octave-cli(1) User Commands octave-cli(1)
octave-cli - A high-level interactive programming language for
numerical computations
octave-cli [option]... [FILE]
Octave is a high-level interactive scientific programming language.
It has a powerful mathematics-oriented syntax for solving problems
numerically, as well as built-in 2-D/3-D plotting and visualization
tools. Programs may also be run in batch mode to process data
without interaction. octave-cli has been compiled without any GUI
support (Qt) which makes it smaller than the default octave
executable; the integrated development environment is restricted to
the command-line interface (CLI).
A list of the most useful command-line options for octave-cli is
available by running the following command from the shell.
octave-cli --help
The primary documentation for Octave is written using Texinfo, the
GNU documentation system, which allows the same source files to
produce both online and printed versions of the manual.
You can read the built-in copy of the Octave documentation by issuing
the following command from within octave-cli.
octave:1> doc
The Info files may also be read with a stand-alone program such as
info or xinfo. HTML, Postscript, or PDF versions of the
documentation are installed on many systems as well. The latest
version of the documentation is available at <https://
docs.octave.org/latest>.
The Octave project maintains a bug tracker at <https://
bugs.octave.org>.
Before submitting a new item please read the instructions at
<https://www.octave.org/bugs.html> on how to submit a useful report.
Upon startup Octave looks for four initialization files. Each file
may contain any number of valid Octave commands.
octave-home/share/octave/site/m/startup/octaverc
Site-wide initialization file which changes options for all
users. octave-home is the directory where Octave was
installed such as /usr/local.
octave-home/share/octave/version/m/startup/octaverc
Site-wide initialization file for Octave version version.
~/.octaverc
User's personal initialization file.
.octaverc
Project-specific initialization file located in the current
directory.
Home page: <https://octave.org>
Documentation: <https://docs.octave.org/latest>
Support resources: <https://octave.org/support>
Packages: <https://packages.octave.org>
Online forum: <https://octave.discourse.group>
John W. Eaton and many others. The list of contributors to the
Octave project may be shown from within octave-cli by executing "doc
Acknowledgements". The list is also available online at <https://
docs.octave.org/latest/Acknowledgements.html>.
GNU Octave April 2026 octave-cli(1)
NAME
octave-cli - A high-level interactive programming language for
numerical computations
SYNOPSIS
octave-cli [option]... [FILE]
DESCRIPTION
Octave is a high-level interactive scientific programming language.
It has a powerful mathematics-oriented syntax for solving problems
numerically, as well as built-in 2-D/3-D plotting and visualization
tools. Programs may also be run in batch mode to process data
without interaction. octave-cli has been compiled without any GUI
support (Qt) which makes it smaller than the default octave
executable; the integrated development environment is restricted to
the command-line interface (CLI).
OPTIONS
A list of the most useful command-line options for octave-cli is
available by running the following command from the shell.
octave-cli --help
DOCUMENTATION
The primary documentation for Octave is written using Texinfo, the
GNU documentation system, which allows the same source files to
produce both online and printed versions of the manual.
You can read the built-in copy of the Octave documentation by issuing
the following command from within octave-cli.
octave:1> doc
The Info files may also be read with a stand-alone program such as
info or xinfo. HTML, Postscript, or PDF versions of the
documentation are installed on many systems as well. The latest
version of the documentation is available at <https://
docs.octave.org/latest>.
BUGS
The Octave project maintains a bug tracker at <https://
bugs.octave.org>.
Before submitting a new item please read the instructions at
<https://www.octave.org/bugs.html> on how to submit a useful report.
FILES
Upon startup Octave looks for four initialization files. Each file
may contain any number of valid Octave commands.
octave-home/share/octave/site/m/startup/octaverc
Site-wide initialization file which changes options for all
users. octave-home is the directory where Octave was
installed such as /usr/local.
octave-home/share/octave/version/m/startup/octaverc
Site-wide initialization file for Octave version version.
~/.octaverc
User's personal initialization file.
.octaverc
Project-specific initialization file located in the current
directory.
INTERNET RESOURCES
Home page: <https://octave.org>
Documentation: <https://docs.octave.org/latest>
Support resources: <https://octave.org/support>
Packages: <https://packages.octave.org>
Online forum: <https://octave.discourse.group>
AUTHOR
John W. Eaton and many others. The list of contributors to the
Octave project may be shown from within octave-cli by executing "doc
Acknowledgements". The list is also available online at <https://
docs.octave.org/latest/Acknowledgements.html>.
SEE ALSO
GNU Octave April 2026 octave-cli(1)