The Rexx Language

Welcome to the Rexx Language page at IBM Hursley. This page links to documents relating to the Rexx, Object Rexx, and NetRexx programming languages (so what's NetRexx?), gleaned from many sources. Here you will find the latest news, tutorials and other information about the languages, a list of Rexx implementations, links to the Rexx Language Association and the Rexx ANSI standard, and a list of links to other Rexx-related sites.

News (also, don't forget to check for and links below)

• Patrick McPhee's Rexx and RexxXML pages now provide function libraries with interfaces to XML, regular expressions, mathematical routines, and operating system functions. [3 Nov 2003]
• The following new Rexx courses are available from The Trainer's Friend, Inc.: TSO REXX Programming in z/OS and Developing Dialog Manager Applications in z/OS [14 Jul 2003]
• Les Moull's LesTecML Mailer Email Client with a full Rexx interface, Modular And Integrated Design Visual Rexx GUI Front-End and the LestecIO Rexx I/O Library, version 2.1, are now available at http://www.lestec.com.au [14 Jul 2003]
• José María Blasco's REXXTAGS Rexx Server Pages compiler, version 1.1 now includes an optional cache (specially useful for large files or files with many tags) and allows for importing rexx source code. [28 May 2003]
• Rexx is 24 years old today! [20 Mar 2003]
• Sat Srivastava's Rexx and NetRexx site, including the NetRexxJe Plugin for jEdit is now at version 0.09. It has been modified to use the SideKick plugin and works with prefinal version of jedit. [28 Feb 2003]
• Thomas.Schneider's Classic Rexx to NetRexx converter, which lets you run Rexx programs in a Java environment, is now a free product. [12 Feb 2003]
• Bill Schoen's REXX Function Package for OpenEdition MVS is now linked from http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/zos/unix/bpxa1ty2.html (search for rexfunc). [29 Jan 2003]
• roo! ^TM – Kilowatt Software's new Object-Oriented Rexx Language Interpreter – has been enhanced with regular expression classes, a Java interface, and educational examples. [17 Jan 2003]
• Frank Clarke's Rexx/MVS code samples and utilities was recently named Mainframe Week's “Website of the Week”. [19 Nov 2002]
• José María Blasco's REXXTAGS Rexx Server Pages compiler for rapid prototyping of XML tags in Rexx is now available. [14 Nov 2002]
• MAX Software's Rexx enhancements for OS/390 and z/OS for use of copybooks. [14 Aug 2002]
• Yutaka Tsutsumi's Rexx home page in Japanese. [3 Aug 2002]
• Keith Watts' new Classic Rexx tutorial/reference is now available. [1 Aug 2002]
• David Ashley's Mod_Rexx is now an official open source project on the IBM developerWorks web site. [12 Jul 2002]
• Jaxo has released the new Rexx for Palm OS and Rexxlets. [8 Jul 2002]
• Mark Zelden's MVS Utilities site (REXX & TSO CLISTs, ISPF Edit Macros, Sample JOBs, Documentation, etc.) has been featured in Mainframe Week. [24 Jun 2002]
• InnerAccess Technologies have announced their new Rexx Server Pages Connector for z/OS and OS/390. [21 Mar 2002]
• Rexx is 23 years old today! [20 Mar 2002]

Recent new Object REXX and NetRexx books (see the Rexx books list for dozens more Rexx books):

• Creating Java Applications Using NetRexx
  (Ueli Wahli et al, IBM order SG24-2216, 286pp, IBM)
• Object REXX for Windows NT and Windows 95
  (Ueli Wahli et al, ISBN 0-13-858028-6, 490pp+disk, Prentice Hall)
• Object Oriented Programming with REXX
  (Tom Ender, ISBN 0-471-11844-3, 253 pp+diskette, Wiley Computer Publishing)
• The NetRexx Language
  (Mike Cowlishaw, ISBN 0-13-806332-X, 197pp, Prentice Hall)

