Functions & NL Syntax

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CalcMark provides built-in functions for common calculations, with natural language (NL) alternatives for many of them. This page covers all functions, their NL forms, and specialized domain functions for networking, storage, and growth modeling.

Built-in Functions #

`accumulate` #

Calculate total from a rate over time

Syntax: accumulate(rate, time_period)
Example: accumulate(100 req/s, 1 hour) → 360000 req

`avg` #

Calculate the average of values

Syntax: avg(value1, value2, ...)
Aliases: average, mean, average of (input syntax)
Example: avg(10, 20, 30) → 20

`capacity` #

Calculate how many units needed for a given load

Syntax: capacity(demand, capacity_per_unit, unit, buffer?)
Aliases: requires
Example: capacity(10000 req/s, 500 req/s, server) → 20 servers

`compound` #

Calculate compound growth over time periods

Syntax: compound(principal, rate, duration, period?)
Aliases: compound...by...over (input syntax), compound...by...monthly...over (input syntax)
Example: compound(1000, 5%, 10 years, monthly) → 1647.01

`compress` #

Estimate compressed data size

Syntax: compress(size, compression_type)
Aliases: compress...using (input syntax)
Example: compress 1 GB using gzip

`convert_rate` #

Convert a rate to a different time unit. Use the 'per' keyword as a natural-language synonym: d per year is equivalent to convert_rate(d, year). Works with literal rates (5 MB/s per minute) and variables holding rates (r per hour). Supports all time units including sub-second: nanosecond (ns), microsecond (μs/us), millisecond (ms).

Syntax: convert_rate(rate, time_unit)
Aliases: per (input syntax)
Example: convert_rate(1000 req/s, minute) → 60000 req/min

`depreciate` #

Calculate declining balance depreciation over time

Syntax: depreciate(principal, rate, duration, salvage?)
Aliases: depreciate...by...over...to (input syntax)
Example: depreciate(10000, 20%, 5) → 3276.80

`downtime` #

Calculate downtime from availability percentage

Syntax: downtime(availability_percent, time_period)
Example: downtime(99.9%, month) → 43.2 minutes

`grow` #

Calculate linear growth by adding a fixed amount each period

Syntax: grow(starting_amount, increment, duration)
Aliases: grow...by...over (input syntax)
Example: grow(100, 20 GB, 5) → 200 GB

`number` #

Strip the unit or currency from a typed value, returning a plain number. Use when you need a dimensionless ratio from two typed values: number($500) / number($1000) → 0.5. Only wrap what's needed — if a value is already a plain number, don't wrap it again. Which side you wrap matters: $100 / number($50) → $2.00 (currency), number($100) / number($50) → 2 (plain number).

Syntax: number(value)
Example: number($500) / number($1000) → 0.5

`read` #

Time to read data from storage

Syntax: read(size, storage_type)
Aliases: read...from (input syntax)
Example: read 100 MB from ssd

`rtt` #

Network round-trip time for a scope

Syntax: rtt(scope)
Aliases: round trip time
Example: rtt(regional) → 10 ms

`seek` #

Access latency for storage type

Syntax: seek(storage_type)
Example: seek(hdd) → 10 ms

`sqrt` #

Calculate the square root

Syntax: sqrt(value)
Aliases: square root of (input syntax)
Example: sqrt(16) → 4

`sum` #

Calculate the sum of values

Syntax: sum(value1, value2, ...)
Aliases: sum of (input syntax), total
Example: sum($100, $200, $300) → $600

`throughput` #

Network bandwidth for a connection type

Syntax: throughput(network_type)
Example: throughput(gigabit) → 125 MB/s

`transfer_time` #

Time to transfer data over a network

Syntax: transfer_time(size, scope, network_type)
Aliases: transfer...across (input syntax)
Example: transfer 1 GB across regional gigabit

See the Function Reference below for detailed examples of every function, including natural language forms.

Function Reference #

Detailed examples for every built-in function, showing both function-call and natural language syntax.

`avg` / `average of` #

avg(10, 20, 30)                    -> 20
avg(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)                -> 3
average of 100, 200, 300           -> 200  (NL form)
avg($100, $200, $300)              -> $200.00  (preserves currency)

`sum` / `sum of` #

sum($100, $200, $300)              -> $600.00
sum(10, 20, 30)                    -> 60
sum of total_a, total_b, total_c   -> (NL form, sums variables)

`number` #

number(10 kg)                      -> 10
number($250)                       -> 250
number(3.5 hours)                  -> 3.5

Strips the unit or currency from any value, returning a plain number. Useful when you need the raw numeric value for a calculation that doesn’t preserve units.

