title: How to convert floating point to binary on the command line?
body: <p>I'd like a simple way to convert a float string on the command line to a binary float.</p>
  
  <p>For example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ echo "1.23" &gt; file.bin
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Except with the output as a 4 byte IEEE float</p>
  
  <p>I'd expect the result of</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ od -f -An file.bin
  1.23
  </code></pre>