More info on it here, and info and free download are here. Comparisons to similar clist capabilities are provided where reasonable. This book explains 72 rexx functions that you can use in. The rexx language is a versatile generalpurpose programming language that can be used by new and experienced programmers. This book is recognized as the standard reference manual for the rexx programming language, much. The electronic environment used for its development has evolved a tool that seems to be effective and easy to use, yet is sufficiently general and powerful to fulfil the needs. Other option is to traverse the ispf options to reach the panel that has the allocate option.
The book quickly gets you writing programs in rexx. Howard fosdick covers all the language basics, from syntax to style, but thats just the beginning. The original scripting language is still useful if. One of the reasons, why you should learn rexx, is that it increases the productivity of the average mainframe programmer. Identify the features of the rexx programming language. The rexx programming language has been called a programmers programming language. As stated by the author below, the beginning is a very good introduction to all the basics with easy to follow examples. Rexx programminghow to rexx wikibooks, open books for an. If you prefer to use a book to learn programming or need some references for the rexx programming language, check out the following books. Cowlishaw isbn 0780735x prenticehall, 1985, isbn 07806515 second edition, 1990. This book explains 78 rexx functions that you can use in your rexx. The say command is used to output a value to the console. It is intended for those new to rexx programming and covers all the fundamentals of the language mainframe training audience anyone with a need or desire to learn and understand the rexx programming language. The electronic environment used for its development has evolved a tool that seems to be effective and.
Rexx programming language zos tsoe general information sa32097900 the restructured extended executor rexx language is a highlevel procedures language that enables inexperienced users as well as experienced programmers to combine rexx instructions and host commands and services into programs called rexx execs. In addition, understanding rexx will provide tools and foundation necessary to create mainframe server programs. In 1979, mike cowlishaw, ibm fellow, designed a ohumancentrico programming language, rexx. What i remember from the book is that the person who recommended it said it was a must for anyone who works with rexx. The chapter s in this part cover the following topics. If you only ever have one rexx book this should be it. The book starts out easy, and is based on coding examples throughout.
Note that on os390 the ibm softcopy publications are excellent reference guides. This book is for programmers on any platform who are either looking to learn rexx or already use it and want to expand their knowledge of rexx. Netrexx eclipse project is a video tutorial that demonstrates various programs written in netrexx on the popular eclipse ide. Using rexx to power a web site, by jim standley emtec sells a terminal emulation package called zoc that uses classic rexx as its scripting language. This course is designed to enable the attendee to create, execute, debug and modify programs in the rexx programming language. This is an introductory class to the rexx programming environment. Audience this book is intended for system administrators and endusers of piecics. References procedures languages 400rexx programmers guide, sc245553 procedures languages 400rexx reference, sc245552 modern programming using rexx ohara and gomberg, isbn 05973295 also, the creator of rexx has a book.
The course starts with an introduction to programming by presenting language components, design steps, and debugging techniques. Rexx restructured extended executor is designed to be a scripting language. Rexx runs on all platforms from handhelds to pcs to servers to mainframes. These two books deal with rexx in general and do not refer to os2 specifically.
Utilities option in ispfpdf or with the tsoe allocate command. Several free procedural interpreters are available. A practical approach to programming prenticehall, 1985. The original scripting language is still useful if you. Copy, modify, and print the documentation contained on the media, for use within your enterprise, provided you reproduce the notice, all warning. An interpreted programming language developed at ibm by mike cowlishaw. You can view a list of all subpages under the book main page not including the book main page itself, regardless of whether theyre categorized, here. This manual explains rexx programming concepts, syntax, and the elements of the language. Rexx a practical approach to programming mike cowlishaw. This blog is an effort to make learning rexx easier. Although rexx reached its peak in the mid 1990s, it is still worthwhile to learn. I use rexx on an ibm mainframe batch and dialog manager and needed this more. This course is designed to teach you the basic skills required to write programs using the rexx language in the standard zos environments.
The course uses a model of a programming language rexx. Rexx features a small instruction set of only a couple dozen instructions, surrounded by a large group of builtin functions. This book is not only the best rexx book ever, but one of the best computer books. Instead, the rexx interpreter simply reads your sourcecode one line at a time, interprets it and executes it. Open object rexx tutorial rexx programmers reference. The course includes execution under mvs, both from tsoe and nontsoe address spaces. It is a simple script line which is used to execute the hello world program. Rexx functions let you manipulate data strings or do mathematics simply with a minimum of programming effort. On the other hand, rexx is an interpreted language.
It describes the rexx programming language for tsoe, mvs, os390 and zos. However, a student must learn some initial basics about rexx in order to get started. Apply to system programmer, computer programmer, programmer analyst and more. Isbn 0780735x prenticehall, 1985 isbn 07806515 second edition, 1990 in german. Personnel requiring an introduction to rexx and an understanding of the fundamentals of programming in rexx.
Rexx restructured extended executor is an interpreted programming language developed at ibm by mike cowlishaw. The restructured extended executor rexx language is a highlevel procedures language that enables inexperienced users as well as experienced programmers to combine rexx instructions and host commands and services into programs called rexx execs. Aug 14, 2009 about this book who should read this book what you should know before reading this book getting help the rexx language association mailing list the open object rexx sourceforge site comp. There is another great book called ispf services guide, but never gets mentioned with rexx. However, since zos is a command based environment and not graphical environment like windows, everything is done one command at a time. Many labs are included to address coding rexx programs in the zos environment. Rexx tutorial rexx restructured extended executor is designed to be a scripting language. The rexx programming language includes builtin functions that simplify programming. Part 2, using rexx, on page 91 is for programmers already familiar with the rexx language and experienced with the workings of tsoe. A look at rexx general programming other programming.
