install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install w-calc

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install wcalc

MacPorts ports tree · science/wcalc/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install wcalc

Debian stable package indexes · wcalc · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#wcalc

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/wc/wcalc/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Very capable calculator

Project links

Commands and aliases

wcalc

history

Project history and usage

Wcalc is a small command-line scientific calculator focused on natural mathematical expressions, arbitrary precision, constants, variables, command history, base conversion, and unit conversion.

Project history

The Wcalc SourceForge project was registered in October 2002 and presents the program as a powerful arbitrary-precision calculator. Its project page identifies the main interface as command-line software written in C and distributed under GPLv2.

Adoption history

Wcalc's adoption is modest but long-lived: its latest 2.5 source archives are still distributed from SourceForge, and Unix-like package ecosystems continue to carry it as a compact calculator for shell users.

How it is used

It is used where a terminal calculator is more convenient than a desktop calculator or a full computer-algebra system: quick scientific expressions, reusable variables, common constants, history-driven interactive work, and hexadecimal, octal, or binary input and output.

Why package nerds care

For package maintainers, w-calc is one of those small utilities that survives because it has a crisp Unix shape: one executable, text I/O, arbitrary precision through standard math libraries, and enough expression syntax to be useful in scripts or interactive shells.

Timeline

2002: The Wcalc SourceForge project was registered.
2015: The Wcalc 2.5 release archives and README were published on SourceForge.
2020s: The project remains available as a packaged command-line calculator on Unix-like systems.

Related projects

Related tools in the same niche include bc, dc, calc, and GUI scientific calculators, but Wcalc's package identity is the lightweight expression-oriented CLI.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.
Installs with 2 runtime dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`wcalc`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08

manager version2.5

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://w-calc.sourceforge.net/

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://w-calc.sourceforge.net/none confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:w-calc
Version	2.5
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/w-calc
Homepage	https://w-calc.sourceforge.net/
Repository	https://sourceforge.net/p/w-calc/code
Upstream docs	https://sourceforge.net/projects/w-calc
License	GPL-2.0-or-later
Source archive	https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/w-calc/Wcalc/2.5/wcalc-2.5.tar.bz2
Dependencies	gmp, mpfr
Bottle	available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	w-calc
Version Scheme	0
Revision	1
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

MacPorts94%

wcalc

sudo port install wcalc

installed executable or alias match
Matched by: Wcalc

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: science/wcalc/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Debian apt92%

wcalc 2.5-3+b2

Flexible command-line scientific calculator

http://w-calc.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install wcalc

Section: math
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: wcalc
4 dependencies
installed executable or alias match
Matched by: Wcalc

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: wcalc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix92%

wcalc

nix profile install nixpkgs#wcalc

installed executable or alias match
Matched by: Wcalc

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/wc/wcalc/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt92%

wcalc 2.5-3build3

Flexible command-line scientific calculator

http://w-calc.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install wcalc

Section: universe/math
Architecture: amd64
4 dependencies
installed executable or alias match
Matched by: Wcalc

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: wcalc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/w-calc.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install w-calc with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix