Textbook in PDF format

This book provides a comprehensive reference and programming guide to the Rexx programming language. It shows how to use the most popular implementations of Rexx and Rexx external function packages and is suited to both the programmer learning Rexx for the first time as well as the seasoned Rexx developer requiring a single, comprehensive reference manual.
Originally developed for mainframes but highly portable across platforms-from servers to desktops to handhelds-Rexx is an easy yet powerful scripting language that's widely used for rapid application development.
Rexx is a very underrated programming language; elegant in design, simple syntax, easy to learn, use and maintain, yet as powerful as any other scripting language available today. Rexx is as easy as JavaScript or PHP, yet about as powerful as Java or Perl.
Rexx is unique in that it combines power with ease of use. Long the dominant scripting language on mainframes, it is definitely a “power” language, yet it is also so easy to use that its popularity has expanded to every conceivable platform. Today Rexx developers use the language on Windows, Linux, Unix, BSD, Macs, mainframes and many dozens of other systems... and, there are many free and open source Rexx interpreters available.
You may be wondering why ease of use is so important in a programming language. A truly easy language is easy to use, learn, remember, and maintain. The benefits to beginners are obvious. With Rexx, you can start coding almost immediately. There are no syntax tricks or language details to memorize before you begin. And, since Rexx is also a power language, you can rest assured that you won’t run out of capability as you learn and grow with it. Read the first few chapters in this book, and you’ll be scripting right away. Continue reading, and you’ll mature into advanced scripting before you finish.
If you are an experienced developer, Rexx offers more subtle benefits. You will be more productive, of course, as you free yourself from the shackles of syntax-driven code. More important is this: simplicity yields reliability. Your error rate will decline, and you’ll develop more reliable programs. This benefit is greatest for the largest systems and the most complicated scripts. Your scripts will also live longer because others will be able to understand, maintain, and enhance them. Your clever scriptlets and application masterpieces won’t die of neglect when someone else takes over and maintains your code.
Who This Book Is For:
This book is for anyone who wants to learn Rexx, or who already works with Rexx and wants to expand his or her knowledge of the language, its versions, interfaces, and tools. How you use this book depends on your previous programming or scripting knowledge and experience:
If you are a complete beginner, you’ll find Rexx easy to learn. This book will tell you everything you need to know. It’s a progressive tutorial based on coding examples, so you won't get lost. You’ll be able to handle almost any programming problem by the end of the book.
If you are an experienced programmer, you can quickly learn Rexx by reading the tutorial chapters. You’ll be programming immediately. As the book progresses into tutorials on interfaces to databases, Web servers, GUIs, and the like, you’ll learn to program Rexx in the context of the larger environment.
If you are a systems administrator or support person, you’ll learn a language that applies to a wide variety of situations and can be a great tool. This book covers the interfaces, tools, and varieties and implementations of Rexx you’ll need to know. It doesn’t stop with the basics. It explores the advanced features you’ll want to use.
If you already script Rexx, you will be able to expand your knowledge. You'll learn about free Rexx interfaces and tools with which you may not be familiar. You’ll learn Rexx programming in new environments, such as object-oriented scripting, scripting in the Java environment… and even how to program Rexx in mainframe emulation on your personal computer. You’ll find this complete reference the only Rexx book you’ll ever need