# Red

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q3217187](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3217187)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/red-q3217187

## Summary
Red is a multi-paradigm programming language created by Nenad Rakocevic in 2011, combining functional and imperative programming principles. It is distributed under open-source licenses including the 3-clause BSD License and Boost Software License.

## Key Facts
- Red is classified as both a functional programming language and multi-paradigm programming language
- Created by Nenad Rakocevic with initial release in 2011
- Current stable version is 0.6.6, released on March 19, 2025
- Licensed under both 3-clause BSD License and Boost Software License
- Official website is https://www.red-lang.org/ with documentation at https://www.red-lang.org/p/documentation.html
- Source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/red/red
- Influenced by REBOL, Lua, and another programming entity referenced as Q460584

## FAQs
### Q: Who developed the Red programming language?
A: Red was developed by Nenad Rakocevic, who also serves as its primary designer and maintainer.

### Q: When was Red programming language first released?
A: Red was first released in 2011, with ongoing development leading to version 0.6.6 as of March 19, 2025.

### Q: What programming paradigms does Red support?
A: Red supports multiple programming paradigms including functional programming, imperative programming, and is classified as a multi-paradigm programming language.

### Q: What is the licensing model for Red?
A: Red is distributed under open-source licenses, specifically the 3-clause BSD License and Boost Software License.

### Q: Which programming languages influenced the design of Red?
A: Red's design was influenced by REBOL, Lua, and another programming entity referenced as Q460584 in the knowledge base.

## Why It Matters
Red represents a modern approach to programming language design that combines multiple paradigms in a coherent framework. Its multi-paradigm nature allows developers to choose the most appropriate programming style for specific tasks within the same language. As an open-source project with a dedicated architecture and comprehensive documentation, Red contributes to the diversity of programming tools available to developers. Its continued development since 2011 demonstrates ongoing interest and investment in language design, particularly in the functional programming space. Red's presence across multiple language editions of Wikipedia indicates its recognition in the programming community as a notable language implementation.

## Notable For
- Combining functional programming and imperative programming paradigms in a single, coherent language
- Having a dedicated architecture visualized through available schematics
- Being an open-source project with active development since 2011
- Supporting a readable and writable file format specific to the Red language
- Maintaining consistent licensing across different versions (BSD and Boost licenses)

## Body
### History and Development
Red was created by Nenad Rakocevic with its inception in 2011. The language has undergone continuous development with several notable releases:
- Version 0.6.3 released on July 18, 2017
- Version 0.6.4 released on November 22, 2018
- Version 0.6.6 (current stable) released on March 19, 2025

### Technical Characteristics
Red is classified as both a functional programming language and a multi-paradigm programming language. It supports:
- Imperative programming
- Functional programming
- Multi-paradigm programming approaches

The language has its own specific file format known as the "Red language file format," which serves both as a readable and writable format for Red programs.

### Licensing and Distribution
Red is distributed under open-source licenses:
- 3-clause BSD License
- Boost Software License

### Community and Documentation
Red maintains a web presence through:
- Official website: https://www.red-lang.org/
- User manual: https://www.red-lang.org/p/documentation.html
- Source code repository: https://github.com/red/red

The language has documentation available in multiple languages including English, French, Russian, and others, reflecting its international reach and community support.

### Influences and Relationships
Red's design was influenced by several existing programming languages:
- REBOL
- Lua
- Q460584 (referenced entity in the knowledge base)

The language is implemented in itself, serving as an implementation of a programming language while also being influenced by prior language designs.

## References

1. [Release 0.6.3. 2017](https://github.com/red/red/releases/tag/v0.6.3)
2. [Release 0.6.4. 2018](https://github.com/red/red/releases/tag/v0.6.4)
3. [Release 0.6.6. 2025](https://github.com/red/red/releases/tag/v0.6.6)
4. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/red/red)