added dup to doc

added no versions of batch debug and showstack toggles

README.md

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Features:
 - completion
 - history
 - comments (comment character is `#`)
+- variables
 
 ## Demo
 
@@ -224,10 +225,15 @@ the `register()` function to register your functions to the
 calculator. This function takes these parameters:
 
 - function name
-- number of arguments expected (1,2 or -1 allowed), -1 means batch
-  mode
+- number of arguments expected (see below)
 - help text
 
+Number of expected arguments can be:
+
+- 0: expect 1 argument but do NOT modify the stack
+- 1-n: do a singular calculation
+- -1: batch mode work with all numbers on the stack 
+
 Please [refer to the lua language
 reference](https://www.lua.org/manual/5.4/) for more details about
 LUA.

calc.go

@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ package main
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
 	"regexp"
+	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -33,33 +33,32 @@ type Calc struct {
 	batch        bool
 	stdin        bool
 	showstack    bool
+	intermediate bool
+	notdone      bool // set to true as long as there are items left in the eval loop
 	stack        *Stack
 	history      []string
 	completer    readline.AutoCompleter
 	interpreter  *Interpreter
 	Space        *regexp.Regexp
 	Comment      *regexp.Regexp
+	Register     *regexp.Regexp
 	Constants    []string
 	LuaFunctions []string
 
 	Funcalls      Funcalls
 	BatchFuncalls Funcalls
+
+	// different kinds of commands, displays nicer in help output
+	StackCommands    Commands
+	SettingsCommands Commands
+	ShowCommands     Commands
+	Commands         Commands
+
+	Vars map[string]float64
 }
 
 // help for lua functions will be added dynamically
-const Help string = `Available commands:
-batch                toggle batch mode
-debug                toggle debug output
-show                 show the last 5 items of the stack
-dump                 display the stack contents
-clear                clear the whole stack
-shift                remove the last element of the stack
-reverse              reverse the stack elements
-swap                 exchange the last two elements
-history              display calculation history
-help|?               show this message
-quit|exit|c-d|c-c    exit program
-
+const Help string = `
 Operators:
 basic operators: + - x * / ^  (* is an alias of x)
 
@@ -79,12 +78,16 @@ sum                  sum of all values (alias: +)
 max                  max of all values
 min                  min of all values
 mean                 mean of all values (alias: avg)
-median               median of all values`
+median               median of all values
+
+Register variables:
+>NAME                Put last stack element into variable NAME
+<NAME                Retrieve variable NAME and put onto stack`
 
 // commands, constants and operators,  defined here to feed completion
 // and our mode switch in Eval() dynamically
 const (
-	Commands  string = `dump reverse debug undebug clear batch shift undo help history manual exit quit swap show`
+	//Commands  string = `dump reverse clear shift undo help history manual exit quit swap debug undebug nodebug batch nobatch showstack noshowstack vars`
 	Constants string = `Pi Phi Sqrt2 SqrtE SqrtPi SqrtPhi Ln2 Log2E Ln10 Log10E`
 )
 
@@ -97,7 +100,6 @@ func GetCompleteCustomFunctions() func(string) []string {
 			completions = append(completions, luafunc)
 		}
 
-		completions = append(completions, strings.Split(Commands, " ")...)
 		completions = append(completions, strings.Split(Constants, " ")...)
 
 		return completions
@@ -116,6 +118,22 @@ func (c *Calc) GetCompleteCustomFuncalls() func(string) []string {
 			completions = append(completions, function)
 		}
 
+		for command := range c.SettingsCommands {
+			completions = append(completions, command)
+		}
+
+		for command := range c.ShowCommands {
+			completions = append(completions, command)
+		}
+
+		for command := range c.StackCommands {
+			completions = append(completions, command)
+		}
+
+		for command := range c.Commands {
+			completions = append(completions, command)
+		}
+
 		return completions
 	}
 
@@ -126,6 +144,7 @@ func NewCalc() *Calc {
 
 	c.Funcalls = DefineFunctions()
 	c.BatchFuncalls = DefineBatchFunctions()
+	c.Vars = map[string]float64{}
 
 	c.completer = readline.NewPrefixCompleter(
 		// custom lua functions
@@ -135,20 +154,23 @@ func NewCalc() *Calc {
 
 	c.Space = regexp.MustCompile(`\s+`)
 	c.Comment = regexp.MustCompile(`#.*`) // ignore everything after #
+	c.Register = regexp.MustCompile(`^([<>])([A-Z][A-Z0-9]*)`)
 
 	// pre-calculate mode switching arrays
 	c.Constants = strings.Split(Constants, " ")
 
-	for name := range LuaFuncs {
-		c.LuaFunctions = append(c.LuaFunctions, name)
-	}
+	c.SetCommands()
 
 	return &c
 }
 
-// setup the interpreter, called from main()
+// setup the interpreter, called from main(), import lua functions
 func (c *Calc) SetInt(I *Interpreter) {
 	c.interpreter = I
+
+	for name := range LuaFuncs {
+		c.LuaFunctions = append(c.LuaFunctions, name)
+	}
 }
 
 func (c *Calc) ToggleDebug() {
@@ -198,7 +220,15 @@ func (c *Calc) Eval(line string) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	for _, item := range c.Space.Split(line, -1) {
+	items := c.Space.Split(line, -1)
+
+	for pos, item := range items {
+		if pos+1 < len(items) {
+			c.notdone = true
+		} else {
+			c.notdone = false
+		}
+
 		num, err := strconv.ParseFloat(item, 64)
 
 		if err == nil {
@@ -239,58 +269,48 @@ func (c *Calc) Eval(line string) {
 
 			if contains(c.LuaFunctions, item) {
 				// user provided custom lua functions
-				c.luafunc(item)
+				c.EvalLuaFunction(item)
+				continue
+			}
+
+			regmatches := c.Register.FindStringSubmatch(item)
+			if len(regmatches) == 3 {
+				switch regmatches[1] {
+				case ">":
+					c.PutVar(regmatches[2])
+				case "<":
+					c.GetVar(regmatches[2])
+				}
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// internal commands
+			if _, ok := c.Commands[item]; ok {
+				c.Commands[item].Func(c)
+				continue
+			}
+
+			if _, ok := c.ShowCommands[item]; ok {
+				c.ShowCommands[item].Func(c)
+				continue
+			}
+
+			if _, ok := c.StackCommands[item]; ok {
+				c.StackCommands[item].Func(c)
+				continue
+			}
+
+			if _, ok := c.SettingsCommands[item]; ok {
+				c.SettingsCommands[item].Func(c)
 				continue
 			}
 
-			// management commands
 			switch item {
 			case "?":
 				fallthrough
 			case "help":
-				fmt.Println(Help)
-				fmt.Println("Lua functions:")
-				for name, function := range LuaFuncs {
-					fmt.Printf("%-20s %s\n", name, function.help)
-				}
-			case "dump":
-				c.stack.Dump()
-			case "debug":
-				c.ToggleDebug()
-			case "undebug":
-				c.debug = false
-			case "batch":
-				c.ToggleBatch()
-			case "clear":
-				c.stack.Backup()
-				c.stack.Clear()
-			case "shift":
-				c.stack.Backup()
-				c.stack.Shift()
-			case "reverse":
-				c.stack.Backup()
-				c.stack.Reverse()
-			case "swap":
-				if c.stack.Len() < 2 {
-					fmt.Println("stack too small, can't swap")
-				} else {
-					c.stack.Backup()
-					c.stack.Swap()
-				}
-			case "undo":
-				c.stack.Restore()
-			case "history":
-				for _, entry := range c.history {
-					fmt.Println(entry)
-				}
-			case "show":
-				c.ToggleShow()
-			case "exit":
-				fallthrough
-			case "quit":
-				os.Exit(0)
-			case "manual":
-				man()
+				c.PrintHelp()
+
 			default:
 				fmt.Println("unknown command or operator!")
 			}
@@ -350,6 +370,10 @@ func (c *Calc) DoFuncall(funcname string) error {
 		return R.Err
 	}
 
