Free42 Binary3.3.12

Free42 Binary recreates the HP-42S calculator on MacOS, letting users perform RPN calculations and run programs written for that programmable calculator. It loads and saves programs, stores calculator states for later use, and lets users switch between those states. Copy-and-paste operations can also transfer scalar values between the simulator and other applications. Its arithmetic uses native binary floating point, specifically IEEE-754 double precision with a 53-bit binary mantissa on currently supported platforms.

Compared with the HP-42S’s 12-digit decimal mantissa and exponent range from 10⁻⁴⁹⁹ to 10⁴⁹⁹, Free42 Binary uses a different numerical model; Free42 Decimal instead uses a 34-digit decimal mantissa and an exponent range from 10⁻⁶¹⁴³ to 10⁶¹⁴⁴. Beyond the original instruction set, the simulator adds time and date functions, BASE enhancements, display options, string and list functions, and list editing. It also includes the HP-42S undocumented MIN, MAX, and FIND functions, along with accelerometer, GPS, and compass functions. On hard reset, the radix setting follows the system locale, selecting decimal-comma mode for comma-decimal locales and decimal-point mode otherwise.

This edition suits learners studying programmable calculators and users checking or running established HP-42S routines on a Mac. The official build provides the reference for detailed operating behavior. Version 3.3.12 runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and its freeware license allows use without a purchase price.