Rexx2exe

This program is used to compile rexx ".CMD" files into ".EXE" files so that the source is not required. As the source is not required at runtime, you can distribute a binary file which you know end users can't modify in any way. You have the option (which is on by default) to encrypt the compiled rexx so that its readability is reduced to zero. This ensures that not even strings can be modified by end users (your copyright for example). This encryption while not simple should not be relied upon to secure highly sensitive information, its only meant to deter anyone from modifying or looking at your code. As another precaution, the produced rexx binary is crc checked.

Syntax is simple:

REXX2EXE[.EXE]  SourceFile  TargetFile [/C] [/D] [/P] [/2] [/K[:key]]

Rexx2exe compile for both command line and Presentation Manager executables.

The rexx compiler can produce either a small dynamically linked ".exe" which requires a runtime or a larger statically linked ".exe". The advantage with the dynamically linked version is that most of the runtime can be shared between multiple compiled rexx programs. The disadvantage is that the runtime must be placed into a directory specified in the libpath (and only one version can be active at any time, a major issue).

Please, have a look at the rexx code build program PPWIZARD.EXE. This tool can be used to create the source to be compiled to an executable as it gives you much more control (#defines, #includes etc).

If you structure your code suitably for the PPWIZARD "/pack" option then your resultant EXE should be smaller!

Rexx2exe is available FreeWare.