Information, Tutorials, and Documentation

• The comp.lang.rexx newsgroup
• Rexx Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (by Dave Martin and Eric Giguere)
• A list of Rexx, Object Rexx, and NetRexx books, papers, and manuals
• The Rexx Language book
• The IBM Rexx Tutorials/Support page
• Ian Collier's Rexx Introduction and Tutorial
• Jeff Glatt's Rexx Tutorial for Windows.
• Keith Watts' Classic Rexx tutorial/reference.
• Tutorial de lenguaje Rexx (by Javier Gil Chica)
• The PACS OS/2 SIG's REXX Study Program
• The Rexx Language Association (RexxLA)

• The IBM Rexx Family page
• The IBM Object Rexx page
• The IBM NetRexx page
• The X3.274 ANSI Standard for Rexx current and future work, errata, etc.
• A list of Rexx implementations (see also the links listed below)
• Rexx Symposium reports (by Melinda Varian)
• Historical Rexx documents and announcements
• The RexxCPS benchmark [version 2.1]

More Rexx links

• The uni-REXX Rexx language for Unix [The Workstation Group]
• The S/REXX Rexx implementation for Unix and Windows 95 & NT [Benaroya, also Treehouse]
• Ian Collier's Rexx page and Rexx Tutorial
• Dick Goran's C F S Rexx home page [C F S Nevada, recorded by Gerhard Arnecke]
• PMGlobe -- World Globe using Rexx macros
• The Personal REXX, REXXLIB, and REXXTERM products [Quercus Systems]
• Gabe Gargiulo's REXX OS/2, TSO and CMS Features Quick Reference book [MVS Training, Inc.]
• Mark Hessling's Regina Rexx page and Rexx/SQL pages
• Microsoft's Resource Kit with Regina Rexx for Windows NT [Microsoft]
• Enterprise REXX (WinREXX) for Windows and DEC Alpha [Enterprise Alternatives]
• ProTech Rexx Training and Consulting and Introduction to Object Rexx class [Professional Technical Services, Inc.]
• Les Cottrell's Guide to writing CGI Scripts in REXX and Perl
• Rexx interfaces for SAM/VSAM and SQL/DB2 [MAX Software]
• Phantom Hurricane GUI with Rexx programmability [Entra Data AB]
• REXXTOOLS tools for MVS and VSE [Open Software Technologies]
• Rex Swain's REXX Summary (quick reference), date conversions, and License Plate
• The IBM Developer Connection pages
• Vasilis (Bill) Vlachoudis' PC-DOS, MS-DOS, and UNIX BREXX interpreter (includes source code)
• Oberon Software's REXX scripting support for Java [Oberon Software]
• Les Moull's MAID Version 2.0 – GUI front end tools for Rexx for Windows 95/NT, OS/2, etc., and the LesTecML Mailer Email Client with a full Rexx interface, Modular And Integrated Design Visual Rexx GUI Front-End and the LestecIO Rexx I/O Library, version 2.1.
• John Blumel's ORexx/SQL Object Framework (44KB zip)
• David Alcock's Rexx Anywhere! portability page, and his Rexx freeware page
• Michel Castelein's REXX programming course for OS/390 and VM [Jeeves Consulting]
• MVS Training's Rexx publications [MVS Training, Inc.]
• Handling dates with Rexx -- Y2K hints and tips
• David McRitchie's The REXX Macros Toolbox -- REXX edit macros for MVS and SPF/PC
• Bruce Gillispie's Rexx routines for OS/390
• Gabe Gargiulo's The REXX Files site and REXX OS/2, TSO and CMS Features Quick Reference book
• IBM's Handling Dates with Rexx for all IBM platforms
• REXX Language Support for DB2 for OS/390 ( Documentation)
• Pillarsoft's Rexx Snippets and Code for OS/2 & VisPro/Rexx
• The Rexx/VSE home page -- Rexx for the IBM VSE/ESA operating system.
• Brian Marks' overview of the eleventh Rexx Symposium.
• The NetRexx Interpreter presentation from the eleventh Rexx Symposium.
• REXX Language Support for DB2 for OS/390 Version 6 is now available. Support for Version 7 is expected later this year. [2 May 2000]
• Dennis Bareis' PPWIZARD Rexx and HTML pre-processor, and Rexx source code collection
