What is REBOL?

It's about language... the enabling technology behind all technologies.

We believe that language itself, when coupled with the human mind, gains significant productivity advantages over traditional software technologies.

Example REBOL enterprise apps only 2K to 42K. Reblets runs on both server and client.

Quick Facts

• We rebel against the idea that modern software must be large and complex.
  In fact, we believe such systems lead to greater potential for failure, with disastrous social and economic consequences.
• REBOL stands for relative expression based object language.
  Based on symbolic processing and denotational semantics it's powered by relative expressions called dialects.
• REBOL Technologies was founded in 1998.
  The technology was designed by Carl Sassenrath, the multitasking operating system architect.
• REBOL 3.0 is now in development.
  A full rewrite based on what we've learned from REBOL 2 over the years.
• REBOL is pronounced "reb-ol".
  As in rebel yell or "rebel with a cause".

Concepts

Technically speaking, REBOL gains its advantage through lightweight domain-specific sublanguages and micro-formats. REBOL introduces the concept of dialecting: small, efficient, domain languages for code, data, and metadata.

• REBOL is "both-sided" technology.
  It is an integrated solution to distributed computing that works best when it runs on both the client and the server. (However, that is not a requirement you can use it on just the client or just the server.)

• REBOL provides a lightweight platform for Internet applications.
  REBOL's power makes applications small so they are less expensive to create, distribute, maintain, and upgrade. In the size of a typical web page, you can fit an entire REBOL application.
• REBOL is more than just a programming language.
  It is also a language for representing data and metadata. It provides a consistent architecture for computation, storage, and exchange of information.
• REBOL has been intentionally kept small and lightweight.
  It only takes a few seconds to download, and it requires no special libraries to run, but it includes hundreds of functions, dozens of datatypes, built-in help, multiple Internet protocols, graphics, sound, and much more.
• How REBOL is Different
  REBOL is not a traditional computer language like C, BASIC, or Java.
• Why Use REBOL?
  A few more details about why it's useful.

More

• Simple Demo Gallery and Enterprise Applet Gallery
  Screen shots of various reblets.
• REBOL is cross-platform.
  A program written on Windows runs equally well on Linux, BSD, OS X, and many other platforms... with no changes necessary.
• REBOL comes in a variety of packages.
  Beginners can use the freely licensed REBOL/Core and REBOL/View packages. Professionals will find REBOL/Command and REBOL/SDK to be powerful tools.
• What do users think?
  Here is some of the feedback we've received.
• More than five million copies downloaded
  Including REBOL/Core and REBOL/View.
• Organizations large and small use REBOL
  To create Internet applications and solutions in a fraction of the normal time and cost.
• REBOL powers AltME
  A secure, lightweight, messaging and application platform created by SafeWorlds, Inc. We encourage you to give it a try.