REXX

Description

Procedural structured language that is included with every version of OS/2 1.3 and higher, every version of IBM PC-DOS 7.0 and higher and most modern Amiga OS variants and clones. Although REXX is a generic programming language and can be (and has been) used to construct everything from simple utilities to large business applications, it is primarily used as a scripting or macro language. REXX language was created by Mike Cowlishaw of IBM Hursley in 1979 and the first implementation was shipped inside IBM in 1980 and as an external product in 1982.

A list of OS/2 implementations of REXX

• Object REXX
• Personal REXX - Commercial - Discontinued
• Regina REXX - Open Source - Current
• REXX/2 aka Classic REXX - Development discontinued, but shipped with all OS/2 32 bit versions and eComStation.

Graphical front ends and REXX development systems

• VX-REXX

Editors with REXX support

• Boxer
• FTE
• Future Wave Editor
• jEdit - Java editor
• KEDIT

A list of DOS implementations of REXX

• BREXX - Open Source - Current
• Classic REXX - Commercial - Comes with PC-DOS versions 5 and higher.
• Compact Rexx (CRX) - Open source - Discontinued.
• Regina REXX - Open Source - Current

A list of REXX implementations that run under Java

• NetRexx

Publications

• Michael F. Cowlishaw: The REXX Language: A Practical Approach to Programming; Second Edition - 1990 - ISBN: 0137806515 - In print
• Michael F. Cowlishaw: Die Programmiersprache REXX - 1988 - ISBN: 3446151958 - Out of print - German translation of the first edition of the above book.
• Howard Fosdick: Rexx Programmer's Reference - 2005 - ISBN: 0764579967 - In print
• William F. Schindler: Down to Earth REXX - 2000 - ISBN: 0967759005 - In print.
• Merrill Callaway: The Rexx Cookbook: A Tutorial Guide to the Rexx Language in OS 2 & Warp on the IBM Personal Computer - 1995 - ISBN: 0963277340 - Out of print.
• Tom Ender: Object-oriented Programming with REXX - 1997 - ISBN: 0471118443 - Out of print.
• Robert O'Hara and David Ross Gomberg: Modern Programming Using REXX - 1988 - ISBN: 0135973295 - Out of print
• Richard K. Goran: Rexx Reference Summary Handbook; Second Edition - 1994 - ISBN: 0963985418 - Out of print

The following books apply to SAA or mainframe REXX but may be useful nonetheless

• Charles Daney: Programming in REXX - 1990 - ISBN: 0070153051 - Out of print.

Local articles

• Roger Orr: OS/2 Procedures Language - REXX - Introductory material
• REXX Tips & Tricks:Sources
• Dave Briccetti: Sending Mail with REXX

Code snippets

• Stupid OS/2 Tricks/REXX Commands

Tutorials and other learning material

• Ian Collier's REXX tutorial

Links

• Ian Collier's REXX page

USENET

• comp.lang.REXX - Surprisingly popular - Go to the Google groups version if you are newsgroup challenged.

Built with REXX

• SRE-HTTP - A web server written primarily in REXX

Standards

• ANSI standard for Rexx (X3.274), Published in 1996.