• Vlada Zabrodsky's Rexx Page and Album of Algorithms and Techniques
• StoreNet Technology offer a range of courses in TSO Rexx, Object Rexx, PC Rexx, Regina, and Classic Rexx
• Al Green's http://www.rexx.org.uk UK Rexx site
• Sat Srivastava's Rexx, NetRexx, and jEdit plugin site
• The PACS OS/2 SIG's REXX Study Program page.
• Michael Lueck's ObjectCUR and CUR libraries for Object Rexx and Rexx [Lueck Data Systems]
• Jeff Glatt's Reginald GNU-licensed interpreter and Rexx Tutorial for Windows.
• Keith Watts' new r4^[TM] product – Rexx 4.0 for Windows [Kilowatt Software]
• Workshops and S/390 Rexx Language training [TechKnowledge Corporation]
• Rony Flatscher's bsf4rexx – Bridging Rexx and Java via the 'Bean Scripting Framework'
• The following Rexx courses are available: TSO REXX Programming, Dialog Manager Using TSO REXX and TSO CLIST, TSO REXX Programming in z/OS, and Developing Dialog Manager Applications in z/OS [The Trainer's Friend]
• Thomas.Schneider's Classic Rexx to NetRexx converter, which lets you run Rexx programs in a Java environment. This is now a free product.
• Patrick McPhee's Mathematical Bumper Pack for Regina Rexx.
• Lionel Dyck's Rexx e-mail package for OS/390 and z/OS.
• Mike Cowlishaw's decNumber extended Rexx arithmetic package.
• InnerAccess Technologies' Rexx Server Pages Connector for z/OS and OS/390.
• Mark Zelden's MVS Utilities site (REXX & TSO CLISTs, ISPF Edit Macros, Sample JOBs, Documentation, etc.).
• Jaxo's Rexx for Palm OS and Rexxlets.
• David Ashley's Mod_Rexx open source project [on the IBM developerWorks web site].
• Keith Watts' new Classic Rexx tutorial/reference.
• Yutaka Tsutsumi's Rexx home page in Japanese.
• Rexx enhancements for OS/390 and z/OS for use of copybooks [MAX Software].
• Keith Watts' roo! ^TM – Object-Oriented Rexx Language Interpreter [Kilowatt Software].
• José María Blasco's REXXTAGS Rexx Server Pages compiler for rapid prototyping of XML tags in Rexx [Rexxtags.org].
• Frank Clarke's Rexx/MVS code samples and utilities.
• Bill Schoen's REXX Function Package for OpenEdition MVS is now linked from http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/zos/unix/bpxa1ty2.html (search for rexfunc).
• Patrick McPhee's Rexx and RexxXML function libraries with interfaces to XML, regular expressions, mathematical routines, and operating system functions.

• ... and the Rexx Language Association has a page of links, too

• ... and there are some older Rexx links available at the manual URL old.html at this site.

Background

• A brief history of 'Classic' Rexx
• Rexx advantages and disadvantages
• A look ahead to the future of Rexx
• So, what's NetRexx?
• NetRexx -- easier Java Programming (article)
  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Requests and suggestions?

This information is collected and maintained by Mike Cowlishaw. Please send your requests and suggestions for additional items using e-mail to the address below -- and also send them to the Rexx Language Association Webmaster!

The accuracy of the information here is the responsibility of the individual authors and sources; however, please report any errors or omissions to Mike Cowlishaw as well as to the document author.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks are due to Ian Collier, Eric Giguere, Gabe Goldberg, and Melinda Varian for permission to use their documents and data in this collection, and to Liz Holland for finding many of the historical announcement documents. The server and network connection for this page were provided by IBM.

Mike Cowlishaw, IBM UK Laboratories mfc@uk.ibm.com