Using gnuplot for programming

Here’s an example script to calculate stuff in gnuplot. gnuplot is capable of many functions of the c programming language such as sin(x) erf(x). This is easy to extend since it is possible to define functions and perform logic.

Save this into a file calc.gnu and run with with command > gnuplot calc.gnu

# gnuplot script by Mathew Peet
# 18 February 2007
# Example script to calculate something
#
A = 1
B = 2
Answer = A + B
print "The answer: ", Answer

This could be used in conjunction with regression of data to do all sort of useful stuff.

List of supported functions

In general, any mathematical expression accepted by C, FORTRAN, Pascal, or BASIC may be plotted. The precedence of operators is determined by the specifications of the C programming language.

The supported functions include:
abs(x), acos(x), asin(x), atan(x), cos(x), cosh(x), erf(x), exp(x), inverf(x), invnorm(x), log(x), log10(x), norm(x), rand(x), sgn(x), sin(x), sinh(x), sqrt(x), tan(x), tanh(x).