+	// don't forget to backup!
+	c.stack.Backup()
+
+	// "pop"
 	if batch {
 		// get rid of stack
 		c.stack.Clear()
@@ -379,11 +403,16 @@ func (c *Calc) History(format string, args ...any) {
 
 // print the result
 func (c *Calc) Result() float64 {
+	// we only  print the result if it's either  a final result or
+	// (if it is intermediate) if -i has been given
+	if c.intermediate || !c.notdone {
+		// only needed in repl
 		if !c.stdin {
 			fmt.Print("= ")
 		}
 
 		fmt.Println(c.stack.Last()[0])
+	}
 
 	return c.stack.Last()[0]
 }
@@ -394,12 +423,14 @@ func (c *Calc) Debug(msg string) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (c *Calc) luafunc(funcname string) {
+func (c *Calc) EvalLuaFunction(funcname string) {
 	// called from calc loop
 	var x float64
 	var err error
 
 	switch c.interpreter.FuncNumArgs(funcname) {
+	case 0:
+		fallthrough
 	case 1:
 		x, err = c.interpreter.CallLuaFunc(funcname, c.stack.Last())
 	case 2:
@@ -417,7 +448,15 @@ func (c *Calc) luafunc(funcname string) {
 
 	c.stack.Backup()
 
+	dopush := true
+
 	switch c.interpreter.FuncNumArgs(funcname) {
+	case 0:
+		a := c.stack.Last()
+		if len(a) == 1 {
+			c.History("%s(%f) = %f", funcname, a, x)
+		}
+		dopush = false
 	case 1:
 		a := c.stack.Pop()
 		c.History("%s(%f) = %f", funcname, a, x)
@@ -430,7 +469,78 @@ func (c *Calc) luafunc(funcname string) {
 		c.History("%s(*) = %f", funcname, x)
 	}
 
+	if dopush {
 		c.stack.Push(x)
+	}
 
 	c.Result()
 }
+
+func (c *Calc) PutVar(name string) {
+	last := c.stack.Last()
+
+	if len(last) == 1 {
+		c.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("register %.2f in %s", last[0], name))
+		c.Vars[name] = last[0]
+	} else {
+		fmt.Println("empty stack")
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *Calc) GetVar(name string) {
+	if _, ok := c.Vars[name]; ok {
+		c.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("retrieve %.2f from %s", c.Vars[name], name))
+		c.stack.Backup()
+		c.stack.Push(c.Vars[name])
+	} else {
+		fmt.Println("variable doesn't exist")
+	}
+}
+
+func sortcommands(hash Commands) []string {
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(hash))
+
+	for key := range hash {
+		keys = append(keys, key)
+	}
+
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+
+	return keys
+}
+
+func (c *Calc) PrintHelp() {
+	fmt.Println("Available configuration commands:")
+	for _, name := range sortcommands(c.SettingsCommands) {
+		fmt.Printf("%-20s %s\n", name, c.SettingsCommands[name].Help)
+	}
+	fmt.Println()
+
+	fmt.Println("Available show commands:")
+	for _, name := range sortcommands(c.ShowCommands) {
+		fmt.Printf("%-20s %s\n", name, c.ShowCommands[name].Help)
+	}
+	fmt.Println()
+
+	fmt.Println("Available stack manipulation commands:")
+	for _, name := range sortcommands(c.StackCommands) {
+		fmt.Printf("%-20s %s\n", name, c.StackCommands[name].Help)
+	}
+	fmt.Println()
+
+	fmt.Println("Other commands:")
+	for _, name := range sortcommands(c.Commands) {
+		fmt.Printf("%-20s %s\n", name, c.Commands[name].Help)
+	}
+	fmt.Println()
+
+	fmt.Println(Help)
+
+	// append lua functions, if any
+	if len(LuaFuncs) > 0 {
+		fmt.Println("Lua functions:")
+		for name, function := range LuaFuncs {
+			fmt.Printf("%-20s %s\n", name, function.help)
+		}
+	}
+}

