REXX is a command-line, interpreted language primarily intended to replace the primitive .BAT files used in Microsoft operating systems. It has long been in use in IBM systems and, used in its “.CMD” form, can be used to create quite ambitious programs. Like BASIC, it imposes few restrictions on type and format and is simple to use and to teach.

With the advent of graphical user interfaces, languages of this type have been falling out of favor. IBM has brought the language up to date with this new version, Object REXX, which relies heavily on C++-type object traditions and is a serious rival to Microsoft’s Visual Basic and Visual C. This book teaches the new language by constructing a fairly large example program written in Object REXX.

After an introduction that explains the merits of object-oriented programming and its origins in Smalltalk, the authors introduce a small team of young programmers, the “HACURS Company.” As their first commercial project, they decide to construct a management program for a car dealership. The authors describe various phases of development, and even cover such things as Internet access. The result is a working program in Object REXX, which could easily be modified to adapt to similar business activities. Extensive code examples are given, and both source code and executables are provided on the CD-ROM that is included with the book. Also on the CD-ROM is the relevant  Object  REXX interpreter for use with OS/2 Warp, although OS/2 2.4 (Merlin) includes both Classic and Object REXX.

This well-written book would make an excellent classroom text for the introduction of object-oriented languages.