|  | 
 |                             C++ Big Integer Library | 
 |                           (see ChangeLog for version) | 
 |  | 
 |                         http://mattmccutchen.net/bigint/ | 
 |  | 
 |        Written and maintained by Matt McCutchen <matt@mattmccutchen.net> | 
 |  | 
 | You can use this library in a C++ program to do arithmetic on integers of size | 
 | limited only by your computer's memory.  The library provides BigUnsigned and | 
 | BigInteger classes that represent nonnegative integers and signed integers, | 
 | respectively.  Most of the C++ arithmetic operators are overloaded for these | 
 | classes, so big-integer calculations are as easy as: | 
 |  | 
 |     #include "BigIntegerLibrary.hh" | 
 |      | 
 |     BigInteger a = 65536; | 
 |     cout << (a * a * a * a * a * a * a * a); | 
 |      | 
 |     (prints 340282366920938463463374607431768211456) | 
 |  | 
 | The code in `sample.cc' demonstrates the most important features of the library. | 
 | To get started quickly, read the code and explanations in that file and run it. | 
 | If you want more detail or a feature not shown in `sample.cc', consult the | 
 | consult the actual header and source files, which are thoroughly commented. | 
 |  | 
 | This library emphasizes ease of use and clarity of implementation over speed; | 
 | some users will prefer GMP (http://swox.com/gmp/), which is faster.  The code is | 
 | intended to be reasonably portable across computers and modern C++ compilers; in | 
 | particular, it uses whatever word size the computer provides (32-bit, 64-bit, or | 
 | otherwise). | 
 |  | 
 | Compiling programs that use the library | 
 | --------------------------------------- | 
 | The library consists of a folder full of C++ header files (`.hh') and source | 
 | files (`.cc').  Your own programs should `#include' the necessary header files | 
 | and link with the source files.  A makefile that builds the sample program | 
 | (`sample.cc') is included; you can adapt it to replace the sample with your own | 
 | program. | 
 |  | 
 | Alternatively, you can use your own build system or IDE.  In that case, you must | 
 | put the library header files where the compiler will find them and arrange to | 
 | have your program linked with the library source files; otherwise, you will get | 
 | errors about missing header files or "undefined references".  To learn how to do | 
 | this, consult the documentation for the build system or IDE; don't bother asking | 
 | me.  Adding all the library files to your project will work in many IDEs but may | 
 | not be the most desirable approach. | 
 |  | 
 | Resources | 
 | --------- | 
 | The library's Web site (above) provides links to released versions, the current | 
 | development version, and a mailing list for release announcements, questions, | 
 | bug reports, and other discussion of the library.  I would be delighted to hear | 
 | from you if you like this library and/or find a good use for it. | 
 |  | 
 | Bugs and enhancements | 
 | --------------------- | 
 | The library has been tested by me and others but is by no means bug-free.  If | 
 | you find a bug, please report it, whether it comes in the form of compiling | 
 | trouble, a mathematically inaccurate result, or a memory-management blooper | 
 | (since I use Java, these are altogether too common in my C++).  I generally fix | 
 | all reported bugs.  You are also welcome to request enhancements, but I am | 
 | unlikely to do substantial amounts of work on enhancements at this point. | 
 |  | 
 | Legal | 
 | ----- | 
 | I, Matt McCutchen, the sole author of the original Big Integer Library, waive my | 
 | copyright to it, placing it in the public domain.  The library comes with | 
 | absolutely no warranty. | 
 |  | 
 | ~~~~ |