Customer Reviews

Object REXX for Windows NT and Windows 95 (IBM ITSO Red Book)

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I use many different languages but I like REXX for its easy access to the OS. At first I thought that the story line was hokey, but after a while I enjoyed it. It provided a context for the technical detail. I applaud the authors for their efforts (next time I'd recommend that they pilfer a more established author's story line because the story was a bit weak.) Imagine "Salem's oREXX", instead of "Salem's Lot". I disagree with the critics who panned the book. I found it well worth the money.

The book is aimed at someone who knows REXX. It spends a couple of chapters reviewing how classical REXX works and then starts explaining object concepts. The author uses the vehicle of a fictional software development shop developing a car dealer application. The example works well as the author adds more and more function to the application using the functions in object REXX. I have converted a couple of my REXX programs to object REXX, but have not yet taken advantage of object programming as such but I will be. The book is not a primer on REXX. Cowlishaw's and Daney's books are excellent primers and references. Unfortunately these books were written before object REXX came on the scene.

I'm disappointed with the content and style of this book. Briefly: - It doesn't have much info specific to the Win95/NT environment. - 130+ pages are used to repeat reference information available on the Object Rexx CD-ROM. - Only 3 1/2 pages are dedicated to the Object REXX Workbench, mostly screen prints. - Far, far too many lines of text are used for irrevelant chatter of some fictional programmers. Sample p.97: "Come on, Steve, your're late for the meeting!" called Curt. "I'm busy working", Steve called back. "You know that work is no excuse for missing a meeting, Steve," responded Curt. ....followed by many lines of simliar useless "noise" before any real info. ....and many instances of similar simulated conversations. Maybe your mileage will differ. I bought this book in hopes it would be useful in migrating from an OS/2 classic REXX platform to OBJECT REXX on WinNT. We have lots of existing programs and will continue to use REXX for new development.

As an experinced programmer I feel this book is far to wordy, to the point of discribing a what is going on in the class room. Frankly I can't believe this is an IBM manual do to the lack of information provided and the fluff included.

This book is written as a case study, and written as if it were a screen play for a group of programmers working on a project. That approach may work for some people, but you might prefer to get a start with the ooRexx documentation available on line with the software. If you really want to decide about this book, I would suggest going to IBM's website and downloading the "Red Book" PDF. Since it's identical and free, it should give you more than enough information to decide whether a hard copy is a worthwhile purchase.

I can't believe they consider this a technical book on REXX. Nobody who buys this book wants a stupid story line behind what should be the technical details of programming REXX in Windows.

If you drop all the fluff, you would only have a 50 page document. If your looking for a better reference on REXX, I suggest getting the IBM Mainframe Programmer's Desk Reference. The Reference covers many other IBM utilities, but it does a good job of covering the REXX commands and giving examples on how to use them. I bought this book to learn REXX when I first started. It was a very valuable resource. I still use it often in my day - to - day programming.