calc_test.go

@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"testing"
+
+	lua "github.com/yuin/gopher-lua"
 )
 
 func TestCommentsAndWhitespace(t *testing.T) {
@@ -104,6 +106,7 @@ func TestCalc(t *testing.T) {
 		exp   float64
 		batch bool
 	}{
+		// ops
 		{
 			name: "plus",
 			cmd:  `15 15 +`,
@@ -144,6 +147,8 @@ func TestCalc(t *testing.T) {
 			cmd:  `400 20 %+`,
 			exp:  480,
 		},
+
+		// math tests
 		{
 			name: "mod",
 			cmd:  `9 2 mod`,
@@ -164,6 +169,20 @@ func TestCalc(t *testing.T) {
 			cmd:  `6 4 dim`,
 			exp:  2,
 		},
+
+		// constants tests
+		{
+			name: "pitimes2",
+			cmd:  `Pi 2 *`,
+			exp:  6.283185307179586,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "pi+sqrt2",
+			cmd:  `Pi Sqrt2 +`,
+			exp:  4.555806215962888,
+		},
+
+		// batch tests
 		{
 			name:  "batch-sum",
 			cmd:   `2 2 2 2 sum`,
@@ -194,6 +213,34 @@ func TestCalc(t *testing.T) {
 			exp:   5,
 			batch: true,
 		},
+
+		// stack tests
+		{
+			name: "use-vars",
+			cmd:  `10 >TEN clear 5 <TEN *`,
+			exp:  50,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "reverse",
+			cmd:  `100 500 reverse -`,
+			exp:  400,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "swap",
+			cmd:  `2 16 swap /`,
+			exp:  8,
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "clear batch",
+			cmd:   "1 1 1 1 1 clear 1 1 sum",
+			exp:   2,
+			batch: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "undo",
+			cmd:  `4 4 + undo *`,
+			exp:  16,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
@@ -212,3 +259,55 @@ func TestCalc(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestCalcLua(t *testing.T) {
+	var tests = []struct {
+		function string
+		stack    []float64
+		exp      float64
+	}{
+		{
+			function: "lower",
+			stack:    []float64{5, 6},
+			exp:      5.0,
+		},
+		{
+			function: "parallelresistance",
+			stack:    []float64{100, 200, 300},
+			exp:      54.54545454545455,
+		},
+	}
+
+	calc := NewCalc()
+	L = lua.NewState(lua.Options{SkipOpenLibs: true})
+	defer L.Close()
+
+	luarunner := NewInterpreter("example.lua", false)
+	luarunner.InitLua()
+	calc.SetInt(luarunner)
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		testname := fmt.Sprintf("lua-%s", tt.function)
+
+		t.Run(testname, func(t *testing.T) {
+			calc.stack.Clear()
+			for _, item := range tt.stack {
+				calc.stack.Push(item)
+			}
+
+			calc.EvalLuaFunction(tt.function)
+
+			got := calc.stack.Last()
+
+			if calc.stack.Len() != 1 {
+				t.Errorf("invalid stack size:\n+++  got: %d\n--- want: 1",
+					calc.stack.Len())
+			}
+
+			if got[0] != tt.exp {
+				t.Errorf("lua function %s failed:\n+++  got: %f\n--- want: %f",
+					tt.function, got, tt.exp)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

