs are making a major change to the distribution, and it all comes down to one system.
-
New Linux Botnet Discovered
The SSHStalker botnet uses IRC C2 to control systems via legacy Linux kernel exploits.
-
The Next Linux Kernel Turns 7.0
Linus Torvalds has announced that after Linux kernel 6.19, we'll finally reach the 7.0 iteration stage.
-
Linux From Scratch Drops SysVinit Support
LFS will no longer support SysVinit.
-
LibreOffice 26.2 Now Available
With new features, improvements, and bug fixes, LibreOffice 26.2 delivers a modern, polished office suite without compromise.