# RPL

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q960361](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q960361)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPL_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rpl

## Summary
RPL is a programming language that originated in the United States in 1984. It is a multi-paradigm language that supports stack-oriented, structured, and object-oriented programming. The language was influenced by Forth and was discontinued in 2015.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** RPL was created in 1984.
- **Country of Origin:** United States.
- **Discontinuation:** The language was discontinued in 2015.
- **Type:** It is an instance of a programming language.
- **Paradigms:** RPL supports stack-oriented programming, structured programming, and object-oriented programming.
- **Influences:** The design of RPL was influenced by the Forth programming language.
- **Global Reach:** Documentation or content for RPL exists in 8 languages, including German, English, Finnish, French, Japanese, Polish, Russian, and Slovenian.
- **Identifiers:** The language holds the Freebase ID `/m/02k6kx`.

## FAQs
### Q: When was RPL created and discontinued?
A: RPL was created in 1984 in the United States. It was eventually discontinued in 2015.

### Q: What programming paradigms does RPL support?
A: RPL is a multi-paradigm language. It supports stack-oriented programming, structured programming, and object-oriented programming.

### Q: What language influenced the development of RPL?
A: RPL was influenced by the Forth programming language.

## Why It Matters
RPL serves as a distinct example of a multi-paradigm programming language that bridges the gap between older stack-based architectures and modern object-oriented methodologies. Originating in the United States in 1984, its incorporation of stack-oriented programming—heavily influenced by Forth—suggests it was designed for specific computational environments where efficient, low-level data manipulation was required, while its support for structured and object-oriented programming allowed for more complex code organization.

The language's lifespan, spanning over three decades until its discontinuation in 2015, indicates a dedicated user base or specific utility that allowed it to persist alongside more mainstream languages. Its availability in eight different languages (including German, Japanese, and Russian) highlights its international relevance and the global dissemination of its documentation. As a technological artifact, RPL represents the evolution of programming language design during the 1980s, demonstrating how developers combined different structural approaches to solve specific problems.

## Notable For
- **Multi-Paradigm Design:** Uniquely combines stack-oriented, structured, and object-oriented programming in a single language.
- **Forth Influence:** Notable for being a derivative of the Forth programming language, inheriting its stack-based logic.
- **Long Lifespan:** Maintained relevance for over 30 years (1984–2015) before discontinuation.
- **International Documentation:** Distinguished by having Wikipedia entries and resources in eight distinct languages.

## Body

### Origin and History
RPL is a programming language that was developed in the United States. It was officially inceptioned in 1984. After a lifespan of over three decades, the language was marked as discontinued in 2015.

### Technical Classification
RPL is classified as a programming language designed to communicate instructions to a machine. It operates as a multi-paradigm system, incorporating:
*   **Stack-oriented programming:** A paradigm relying heavily on a stack data structure for operations.
*   **Structured programming:** A paradigm aimed at improving clarity and quality using subroutines and block structures.
*   **Object-oriented programming:** A paradigm based on "objects" containing data and code.

### Influences
The architecture and syntax of RPL were directly influenced by **Forth**, a stack-oriented programming language known for its extensibility and compactness.

### Global Presence
The language maintains a presence across various linguistic regions. It is documented and referenced in eight languages:
*   German (de)
*   English (en)
*   Finnish (fi)
*   French (fr)
*   Japanese (ja)
*   Polish (pl)
*   Russian (ru)
*   Slovenian (sl)

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013