command.go

@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+/*
+Copyright © 2023 Thomas von Dein
+
+This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+)
+
+type CommandFunction func(*Calc)
+
+type Command struct {
+	Help string
+	Func CommandFunction
+}
+
+type Commands map[string]*Command
+
+func NewCommand(help string, function CommandFunction) *Command {
+	return &Command{
+		Help: help,
+		Func: function,
+	}
+}
+
+// define all management (that is: non calculation) commands
+func (c *Calc) SetCommands() {
+	c.SettingsCommands = Commands{
+		// Toggles
+		"debug": NewCommand(
+			"toggle debugging",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.ToggleDebug()
+			},
+		),
+
+		"nodebug": NewCommand(
+			"disable debugging",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.debug = false
+				c.stack.debug = false
+			},
+		),
+
+		"batch": NewCommand(
+			"toggle batch mode",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.ToggleBatch()
+			},
+		),
+
+		"nobatch": NewCommand(
+			"disable batch mode",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.batch = false
+			},
+		),
+
+		"showstack": NewCommand(
+			"toggle show last 5 items of the stack",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.ToggleShow()
+			},
+		),
+
+		"noshowstack": NewCommand(
+			"disable display of the stack",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.showstack = false
+			},
+		),
+	}
+
+	c.ShowCommands = Commands{
+		// Display commands
+		"dump": NewCommand(
+			"display the stack contents",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.stack.Dump()
+			},
+		),
+
+		"history": NewCommand(
+			"display calculation history",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				for _, entry := range c.history {
+					fmt.Println(entry)
+				}
+			},
+		),
+
+		"vars": NewCommand(
+			"show list of variables",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				if len(c.Vars) > 0 {
+					fmt.Printf("%-20s     %s\n", "VARIABLE", "VALUE")
+					for k, v := range c.Vars {
+						fmt.Printf("%-20s  -> %.2f\n", k, v)
+					}
+				} else {
+					fmt.Println("no vars registered")
+				}
+			},
+		),
+	}
+
+	c.StackCommands = Commands{
+		"clear": NewCommand(
+			"clear the whole stack",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.stack.Backup()
+				c.stack.Clear()
+			},
+		),
+
+		"shift": NewCommand(
+			"remove the last element of the stack",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.stack.Backup()
+				c.stack.Shift()
+			},
+		),
+
+		"reverse": NewCommand(
+			"reverse the stack elements",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.stack.Backup()
+				c.stack.Reverse()
+			},
+		),
+
+		"swap": NewCommand(
+			"exchange the last two elements",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				if c.stack.Len() < 2 {
+					fmt.Println("stack too small, can't swap")
+				} else {
+					c.stack.Backup()
+					c.stack.Swap()
+				}
+			},
+		),
+
+		"undo": NewCommand(
+			"undo last operation",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				c.stack.Restore()
+			},
+		),
+
+		"dup": NewCommand(
+			"duplicate last stack item",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				item := c.stack.Last()
+				if len(item) == 1 {
+					c.stack.Backup()
+					c.stack.Push(item[0])
+				} else {
+					fmt.Println("stack empty")
+				}
+			},
+		),
+	}
+
+	// general commands
+	c.Commands = Commands{
+		"exit": NewCommand(
+			"exit program",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				os.Exit(0)
+			},
+		),
+
+		"manual": NewCommand(
+			"show manual",
+			func(c *Calc) {
+				man()
+			},
+		),
+	}
+
+	// aliases
+	c.Commands["quit"] = c.Commands["exit"]
+	c.SettingsCommands["undebug"] = c.SettingsCommands["nodebug"]
+	c.SettingsCommands["show"] = c.SettingsCommands["showstack"]
+}