`sqrt` / `square root of` #

sqrt(16)                           -> 4
sqrt(2)                            -> 1.4142...
square root of 144                 -> 12  (NL form)
sqrt($100)                         -> $10.00  (preserves currency)

`accumulate` / `over` #

accumulate(100 MB/s, 1 hour)       -> 360000 MB
accumulate($75/hour, 8 hours)      -> $600
100 MB/s over 1 day                -> ~8.64 TB  (keyword form)
$120000/year over 1 month          -> $10000

`convert_rate` #

convert_rate(1000 req/s, minute)   -> 60000 req/min
convert_rate($120000/year, month)  -> $10000/month

`capacity` / `at...per` #

capacity(10 TB, 2 TB, disk)              -> 5 disks
capacity(10000 req/s, 500 req/s, server) -> 20 servers
10 TB at 2 TB per disk                   -> 5 disks  (NL form)
10000 req/s at 450 req/s per server with 20% buffer -> 27 servers

`downtime` #

downtime(0.999, year)              -> 8.76 hour
downtime(0.999, month)             -> 43.2 minute
downtime(0.9999, month)            -> 4.32 minute

`rtt` #

rtt(local)                         -> 0.5 ms
rtt(regional)                      -> 10 ms
rtt(continental)                   -> 50 ms
rtt(global)                        -> 150 ms

`throughput` #

throughput(gigabit)                 -> 125 MB/s
throughput(ten_gig)                -> 1.22 GB/s
throughput(wifi)                   -> 12.5 MB/s
throughput(five_g)                 -> 50 MB/s

`transfer_time` / `transfer...across` #

transfer_time(1 GB, regional, gigabit)   -> ~8 seconds
transfer_time(500 MB, continental, gigabit)
transfer 1 GB across regional gigabit    -> (NL form)
transfer 100 MB across local ten_gig

data = 500 KB
transfer data across continental ten_gig -> (variable reference)

Results

transfer_time(500 MB, continental, gigabit)	→	4.05 second
transfer 100 MB across local ten_gig	→	0.0805 second
data = 500 KB	→	500 KB

`read` / `read...from` #

read(100 MB, ssd)                  -> ~0.18 seconds
read(1 GB, nvme)                   -> ~0.29 seconds
read 100 MB from ssd               -> (NL form)
read 10 GB from pcie_ssd

data = 5 MB
read data from nvme                -> (variable reference)

Results

read 10 GB from pcie_ssd	→	1.46 second
data = 5 MB	→	5 MB

`seek` #

seek(hdd)                          -> 10 ms
seek(ssd)                          -> 0.1 ms
seek(nvme)                         -> 0.01 ms
db_query_hdd = seek(hdd) + read(5 MB, hdd)

Results

db_query_hdd = seek(hdd) + read(5 MB, hdd)	→	0.0433 second

`compress` / `compress...using` #

compress(1 GB, gzip)               -> ~333 MB
compress(500 MB, lz4)              -> ~250 MB
compress(2 GB, zstd)               -> 585 MB
compress 1 GB using gzip            -> (NL form)
compress 500 MB using lz4

data = 1 GB
compress data using zstd            -> (variable reference)

Results

compress 500 MB using lz4	→	250 MB
data = 1 GB	→	1 GB

`compound` / `compound...by...over` #

compound($1000, 5%, 10)                              -> $1628.89
compound(500 customers, 20%, 12)                     -> 4458.05 customers
compound($1000, 5%, 10 years, monthly)               -> $1647.01
compound($1000, 5%, 10 years, quarterly)             -> $1643.62
compound $1000 by 5% over 10 years                   -> $1628.89  (NL form)
compound $1000 by 5% monthly over 10 years
compound $1000 by 5% per month over 12 months

Results

compound $1000 by 5% monthly over 10 years	→	$1,647.01
compound $1000 by 5% per month over 12 months	→	$1,795.86

`grow` / `grow...by...over` #

grow(100, 20, 5)                   -> 200
grow($500, $100, 36)               -> $4100.00
grow 100 by 20 over 5 months       -> 200  (NL form)

`depreciate` / `depreciate...by...over` #

depreciate($50000, 15%, 5)                -> $22185.27
depreciate($50000, 15%, 20, $5000)        -> $5000.00  (salvage floor)
depreciate $50000 by 15% over 5 years     -> $22185.27  (NL form)
depreciate $50000 by 15% over 5 years to $5000

Results

depreciate $50000 by 15% over 5 years to $5000	→	$22.19K

Unit Handling in Functions #

Same units are preserved:

avg($100, $200, $300) -> $200.00
sqrt($100) -> $10.00

Mixed units are dropped:

avg($100, €200) -> 150  (no units)
average of $50, €100, £150 -> 100  (no units)

Natural Language Syntax #

CalcMark supports natural language forms for many functions. These are equivalent to the function-call syntax. Arguments can be literal values (100 MB) or variable references (data).

