RPL (programming language): Difference between revisions

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'''RPL'''{{ref|rpl_acronym_note_1}} is a [[calculator|handheld calculator]] operating system and application [[programming language]] used on [[Hewlett-Packard]]'s scientific graphing [[Reverse Polish Notation|RPN]] (Reverse Polish Notation) calculators of the [[HP-28 series|HP 28]], [[HP 48 series|48]], [[HP 49 series|49]] and [[HP 50g|50]] series, but it is also usable on non-RPN calculators, such as the [[HP 38G|38]], [[HP 39/40 series|39 and 40]] series.

RPL is a [[structured programming]] language based on RPN, but equally capable of processing [[infix notation|algebraic]] expressions and formulae, implemented as a [[threaded code|threaded interpreter]].<ref name="RPL3"/> RPL has many similarities to [[Forth (programming language)|Forth]], both languages being [[stack-oriented programming language|stack]]-based, as well as the list-based [[LISP]]. Contrary to previous HP RPN calculators, which had a fixed [[4-level RPN|four-level stack]], the [[dynamic RPN stack|dynamic stack]] used by RPL is only limited by available calculator [[random-access memory|RAM]], with the calculator displaying an error message when running out of memory rather than silently dropping arguments off the stack as in fixed-sized RPN stacks.<ref>https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/printthread.php?tid=6436<!-- https://web.archive.org/web/20230924101041/https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/printthread.php?tid=6436 --></ref>

RPL originated from HP's [[Corvallis, Oregon]] development facility in 1984 as a replacement for the previous practice of implementing the [[operating systems]] of calculators in [[assembly language]].<ref name="RPLMAN"/> The last pocket calculator supporting RPL, the HP 50g, was discontinued in 2015.<ref name="Kuperus_2015_1"/><ref name="Kuperus_2015_2"/><ref name="Wessman_2015"/> However, <!-- an [[Mobile app|app]] is available for [[Android (operating system)|Android]], go49gp[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=o2s.emul.hp49gp&hl=en_US], which emulates the HP 49g+/50g and will run RPL programs. --> multiple emulators that can emulate HP's RPL calculators exist that run on a range of operating systems, and devices, including iOS and Android smartphones.