example.lua

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+-- simple function, return the lower number of the two operands
+function lower(a,b)
+    if a < b then
+        return a
+    else
+        return b
+    end
+end
+
+-- calculate parallel resistance. Batch  function (registered with -1,
+-- see below). Takes a table as parameter.
+--
+-- Formula: 1/( (1/R1) + (1/R2) + ...)
+function parallelresistance(list)
+    sumres = 0
+    
+    for i, value in ipairs(list) do
+        sumres = sumres + 1 / value
+    end
+
+    return 1 / sumres
+end
+
+-- converter example
+function inch2centimeter(inches)
+    return inches * 2.54
+end
+
+function init()
+    -- expects 2 args
+    register("lower", 2, "lower")
+
+    -- expects a list of all numbers on the stack, batch mode
+    register("parallelresistance", -1, "parallel resistance")
+
+    -- expects 1 arg, but doesn't pop()
+    register("inch2centimeter", 0)
+end  

interpreter.go

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 
 type Interpreter struct {
 	debug  bool
+	script string
 }
 
 // LUA interpreter, instanciated in main()
@@ -42,8 +43,12 @@ type LuaFunction struct {
 // have access to the interpreter instance
 var LuaFuncs map[string]LuaFunction
 
+func NewInterpreter(script string, debug bool) *Interpreter {
+	return &Interpreter{debug: debug, script: script}
+}
+
 // initialize the lua environment properly
-func InitLua(config string, debug bool) *Interpreter {
+func (i *Interpreter) InitLua() {
 	// we only  load a subset of lua Open  modules and don't allow
 	// net, system or io stuff
 	for _, pair := range []struct {
@@ -66,7 +71,7 @@ func InitLua(config string, debug bool) *Interpreter {
 	}
 
 	// load the lua config (which we expect to contain init() and math functions)
-	if err := L.DoFile(config); err != nil {
+	if err := L.DoFile(i.script); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
@@ -84,8 +89,6 @@ func InitLua(config string, debug bool) *Interpreter {
 	}); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-
-	return &Interpreter{debug: debug}
 }
 
 func (i *Interpreter) Debug(msg string) {
@@ -113,6 +116,8 @@ func (i *Interpreter) CallLuaFunc(funcname string, items []float64) (float64, er
 		funcname, LuaFuncs[funcname].numargs))
 
 	switch LuaFuncs[funcname].numargs {
+	case 0:
+		fallthrough
 	case 1:
 		// 1 arg variant
 		if err := L.CallByParam(lua.P{

main.go

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import (
 	lua "github.com/yuin/gopher-lua"
 )
 
-const VERSION string = "2.0.4"
+const VERSION string = "2.0.9"
 
 const Usage string = `This is rpn, a reverse polish notation calculator cli.
 
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ Options:
   -b, --batchmode     enable batch mode
   -d, --debug         enable debug mode
   -s, --stack         show last 5 items of the stack (off by default)
+  -i  --intermediate  print intermediate results
   -m, --manual        show manual
   -v, --version       show version
   -h, --help          show help
@@ -59,7 +60,9 @@ func main() {
 	configfile := ""
 
 	flag.BoolVarP(&calc.batch, "batchmode", "b", false, "batch mode")
-	flag.BoolVarP(&calc.showstack, "showstack", "s", false, "show stack")
+	flag.BoolVarP(&calc.showstack, "show-stack", "s", false, "show stack")
+	flag.BoolVarP(&calc.intermediate, "showin-termediate", "i", false,
+		"show intermediate results")
 	flag.BoolVarP(&enabledebug, "debug", "d", false, "debug mode")
 	flag.BoolVarP(&showversion, "version", "v", false, "show version")
 	flag.BoolVarP(&showhelp, "help", "h", false, "show usage")
@@ -95,8 +98,9 @@ func main() {
 	// our config file is interpreted  as lua code, only functions can
 	// be defined, init() will be called by InitLua().
 	if _, err := os.Stat(configfile); err == nil {
-		I := InitLua(configfile, enabledebug)
-		calc.SetInt(I)
+		luarunner := NewInterpreter(configfile, enabledebug)
+		luarunner.InitLua()
+		calc.SetInt(luarunner)
 	}
 
 	if len(flag.Args()) > 1 {

rpn.go

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 var manpage = `
 NAME
-    rpn - Reverse Polish Notation Calculator for the commandline
+    rpn - Programmable command-line calculator using reverse polish notation
 
