---
name: "bytes-circle"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "bytes-circle"
version: "3.1-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bytes-circle"
---

# bytes-circle(1)

Show byte statistics as an ASCII circle graph

## NAME

bytes-circle - Show byte statistics as an ASCII circle graph

## SYNOPSIS

**bytes-circle** \[-o {0\|1\|2\|3}\] \[-bBglLZnruvh\] \[-\[fsStT\] #\] \[-z {0-255}\] *files*...\

## DESCRIPTION

**bytes-circle** is a program that shows statistics about bytes contained in a file, as an ASCII circle graph of deviations from mean in standard deviation (sigma) fraction increments.

By default, byte 0 is at the center of the circle and next bytes until 256 are situated counterclockwise around the center.

bytes-circle expects a colour terminal, though other options are available.

The ASCII art produced uses this char array to represent increment values of 1/4\*sigma from the statistic's mean:\
    **. , - ~ + \* o O # @**

This ranges from zero (**.**) on the left, to 9/4\*sigma (**@**) on the right. If value is zero or over the mean the char is printed green. If it is below the mean, it's printed red. A (blue) '**=**' char represents a byte value that doesn't appear in the file.

## OPTIONS

- **files**

  One or more files. If no file is indicated, standard input is used.

- **-o {0**\|**1**\|**2**\|**3}**

  0=default \| 1=no color \| 2=numbers \| 3=uncoloured numbers

- **-b**

  No color (Black & white). In this case, ASCII art is adjusted so the zero sigma is at the middle of the chars array (char '**\***'). Increments are 1/2\*sigma.

- **-B**

  ('Break') stop processing files on first error encountered.

- **-g**

  ('Global') show summary values for file, when using \`-\[sS\]\`.

- **-l**

  List number of bytes counted, from 0 to 255.

- **-L**

  List number of bytes counted, excluding zero valued.

- **-Z**

  List number of bytes counted, but only zero valued.

- **-n**

  Use Numbers. In this case, coloured numbers are used to represent values from **0** to **9**/4\*sigma.

- **-r**

  Restrict statistics to the byte values that appear in the file, not to the 256 default. This only makes a difference if there are byte values that do not appear in the file.

- **-u**

  Use Uncoloured numbers (equivalent to \`-b -n\`). In this case, numbers are used to represent positive deviations from **0** to **9**/4\*sigma, and letters are used to represent negative deviations from '**a**' (-0) to '**i**' (-9/4)\*sigma.

- **-v**

  Show program version and list chars used in coloured circle.

- **-h**

  Show summary of options.

- **-f #**

  ('From') analyze file from **#** byte on (1 implicit). SI suffixes supported.

- **-s #**

  Slice file in slices of size **#** bytes. SI suffixes supported.

- **-S #**

  Slice file in **#** slices. SI suffixes supported.

- **-t #**

  ('To') analyze file until **#** byte. SI suffixes supported.

- **-T #**

  ('To') analyze this **#** bytes from \`-f\`. SI suffixes supported.

- **-z {0-255}**

  Show a second circle centered on indicated byte bucket. A zero value is equivalent to 127 for ease of use. This way a second view of the statistics is available for data disaggregation.

- Note about **SI suffixes**: use one of **kmgtpe** (powers of 10), **KMGTPE** (powers of 2), and prefixes '**0x**' (hexadecimal number) and '**0**' (octal number).

  ## AUTHOR

This program was written by Roberto S. Galende \<roberto.s.galende@gmail.com\> and is copyrighted under the GPL, version 3 or later.\