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REXX

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Description

An interpreted, 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 in addition to all current and recent IBM mainframe and mini computer operating systems.

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

Libraries, extensions and bindings

  • dbfREXX - Allows you to work with xBase files or databases - Commercial - Discontinued.
  • REXXBOS - A complete OS/2 system interface for REXX - great for REXX CGI scripts - Commercial - Current
  • REXXSEM - Semaphore support for REXX - Used to be shareware, now freeware.

GUI/Widget bindings

Graphical front ends and REXX development systems

  • GpfREXX - Commercial - Discontinued
  • MAID - Commercial - Current
  • VX-REXX - Commercial - Discontinued

OS/2 text & programmers editors with REXX support

A list of DOS implementations of REXX

DOS text & programmers editors with REXX support

  • Boxer - Regina, IBM and BREXX support included by default

A list of REXX implementations that run under WinOS/2

  • Object REXX - Open source - Win32s version discontinued - IBM versions supported running under Win3x with Win32s.
  • Personal REXX - Commercial - Discontinued
  • WinREXX - Commercial - Discontinued
  • WREXX - Commercial - Discontinued.

A list of REXX implementations that run under Java

A list of REXX implementations in JavaScript

Publications

Classic REXX Books.
  • Michael F. Cowlishaw: The REXX Language: A Practical Approach to Programming; Second Edition - 1990 - ISBN: 0137806515 - In print
  • Michael F. Cowlishaw: A Practical Approach to Programming the Rexx Language - 1985 - ISBN: 0-13-780735-X - Out of print.
  • Howard Fosdick: Rexx Programmer's Reference - 2005 - ISBN: 0764579967 - In print
  • William F. Schindler: Down to Earth REXX - 2000 - ISBN: 0967759005 - In print.
  • Gabriel F. Gargiulo: Mastering OS/2 Rexx - 1994 - ISBN: 0471519014 - In print
  • Gabriel F. Gargiulo: Rexx With OS/2, TSO & CMS Features; Quick Reference Guide (Mainframe Technical Series) – 1999 - ISBN: 189255903X - Out of print.
  • William F. Schindler & Esther Schindler: Sams Teach Yourself REXX in 21 Days - 1994 - ISBN: 0672305291 - Out of print ("Down to Earth REXX" above in an updated, in-print version)
  • 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.
  • Robert O'Hara and David Ross Gomberg: Modern Programming Using REXX - 1988 - ISBN: 0135973295 - Out of print
  • Anthony S. Rudd: Application Development Using OS/2 Rexx - 1994 - ISBN: 047160691X - Out of Print.
  • Anthony S. Rudd: Practical Usage of REXX (Ellis Horwood Series in Computers and Their Applications) - 1990 -ISBN: 013682790X - Out of print.
  • Ronny Richardson: Writing OS/2 REXX Programs (McGraw-Hill/IBM) - 1994 - ISBN: 007052372X - Out of print. (Came with examples on a floppy)
  • Richard K. Goran: Rexx Reference Summary Handbook; Second Edition - 1994 - ISBN: 0963985418 - Out of print
  • William Mansfield: Rexx Language: Special Edition – 1990 - ISBN: 0137790678 - Out of print.
  • Hallett German: OS/2 2.1 REXX Handbook: Basics, Applications and Tips (VNR Computer Library) – 1993 - ISBN: 0442017340 - Out of print.
  • Peter C. Kiesel & J.Ranade: REXX: Advanced Techniques for Programmers (McGraw-Hill/IBM) - 1992 - ISBN: 0070346003 - Our of print.

Classic REXX in German

  • Karlheinz Wittemann und Stefan Gerten: REXX unter OS/2. – 1996 - ISBN: 3446185089 - Out of print.
  • Michael F. Cowlishaw: Die Programmiersprache REXX - 1988 - ISBN: 3446151958 - Out of print - German translation of the first edition of the "Rex language" book.
  • Gerhard Leibrock: Das REXX- Lexikon. Begriffe, Anweisungen, Funktionen. - 1997 - ISBN: 3486236725 - Out of print

Classic REXX in Japanese

  • Michael F. Cowlishaw: Rekkusu gengo nyumon: puroguraminguhe no jissenteki apurochi (Translated by Yoichi Muraoka and Koji Shibano) - 1987 - ISBN: 4-7649-0136-6 - Japanese translation of the first edition of the the "Rex language" book.
Object REXX books.
  • Tom Ender: Object-oriented Programming with REXX - 1997 - ISBN: 0471118443 - Out of print.
  • Ueli Wahli, Trevor Turton, Eddie Griborn and Norio Furukawa: Object Rexx for OS/2 Warp - 1996 - ISBN: 0132734672 - 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

Code snippets

Tutorials and other learning material

Links

USENET

Built with REXX

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

Standards

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

REXX history

The REXX language was created by Mike Cowlishaw of IBM Hursley in 1979, initially as a written specification and the first implementation was shipped inside IBM in 1980 and as an external product in 1982.

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