eqn2graph

eqn2graph [options] "equation"

-d
    Turns on debugging output.

-o
    Specifies the output file. If not specified, output goes to standard output.

-V
    Prints the version number and exits.

The `eqn2graph` command is a utility that takes an equation as input and generates a Graphviz DOT file representing the equation's structure as a graph. This DOT file can then be processed by Graphviz tools (like `dot`) to visualize the equation.

It's primarily designed to aid in understanding complex equations by breaking them down into their constituent parts and visualizing the relationships between them. This can be helpful for debugging, documentation, or simply gaining a deeper insight into the equation's meaning.

The generated graph highlights the dependencies and operations within the equation, providing a visual representation of the order of operations and the relationships between variables and constants. The command supports a limited set of mathematical functions and operators, focusing on clarity and structural representation rather than precise mathematical calculation.

The command supports a limited subset of mathematical functions and operators. It's designed for structural representation, not numerical computation. Error handling can be basic.

To generate a graph of the equation `y = x^2 + 3*x - 5` and save it to a file named `equation.dot`, you would use the command:
eqn2graph -o equation.dot "y = x^2 + 3*x - 5"
You can then process the `equation.dot` file with `dot -Tpng equation.dot -o equation.png` to generate a PNG image of the graph.

The history and development of `eqn2graph` are not widely documented, but it likely emerged as a tool to visualize equations in academic or research settings where understanding the structure of mathematical expressions is crucial. Its usage is typically within environments where Graphviz is used for general graph visualization.

dot(1), graphviz(1)