Chapter 1 - Introduction

REBOL/Core Users Guide
Table of Contents

Contents:

1. About REBOL/Core
2. About this Guide
3. Document Conventions
4. Technical Support
5. Comments are Welcome

REBOL is the Relative Expression-Based Object Language designed by Carl Sassenrath, the software architect responsible for the Amiga operating system -- one of the world's first personal computer multitasking operating systems.

REBOL is designed for the next generation of distributed communications. REBOL code and data can span more than 40 platforms without modification using a range of built-in Internet protocols. A script written and executed on the Windows platform can also be run on UNIX and many other platforms with no changes. REBOL can exchange not only traditional files and text, but also graphical user interface content and domain specific dialects that communicate specific meaning between systems. Distributed communications includes information exchanged between computers, between people and computers, and between people. REBOL can be used for all of these.

REBOL is a messaging language that provides a broad range of practical solutions to the daily challenges of Internet computing. REBOL/Core is the foundation for all of REBOL's technology. While designed to be simple and productive for novices, the language extends a new dimension of power to professionals. REBOL offers a new approach to the exchange and interpretation of network-based information over a wide variety of computing platforms.

REBOL scripts are as easy to write as HTML or shell scripts. A script can be a single line or an entire application.

This guide provides the basic information necessary for using REBOL/Core. It assumes that the reader is already familiar with general programming and operating system terminology and concepts.

The following table describes the typographical conventions used in this guide.

Item	Convention	Example
Words that are part of the REBOL language system.	Bold	Append unique change
Non-REBOL words and values such as file names, directory names, program names, and variable names.	Italic style type	myfile window-color
Code examples.	Indented bold monospaced type	do %feedback.r
Results returned at the console.	Indented non-bold monospace type

If you encounter a problem while using REBOL or reading this manual, please contact REBOL Technologies through the Feedback page on our website.

To help us with future releases of this documentation we would like to know what corrections or clarifications you would find useful. Send them to the Feedback page on our website. Please include the title, version, and chapter of the guide.