 SYNOPSIS
         Usage: rpn [-bdvh] [<operator>]
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ SYNOPSIS
         Options:
           -b, --batchmode     enable batch mode
           -d, --debug         enable debug mode
+          -s, --stack         show last 5 items of the stack (off by default)
+          -i  --intermediate  print intermediate results
+          -m, --manual        show manual
           -v, --version       show version
           -h, --help          show help
     
@@ -149,18 +152,24 @@ DESCRIPTION
 
     Commands:
 
-        batch                toggle batch mode
-        debug                toggle debug output
+        [no]batch            toggle batch mode (nobatch turns it off)
+        [no]debug            toggle debug output (nodebug turns it off)
+        [no]showstack        show the last 5 items of the stack (noshowtack turns it off)
         dump                 display the stack contents
         clear                clear the whole stack
         shift                remove the last element of the stack
         reverse              reverse the stack elements
         swap                 exchange the last two stack elements
-        show                 show the last 5 items of the stack
+        dup                  duplicate last stack item
         history              display calculation history
         help|?               show this message
         quit|exit|c-d|c-c    exit program
 
+    Register variables:
+
+        >NAME                Put last stack element into variable NAME
+        <NAME                Retrieve variable NAME and put onto stack
+
     Refer to https://pkg.go.dev/math for details about those functions.
 
 INTERACTIVE REPL
@@ -193,6 +202,23 @@ INTERACTIVE REPL
     ctrl-r
         Search through history.
 
+COMMENTS
+    Lines starting with "#" are being ignored as comments. You can also
+    append comments to rpn input, e.g.:
+
+       # a comment
+       123   # another comment
+
+    In this case only 123 will be added to the stack.
+
+VARIABLES
+    You can register the last item of the stack into a variable. Variable
+    names must be all caps. Use the ">NAME" command to put a value into
+    variable "NAME". Use "<NAME" to retrieve the value of variable "NAME"
+    and put it onto the stack.
+
+    The command vars can be used to get a list of all variables.
+
 EXTENDING RPN USING LUA
     You can use a lua script with lua functions to extend the calculator. By
     default the tool looks for "~/.rpn.lua". You can also specify a script
@@ -219,8 +245,13 @@ EXTENDING RPN USING LUA
 
     *   function name
 
-    *   number of arguments expected (1,2 or -1 allowed), -1 means batch
-        mode.
+    *   number of arguments expected (see below)
+
+        Number of expected arguments can be:
+
+            - 0: expect 1 argument but do NOT modify the stack
+            - 1-n: do a singular calculation
+            - -1: batch mode work with all numbers on the stack
 
     *   help text
 

rpn.pod

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 =head1 NAME 
 
-rpn - Reverse Polish Notation Calculator for the commandline
+rpn - Programmable command-line calculator using reverse polish notation
 
 =head1 SYNOPSIS
 
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ rpn - Reverse Polish Notation Calculator for the commandline
     Options:
       -b, --batchmode     enable batch mode
       -d, --debug         enable debug mode
+      -s, --stack         show last 5 items of the stack (off by default)
+      -i  --intermediate  print intermediate results
+      -m, --manual        show manual
       -v, --version       show version
       -h, --help          show help
     
@@ -156,19 +159,25 @@ Math functions:
 
 Commands:
 
-    batch                toggle batch mode
-    debug                toggle debug output
+    [no]batch            toggle batch mode (nobatch turns it off)
+    [no]debug            toggle debug output (nodebug turns it off)
+    [no]showstack        show the last 5 items of the stack (noshowtack turns it off)
     dump                 display the stack contents
     clear                clear the whole stack
     shift                remove the last element of the stack
     reverse              reverse the stack elements
     swap                 exchange the last two stack elements
-    show                 show the last 5 items of the stack
+    dup                  duplicate last stack item
     history              display calculation history
     help|?               show this message
     quit|exit|c-d|c-c    exit program
 
 
+Register variables:
+
+    >NAME                Put last stack element into variable NAME
+    <NAME                Retrieve variable NAME and put onto stack
+
 Refer to https://pkg.go.dev/math for details about those functions.
 
