pkg.soopen package index

brew / rank 13508

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

Very capable calculator. Version 2.5 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with macports: sudo port install wcalc.

Install commandSecurity notes

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

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.

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 bottle metadata was recorded.

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

CommandKindExposureNote
wcalcexecutableindexed executableDiscovered from the local executable index.

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 generated2026-08-03
manager version2.5
manager updated
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
  • okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:w-calc
Version2.5
Package managerHomebrew
Homepagehttps://w-calc.sourceforge.net/
Bottlenot recorded
Servicenone declared

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.

Used sources

  • Geiger risk classifier
  • cross-ecosystem install command graph
  • curated package history
  • external package-manager database matches
  • pkg.so package database
  • pkgdb category and tag curation