REBOL 2
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Getting Started With REBOL start here | |
What is REBOL
REBOL is a data exchange language and a programming language, but if you are here you probably already know this.
It is an interpreted language in which the interpreter loads your program (henceforth called a script) in memory and executes it.
Some points about REBOL:
- REBOL scripts are short and expressive. In a single line you can write an entire program.
- The language can be extended with "dialects" that enable the programmer to add new WORDS for specific domains.
- It is multi-platform. The same script can run on many OS's with no changes.
- It includes a GUI system for light or heavy applications.
- It is FAST. With a single loop you can search for an entry in a million of records in less than a second.
REBOL has been created by one of the gurus of the computing world - Carl Sassenrath.
Why REBOL
Why use REBOL?
- Tired of installs that consume gigabytes and take hours to configure? REBOL setup is very fast: download the interpreter, run it and the REBOL environment is ready.
- Create applications in less time with its highly expressive yet concise syntax. Download and process an entire web page in one line of code.
- Connect to the X Internet.
REBOL 2 or REBOL 3?
REBOL 3 is currently under development. The concepts are essentially those of REBOL 2, but it has been extended in many ways.
For any production work, you should use REBOL 2 as it is a complete and quite stable. The adventurous might want to experiment with REBOL 3 in its present state, with the expectation that there will be bugs and undocumented areas to deal with.
Once comfortable with REBOL 2, the changes in REBOL 3 should present no difficulty, and by that time REBOL 3 should be ready for you with a more stable base.
