REXX (Restructured Extended Executor) is a scripting and macro programming language designed by Mike Cowlishaw at IBM, first released in 1979, intended to be an easy-to-learn, English-like language usable both interactively and for automating tasks across IBM's mainframe operating systems. REXX became a standard component of IBM's VM/CMS and later OS/2 and z/OS environments, and its clear, readable syntax made it a popular choice for system administration scripting; a later dialect, Object REXX, added object-oriented programming features.
Facts
First Released SignificanceREXX's significance is that IBM included it in almost all of its operating systems over the years, spanning VM/CMS, MVS TSO/E, OS/400, VSE/ESA, MUSIC/SP, AIX, PC DOS and OS/2, making it one of the most widely deployed scripting languages across IBM platforms. 2 Classification
Typing Discipline Connections
Follows Typing Discipline
Entity-backed identity for the typing discipline value this language already carries as an enum fact, resolved to a concept entity by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The enum fact itself stays on the entity unchanged.
In Field
Sources
1. Wikidata: REXX
- Wikidata Q685820, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Wikidata Q685820 P571 (inception)
- Wikidata Q685820 P7078 (typing discipline)
View the Source2. Rexx, Wikipedia
History section
Over the years IBM included Rexx in almost all of its operating systems (VM/CMS, MVS TSO/E, IBM OS/400, VSE/ESA, MUSIC/SP, AIX, PC DOS, and OS/2).
In Field: Programming Language Theory, Lead sentence
Rexx (restructured extended executor) is a high-level programming language developed at IBM by Mike Cowlishaw.
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