Function Aliases #

Natural Language	Equivalent	Example
`average of X, Y, Z`	`avg(X, Y, Z)`	`average of 10, 20, 30`
`square root of X`	`sqrt(X)`	`square root of 144`
`read X from Y`	`read(X, Y)`	`read 100 MB from ssd`
`compress X using Y`	`compress(X, Y)`	`compress 1 GB using gzip`
`transfer X across Y Z`	`transfer_time(X, Y, Z)`	`transfer 1 GB across regional gigabit`
`compound X by Y% over Z`	`compound(X, Y%, Z)`	`compound $1000 by 5% over 10 years`
`compound X by Y% monthly over Z`	`compound(X, Y%, Z, monthly)`	`compound $1000 by 5% monthly over 10 years`
`compound X by Y% per P over Z`	`compound(X, Y%, Z, P)`	`compound $1000 by 5% per month over 12 months`
`compound X by Y% compounded F over Z`	`compound(X, Y%, Z, compounded F)`	`compound $1000 by 12% compounded monthly over 10 years`
`grow X by Y over Z`	`grow(X, Y, Z)`	`grow 100 by 20 over 5 months`
`depreciate X by Y% over Z`	`depreciate(X, Y%, Z)`	`depreciate $50000 by 15% over 5 years`
`depreciate X by Y% over Z to W`	`depreciate(X, Y%, Z, W)`	`depreciate $50000 by 15% over 5 years to $5000`

Capacity Planning Syntax #

The at...per syntax is a natural language form for the capacity() function:

demand at capacity per unit
demand at capacity per unit with N% buffer

Examples:

10 TB at 2 TB per disk                         -> 5 disks
10000 req/s at 450 req/s per server             -> 23 servers
10000 req/s at 450 req/s per server with 20%    -> 27 servers
100 apples at 30 per crate                      -> 4 crates

The slash syntax also works: 10 TB at 2 TB/disk.

Rate Accumulation with `over` #

The over keyword accumulates a rate over a time duration:

rate over duration

This is equivalent to accumulate(rate, duration):

100 MB/s over 1 day         -> total data transferred
$75/hour over 8 hours       -> daily earnings
1000 req/s over 1 hour      -> total requests

Rate Conversion with `per` #

The per keyword in a rate context creates a rate literal:

1000 requests per second    -> 1000 req/s
$50 per hour                -> $50/hour

Network Functions #

Round-Trip Time #

rtt(local)          -> 0.5 ms   (same datacenter)
rtt(regional)       -> 10 ms    (same region)
rtt(continental)    -> 50 ms    (cross-continent)
rtt(global)         -> 150 ms   (worldwide)

Throughput #

throughput(gigabit)      -> 125 MB/s
throughput(ten_gig)      -> 1.22 GB/s
throughput(hundred_gig)  -> 12500 MB/s
throughput(wifi)         -> 12.5 MB/s
throughput(four_g)       -> 2.5 MB/s
throughput(five_g)       -> 50 MB/s

Transfer Time #

Calculate data transfer time across a network:

transfer_time(1 GB, regional, gigabit)
transfer 1 GB across regional gigabit       (NL form)

Results

transfer_time(1 GB, regional, gigabit)	→	8.2 second

Downtime from Availability #

downtime(99.9%, year)     -> 8.76 hour
downtime(99.99%, month)   -> 4.32 minute

Storage Functions #

Read Time #

read(1 GB, ssd)       read from SATA SSD (~550 MB/s)
read(1 GB, nvme)      read from NVMe SSD (~3.5 GB/s)
read(1 GB, pcie_ssd)  read from PCIe Gen4 SSD (~7 GB/s)
read(1 GB, hdd)       read from 7200 RPM HDD (~150 MB/s)

read 100 MB from ssd  (NL form)

Seek Latency #

seek(ssd)       -> 0.1 ms
seek(nvme)      -> 0.01 ms
seek(pcie_ssd)  -> 0.01 ms
seek(hdd)       -> 10 ms

Compression #

compress(1 GB, gzip)     -> 333 MB   (3:1 ratio)
compress(1 GB, lz4)      -> 512 MB   (2:1 ratio)
compress(1 GB, zstd)     -> 293 MB   (3.5:1 ratio)
compress(1 GB, bzip2)    -> 250 MB   (4:1 ratio)
compress(1 GB, snappy)   -> 400 MB   (2.5:1 ratio)
compress(1 GB, none)     -> 1 GB     (1:1, no compression)

compress 1 GB using gzip (NL form)

Growth Functions #

Compound Growth #

The 4th argument controls which formula compound() uses. This matters – monthly and month give different answers:

Without a frequency modifier – simple compound growth, once per year:

A = P × (1 + r)^t

compound($1000, 5%, 10)                              -> $1628.89
compound $1000 by 5% over 10 years                   -> $1628.89

5% annual rate applied once per year for 10 years. A plain number like 10 means 10 years.