 =head1 INTERACTIVE REPL
@@ -223,6 +232,15 @@ append comments to rpn input, e.g.:
 
 In this case only 123 will be added to the stack.
 
+=head1 VARIABLES
+
+You can register the last item  of the stack into a variable. Variable
+names must be  all caps. Use the  ">NAME" command to put  a value into
+variable "NAME". Use "<NAME" to  retrieve the value of variable "NAME"
+and put it onto the stack.
+
+The command B<vars> can be used to get a list of all variables.
+
 =head1 EXTENDING RPN USING LUA
 
 You can use a lua script with lua functions to extend the
@@ -256,8 +274,13 @@ function name
 
 =item *
 
-number of arguments expected (1,2 or -1 allowed), -1 means batch
-mode.
+number of arguments expected (see below)
+
+Number of expected arguments can be:
+
+    - 0: expect 1 argument but do NOT modify the stack
+    - 1-n: do a singular calculation
+    - -1: batch mode work with all numbers on the stack 
 
 =item *
 

stack.go

@@ -195,14 +195,24 @@ func (s *Stack) Backup() {
 	// make a backup, because the elements in list.List{} are pointers
 	// and lead to unexpected  results. The methid here works reliably
 	// at least.
+	s.mutex.Lock()
+	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
+
+	s.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("backing up %d items from rev %d",
+		s.linklist.Len(), s.rev))
+
 	s.backup = list.List{}
 	for e := s.linklist.Front(); e != nil; e = e.Next() {
-		s.backup.PushBack(e.Value)
+		s.backup.PushBack(e.Value.(float64))
 	}
+
 	s.backuprev = s.rev
 }
 
 func (s *Stack) Restore() {
+	s.mutex.Lock()
+	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
+
 	if s.rev == 0 {
 		fmt.Println("error: stack is empty.")
 		return
@@ -211,15 +221,26 @@ func (s *Stack) Restore() {
 	s.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("restoring stack to revision %d", s.backuprev))
 
 	s.rev = s.backuprev
-	s.linklist = s.backup
+
+	s.linklist = list.List{}
+	for e := s.backup.Front(); e != nil; e = e.Next() {
+		s.linklist.PushBack(e.Value.(float64))
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *Stack) Reverse() {
-	newstack := list.List{}
+	s.mutex.Lock()
+	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
+
+	items := []float64{}
 
 	for e := s.linklist.Front(); e != nil; e = e.Next() {
-		newstack.PushFront(e.Value)
+		tail := s.linklist.Back()
+		items = append(items, tail.Value.(float64))
+		s.linklist.Remove(tail)
 	}
 
-	s.linklist = newstack
+	for i := len(items) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		s.linklist.PushFront(items[i])
+	}
 }

test.lua

@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-function add(a,b)
-  return a + b
-end
-
-function test(a)
-  return a
-end  
-
-function parallelresistance(a,b)
-  return 1.0 / (a * b)
-end
-
-function init()
-  register("add", 2, "addition")
-  register("test", 1, "test")
-  register("parallelresistance", 2, "parallel resistance")
-end  

util.go

@@ -33,6 +33,15 @@ func contains(s []string, e string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+func exists(m map[string]interface{}, item string) bool {
+	// FIXME: try to use this for all cases
+	if _, ok := m[item]; ok {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
 func const2num(name string) float64 {
 	switch name {
 	case "Pi":