Definition: RPG

(1) For gaming, see role-playing game.

(2) (Report Program Generator) One of the first application generators designed for business, introduced in 1964 by IBM. Although nowhere near as simple as today's no-code development environments, RPGs provided a higher level of programming for generating reports than the traditional source code of that era. See no-code development.

RPG IV and RPGLE
In 1970, RPG II enhancements became a mainstay on IBM's System/3x midrange computers. RPG III and IV added more enhancements and have been widely used on IBM's OS/400 and i computers. RPGLE (RPG Language Extended) enables integration of C, Java and other languages.

Until RPGLE, all processing statements were written in strict columnar format as in the following example, which changes Fahrenheit to Celsius. Compiled separately, the A lines are Data Description Specs (DDS) and define a display file. The F line links the processing code (C lines) to the A lines:

 A                      DSPSIZ(24 80 *DS3)
 A R FHEITR
 A                      CA03(03 'End')
 A                  6 18'Enter Fahrenheit:'
 A   FRHEIT  3Y 0B  6 42DSPATR(PC)
 A                      EDTCDE(J)
 A                  9 18'Celsius is:'
 A   CGRADE  3Y 0O  9 42DSPATR(PC)
 A                      EDTCDE(J)
 A                 23  8'F3=End'

 FFheitd   CF  E    Workstn

 C *IN03  DoWEq  *Off
 C        ExFmt  Fheitr
 C        Eval   CGrade=0
 C        Eval   CGrade=((Frheit-32)*5)/9
 C        ExFmt  Fheitr
 C        EndDo
 C        Seton                        LR