                                                                        o o
                                                                      ____oo_
                                 R  E  X  X               1992-2002  /||    |\
                                  Ver. 2.0                   BNV      ||    |
                                 for  MSDOS                MARMITA    `.___.'
                                  and Unix


                 Author.........Vasilis N. Vlachoudis
                 Address........Ifaistionos 18
                                TK555 35 Pilea
                                Thessaloniki, Greece
                 Computer addr..Vasilis.Vlachoudis@cern.ch
                 Http addr......http://home.cern.ch/bnv
                 Telephone......+33-4.50.99.18.32
                 Last updated...Jan-2002


     What is REXX?
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
         REXX is a programming language designed by Michael Cowlishaw of
     IBM UK Laboratories.  In his own words:  "REXX is a procedural
     language that allows programs and algorithms to be written in a
     clear and structured way."

         Syntactically, REXX doesn't look that different from any other
     procedural language.  Here's a simple REXX program:

                 /* Count some numbers */

                 say "Counting..."
                 do i = 1 to 10
                     say "Number" i
                 end

         Versions are included for PC, UNIX and MAC operating systems.


     Files:
     ~~~~~~
     brexx206.zip                   V2.0.5 Binary for MSDOS, examples,
                                    libs and docs compiled with BC++ V3.1

     brexx206_32bit.zip             V2.0.5 Binary for 32BIT-DOS, examples,
                                    libs and docs compiled with DJGPP
				    (by Generoso Martello)

     brx86v206.zip                  V2.0.5 Binary for 8086, examples,
                                    libs and docs compiled with BC++ V3.1

     brexx206_src.tgz               V2.0.5 Source code, examples,
                                    libs and docs

     brexx206_linux386.tgz          V2.0.5 Binary for i386 LINUX libc5,
                                    examples, libs and docs

     brexx200_amiga.tgz             V2.0.x Binary for AMIGA, examples,
                                    libs and docs. Needs ixemul.library.
				    (by Generoso Martello)

     brexx206_wince.zip             V2.0.5 Binary for Windows CE V2.x for
                                    SH-3 and MIPS processor, examples,
                                    libs and docs and setup program.

     v13/brexx131.zip               Binary, examples, libs and docs
				    compiled with BC++ V3.1

     v13/brexx_1.31_hpux.tar.gz     Binary, examples, libs and docs
				    compiled on HP-UX V9

     v13/brexx_1.31_linux.tar.gz    Binary, examples, libs and docs
				    compiled on linux.

     v13/brexx_1.31_rsaix32.tar.gz  Binary, examples, libs and docs
				    compiled on IBM AIX

     v13/brexx_1.31_src.tar.gz      Source that can be compiled on most
				    of the unix systems and DOS.

     brexx_1.3m_mpw.dd.hqx          Binary, examples, libs and docs
                                    for MPW Macintosh shell.

     brexx_1.3m_src.dd.hqx          Source, examples, libs and docs
                                    for MPW Macintosh shell.


     What changed from 2.0 to 1.3:
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      1. The Code is completly changed. First it compiles the rexx program
         in a forth-like language and then it interprets this code.
      2. You should see an large increase in the speed.
      3. It needs a little bit more memory than before.
      4. It follows most of the ANSI/REXX standards.
      5. NUMERIC DIGITS is still not supported.
      6. The code is written in a more cleaner and structured way
         allowing the user easily to write it's own routines or even
	 to include rexx as a macro language inside a program.
      7. There is a new "lstring" library (Length Prefixed strings) with
         all the available functions in rexx which can be used by any kind
	 of program that does strings processing.
      8. Paradox is no longer supported.
      9. Long filenames and 32-bit code for WIN-95, NT etc.


     Future of BREXX:
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      *	A compiler REXX to Ansi-C.
      The following are in preparation:
	      *	Ability to load and call routines in DLLs
	      *	Socket's Functions for network support.

     I would be glad to hear any comments and ideas of how this
     program can be improved. Questions or Comments about BREXX
     should be sent to any of the above addresses.

  
     Y2K
     ~~~
        Normally BRexx is Y2K compliant, but it depends on the
     compiler that has been used for the compilation of the interpter
     and the user's code. The DATE() function has various options
             date()=date(n)  ->      dd mmm yyyy  /* Normalised */
             date(s)         ->      yyyymmdd     /* Sorted     */
             date(e)         ->      dd/mm/yy     /* European   */
             date(o)         ->      yy/mm/dd     /* Ordered    */
             date(u)         ->      mm/dd/yy     /* USA        */
     The user must prefer the Normalised or the Sorted format
     in order to ensure consistent functionality of his script for
     dates prior and after 2000.


     Reviews
     ~~~~~~~
        A review dated Jan-99 from Frank Clarke, REXX Language Association
     for this interpreter can be found at the Newletters of the
     Rexx language association site at:
          http://www.rexxla.org/Newsletter/9901brexx.html