With a frequency adverb (monthly, quarterly, weekly, daily, yearly) – financial compounding, multiple times per year:

A = P × (1 + r/n)^(n × t)

where r is the annual rate, n is compounding frequency per year, and t is years.

compound($1000, 5%, 10, monthly)                     -> $1647.01
compound($1000, 5%, 10, quarterly)                    -> $1643.62
compound($1000, 5%, 24 months, monthly)              -> $1103.43
compound $1000 by 5% monthly over 10 years            -> $1647.01

The 5% annual rate is split into 12 monthly applications (5%/12 per month), compounded 120 times over 10 years. More frequent compounding yields higher returns: monthly ($1,647) > quarterly ($1,643) > yearly ($1,629).

Arguments:

#	Name	Description
1	principal	Starting amount (number, currency, or quantity)
2	rate	Annual growth rate as percentage
3	duration	Time in years. A plain number like `10` means 10 years. Durations like `24 months` are converted to years
4	modifier	Optional: `monthly`, `quarterly`, `daily`, `weekly`, `yearly`. Compounds multiple times per year instead of once

month vs monthly: The noun month is a period label – compound($1000, 5%, 12, month) means “5% per month, applied 12 times” (the rate is per-month, not annual). The adverb monthly means “5% annual rate, compounded 12 times per year” – a different formula with a different result.

Linear Growth #

Calculate linear (additive) growth over time:

grow($500, $100, 36)               -> $4100.00
grow(100, 20, 5)                   -> 200

grow 100 by 20 over 5 months       (NL form)

Arguments:

#	Name	Description
1	initial	Starting amount
2	increment	Amount added each period
3	periods	Number of periods (number or duration)

Depreciation #

Calculate declining-balance depreciation with optional salvage floor:

depreciate($50000, 15%, 5)                -> $22185.27
depreciate($50000, 15%, 20, $5000)        -> $5000.00  (salvage floor)

depreciate $50000 by 15% over 5 years     (NL form)
depreciate $50000 by 15% over 5 years to $5000

Results

depreciate $50000 by 15% over 5 years to $5000	→	$22.19K

Arguments:

#	Name	Description
1	value	Starting value
2	rate	Depreciation rate as percentage
3	periods	Number of periods (number or duration)
4	salvage	Optional: minimum floor value

Related guides: System Sizing (network/storage functions) | Business Planning (growth functions)

Functions & NL Syntax

Built-in Functions #

accumulate #

avg #

capacity #

compound #

compress #

convert_rate #

depreciate #

downtime #

grow #

number #

read #

rtt #

seek #

sqrt #

sum #

throughput #

transfer_time #

Function Reference #

avg / average of #

sum / sum of #

number #

sqrt / square root of #

accumulate / over #

convert_rate #

capacity / at...per #

downtime #

rtt #

throughput #

transfer_time / transfer...across #

read / read...from #

seek #

compress / compress...using #

compound / compound...by...over #

grow / grow...by...over #

depreciate / depreciate...by...over #

Unit Handling in Functions #

Natural Language Syntax #

Function Aliases #

Capacity Planning Syntax #

Rate Accumulation with over #

Rate Conversion with per #

Network Functions #

Round-Trip Time #

Throughput #

Transfer Time #

Downtime from Availability #

Storage Functions #

Read Time #

Seek Latency #

Compression #

Growth Functions #

Compound Growth #

Linear Growth #

Depreciation #

`accumulate` #

`avg` #

`capacity` #

`compound` #

`compress` #

`convert_rate` #

`depreciate` #

`downtime` #

`grow` #

`number` #

`read` #

`rtt` #

`seek` #

`sqrt` #

`sum` #

`throughput` #

`transfer_time` #

`avg` / `average of` #

`sum` / `sum of` #

`number` #

`sqrt` / `square root of` #

`accumulate` / `over` #

`convert_rate` #

`capacity` / `at...per` #

`downtime` #

`rtt` #

`throughput` #

`transfer_time` / `transfer...across` #

`read` / `read...from` #

`seek` #

`compress` / `compress...using` #

`compound` / `compound...by...over` #

`grow` / `grow...by...over` #

`depreciate` / `depreciate...by...over` #

Rate Accumulation with `over` #

Rate Conversion with `per` #