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I want to travel in the past and learn REXX, but I don't know where to start, then I want some help from someone that can point me to the right place to start.

Nathan Campos
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    you can look at the eletronic version of the book "Rexx Programmer's Reference" at: http://www.flazx.com/ebook2613.php and see if the book satisfay your needs and then buy it – Lucas Feb 11 '10 at 01:00
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    Install OS/2 on virtual box, it comes with Rexx preinstalled! :P – t0mm13b Feb 11 '10 at 01:12
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    That's how I learned REXX, i.e. from OS/2. The rexx programmers reference that comes with it is invaluable. – hookenz Feb 11 '10 at 01:21
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    Or Amiga Workbench, that's how I learned ARexx :) – Michael Stum Feb 11 '10 at 01:36
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    Oh cool. Brings memories back :) I was for 3.5 years at IBM Netherlands involved in maintaining some REXX backend code running at S/390 z/VM which can take XML input and generate XML output and was fronted by under each a JSP/Servlet webapplication which makes use of XSLT to translate REXX's output into JSP/HTML and vice versa. Good ol' times. – BalusC Feb 11 '10 at 01:38
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    I saw the question title and I was going to suggest a time machine, but it seems you already know that. – Larry Lustig Feb 11 '10 at 01:55

5 Answers5

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Check IBM publib on the subject (which was (is still?) backed by REXX programmed application, at least, during my IBM times, a colleague maintained it). You can find there all free books in either HTML or PDF format. The REXX Guide (available as PDF or HTML) is good to get started. If you intend to run (emulate) it on Windows, I can recommend Regina Rexx.

BalusC
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  • +1 for Regina - it's a solid REXX implementation. I've used REXX for 20 years, including Mike's version for CMS, and Regina is a good version too. – Ross Patterson Feb 19 '10 at 13:59
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Have a look at Open Object ReXX, which came out of IBM object ReXX. It's on SourceForge. http://sourceforge.net/projects/oorexx/files/

Documentation starts here - http://www.oorexx.org/docs/

Ed.
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  • I have been using Object ReXX for over a decade and find it to be an absolutely rock solid implementation. Highly recommended. Best of all, you can get if for free! This version of ReXX implements both "Classic" ReXX and some pretty nifty OO extentions. – NealB Feb 11 '10 at 18:26
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If you're willing to invest some time and money, this book is good (so is Mike Cowlishaw's, but I think that one's out of print and so could perhaps be pricey or slow to get). If you can't invest the time and/or money, this tutorial is fast-paced and quick to get through, and gives you good links to other resources.

Alex Martelli
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  • +1 for Mike's "The Rexx Language". If you're an experienced programmer, it's all you'll need. It's small and digestible, very similar in size and focus to the ancient K&R "The C Programming Language". – Ross Patterson Feb 19 '10 at 14:01
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Logic at

http://www.kilowattsoftware.com/tutorial/rexx/

Bible - from WROX REXX Programmer's Reference - Howard Fosdick

R Saunders
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Check out the many resources at the Rexx Language Association (www.rexxla.org), especially the links section.

Ross Patterson
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