APL2 and REXX are both powerful interpretive languages. APL2 generally isolates the user/programmer from the operating environment, whereas REXX includes integral hooks to directly access the environment. The second release of APL2 includes the ability to access REXX functions and some variables, using the external function call (Associated Processor) facility. APL2 programmers can use REXX and appropriately-designed REXX procedures and functions to, for example: Access host system function and services; Perform arithmetic with arbitrarily-large precision; Provide tailored access to applications packages (e.g., SCRIPT DCF); Perform string and word manipulation; Tailor the APL2 environment; Carry-over variables between workspaces in a given APL2 session; Communicate with the host after leaving APL2. REXX programmers can test REXX procedures from within APL2, and can access APL2 workspaces and operations, to bring the power of APL2 to manipulate REXX data objects. The REXX/APL2 interface is decried and some applications are discussed. Attention is spent on the proper design of REXX and APL2 code to take advantage of (or even to allow the use of) the existing interface.

Note: OCR errors may be found in this Reference List extracted from the full text article. ACM has opted to expose the complete List rather than only correct and linked references.

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  Ellen Francik ,  Susan Ehrlich Rudman ,  Donna Cooper ,  Stephen Levine
  
  
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• ACM SIGAPL APL Quote Quad
  Volume 18 ,  Issue 2   Dec. 1987