If a page of the book isnt showing here, please add text bookcat to the end of the page concerned. For objectoriented rexx or javacompatible rexx programming, visit the rexx information web site or see my book rexx programmers reference wrox, 2005. This book is not intended to touch upon every aspect of rexx programming, but rather, simply provide some of the most important concepts, and leave you to pull out your own hair figuring out some esoteric technique you need in order to complete your program that analyzes your collection of smutty jpeg pictures and organizes them by breast size. The basics os390 rexx is a procedural language with a simple syntax. In order to understand the basic syntax of rexx, let us first look at a simple hello world program. Rexx execs can execute in any mvs address space both tsoe and nontsoe.
I use rexx on an ibm mainframe batch and dialog manager and needed this more as the reference manual than a how to book. Rexx programmers reference rexx language association. I have come accross a book in particular and the name ring a bell although im not 100% sure if this was the book mentioned. A lot of ibms own documentation is straight out of this book. The original scripting language is still useful if you work on. Many programming languages are designed for compatibility with older languages, and are written for specific audiences or platforms. It is a structured, highlevel programming language designed for ease of learning and reading. Its goal is to make scripting as easy, fast, reliable, and error free. It truly deserves space on any rexx programmers bookshelf. Meet open object rexx oorexx the main attractions objectoriented programming an englishlike language crossplatform versatility. The previous chapter discussed the basics of oo programming with open object rexx, but more to describe its capabilities than to teach you how to use it. The rexx language is a versatile generalpurpose programming language.
Rexx computer program language, other programming languages. The rexx language on tso 2012, by gabriel garguilo, provides an excellent source information on. This timely book is an excellent introduction to rexx and all its implementations. Quizzes and labs are used to reinforce presented topics. Proprietary and open source rexx interpreters exist for a wide range of computing platforms. The best books available on rexx are the ibms official rexx users guide and reference book. Whether youre refreshing your skills or learning rexx for the first time, youve hit the jackpot with rexx programmers reference. Prerequisites before you start practicing with various types of examples given in this tutorial,we are making an assumption that you are already aware of the basics. The language is easily extended by using external functions, available in hundreds of free rexx tools function libraries. This is an introductory tutorial that covers the basics of rexx and how to deal with.
It is intended for those new to rexx programming and covers all the fundamentals of the language mainframe training audience. For online versions of this book, we authorize you to. Good book for rexx as both a reference manual and as a way to learn it. Rexx reference manual tso rexx is the restructured extended executor language. It describes more complex aspects of the rexx language and how they work in tsoe as well as in other mvs address spaces. Naveen manoj s pattabhiraman kyle smith understand introductory zvm concepts learn basic system administration tasks to manage your system study zvm performance. Ibm uk scientific centre, winchester, s023 9dr abstract rexx is a flexible personal language that was designed with particular attention to feedback from users. Rexx eliminates a lot of the unfamiliar programming syntax as well as the need to master an unfamiliar programming environment. It covers all rexx language elements, all tsoe builtin functions, and the more important builtin rexx functions. Rexx is a power language, so this tutorial just gets you started.
This book explains 72 rexx functions that you can use in your rexx programs. Musicsp, a mainframe operating system with its entire user interface written in rexx. Handson lab projects may be done in teams depending on the number of attendees and location. This book is about tso rexx functions, but we have included a few that work in cms only. About this book who should read this book what you should know before reading this book getting help the rexx language association mailing list the open object rexx sourceforge site comp. Figure 1 shows the basic parts of the rexx language. Once you code a rexx program, you dont have to compile it. Introduction the rexx language has many features that make it a powerful programming tool.
The intention was to create a language which would have the scientific computing capabilities of fortran, and the business dataprocessing power of cobol. From wikibooks, open books for an open world rexx book, as both introduction and reference. The entire rexx language, from an introductory tutorial to advanced features. Gargiulo author on amazon the rexx programming language includes builtin functions that simplify programming. Enhancements in zvm version 5, release 3 appendix b. Anyone with a need or desire to learn and understand the rexx programming language. Its goal is to make scripting as easy, fast, reliable, and errorfree. Taking the time to learn rexx will give you a great introduction to programming and help you understand the basics of writing scripts. Throughout this book a rexx program is called an exec to differentiate.
New with tsoe version 2, rexx is a highlevel procedural language that allows programmers to mix instructions with tso commands, and build highpowered tools and utilities, called execs. Rexx programmers reference by howard fosdick, paperback. The present authors book, programming in rexx, is recommended for readers who want a more detailed explanation of rexx concepts and general programming techniques. The definitive book for rexx beginners is the rexx languageby m. Pli is a legacy programming language invented by ibm in the early 1960s.
Naveen manoj s pattabhiraman kyle smith understand introductory zvm concepts learn basic system administration tasks to. Introduction to the rexx programming language how to. This part of the book is for programmers who want to learn the rexx language. The rexx language consists of a nucleus of operators comparison, logical, arithmetic, and string.
This category contains pages that are part of the rexx programming book. Yet it goes beyond the basics to cover interface programming and advanced techniques. Rexx programminghow to rexx wikibooks, open books for. Rexx for piecics user guide vii about this manual this manual describes pierexx, a highlevel programming language available with release 3. I want to buy a good book on rexx for mainframe but i dont know. Essentially, everything that you do on a mainframe is a command. Its goal is to make scripting as easy, fast, reliable, and errorfree as possible.