# RPG

> programming language from IBM

**Wikidata**: [Q840543](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q840543)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_RPG)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rpg

## Summary
RPG (Report Program Generator) is a procedural programming language developed by IBM for business applications and data processing. Originally created in 1959, it has evolved through numerous iterations to become a long-standing tool for communicating instructions to machines within the IBM ecosystem.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** IBM (International Business Machines Corporation), headquartered in Armonk, New York.
- **Inception:** Originally introduced in 1959.
- **Classifications:** Identified as both a programming language and a procedural programming language.
- **Typing Discipline:** Utilizes strong typing and static typing.
- **Current Version:** Version 7.4 (referenced as of January 2022).
- **Major Dialects:** Includes RPG II (1965), RPG III (1978), RPG/400 (1988), and RPG IV (2001).
- **Programming Paradigm:** Procedural programming.
- **Aliases:** Also known as Report Program Generator, ILE RPG, and Generateur automatique de programmes.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the RPG programming language?
A: RPG was developed by IBM as a procedural programming language designed for communicating instructions to machines, specifically for generating business reports and processing data.

### Q: When was the most recent version of RPG released?
A: According to IBM documentation, version 7.4 of the language was active and referenced as of early 2022.

### Q: What are the different versions of RPG released over the years?
A: Since its 1959 inception, IBM has released several major versions, including RPG II in 1965, RPG III in 1978, RPG/400 in 1988, and RPG IV in 2001.

## Why It Matters
RPG represents a significant legacy in the history of business computing, having been a core component of IBM's software ecosystem for over six decades. As a procedural programming language, it was originally designed to streamline the generation of reports, a critical function for corporate data management and IT service management. Its evolution through versions like RPG II, RPG III, and RPG IV demonstrates a long-term commitment to maintaining and updating the language to meet changing technological needs, such as the transition to the AS/400 platform with the release of RPG/400 in 1988.

The language's significance is further highlighted by its continued relevance into the 21st century, with version 7.4 being documented as recently as 2022. By providing a structured, strongly typed environment, RPG allowed developers to create reliable business applications on IBM hardware. Its integration with IBM—a multinational corporation with a history dating back to 1911 and a workforce that exceeded 350,000 employees in 2018—ensured that RPG remained a standard in the computer and software industries. It serves as a primary example of how a specialized language can evolve from a simple report generator into a robust procedural language used globally across various industries.

## Notable For
- **Longevity:** One of the few programming languages with active development and documented versions spanning from 1959 to 2022.
- **IBM Integration:** Developed and maintained by IBM, a foundational entity in the computer and software industry.
- **Strong Typing:** Employs a rigorous static and strong typing discipline to ensure data integrity.
- **Global Reach:** Recognized internationally with localized names and documentation in languages including English, French, Spanish, and Czech.

## Body

### Historical Development
RPG was created by IBM in 1959. The developer, IBM, is an American multinational technology corporation founded on June 16, 1911, and based in Armonk, New York. The language was initially designed to facilitate the creation of reports, which led to its name, "Report Program Generator."

### Evolution and Dialects
The language has undergone several major transformations to keep pace with hardware advancements:
*   **RPG II:** Introduced in 1965, expanding the language's capabilities.
*   **RPG III:** Launched in 1978 as a significant dialect of the original language.
*   **RPG/400:** Released in 1988, specifically tailored for the IBM AS/400 system.
*   **RPG IV:** Released in 2001, providing modern programming structures.
*   **Modern Era:** Version 7.4 was documented in January 2022, continuing the language's utility in modern IT environments.

### Technical Characteristics
RPG is defined by its procedural programming paradigm. It is a strongly and statically typed language, which requires variables to be explicitly defined and checked at compile-time. This discipline is intended to reduce errors in complex business logic. The language is cataloged under several international authority records, including the Library of Congress (sh85115607) and the National Library of Israel.

### Corporate Context
The development of RPG is closely tied to IBM's growth in the software and computer industries. IBM has maintained a massive global presence, reporting 377,757 employees in 2015 and 350,600 in 2018. This corporate backing has provided the resources necessary for RPG to remain a stable platform for IT service management and industrial computing for over 60 years.

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## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. [Source](https://www.ibm.com/docs/de/i/7.4?topic=wn-whats-new-in-74-1#rpgrelv7r4)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File