Rebol
Shares rank 133 of 163 programming languages by recommenders
Recommended as an easy-to-learn scripting language for UI forms and games. Critics note it was closed source for too long.
Recommended as an easy-to-learn scripting language for UI forms and games. Critics note it was closed source for too long.
7 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 6
- criticize it
- 1
- approval share
- 86%
Recommended in 6 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 6 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- 6 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 6 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Admired for elegant, insightful design
“All languages that multiply your insight into the nature of computer programming”
Comment from 10 Aug 2026 in “Squeak/Smalltalk 6.1 Release Notes” “From entropy POV, Rebol syntax is certainly close to optimal state.”
Comment from 10 May 2026 in “Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (May 2026)” “as mind-blowing as it's dead technology from a lost timeline”
Comment from 2 Jun 2026 in “Why Janet?” Loved by its enthusiasts
“as mind-blowing as it's dead technology from a lost timeline”
Comment from 2 Jun 2026 in “Why Janet?” “I always love to see Rebol and Red mentioned anywhere”
Comment from 1 Jul 2026 in “Red Programming Language: Static linking support” Good for UI and scripting
“I used it successfully as a scripting language when producing several games.”
Comment from 7 Jul 2026 in “Red Programming Language: Static linking support” “Rebol was another language that was sleek at making UI Form”
Comment from 10 Dec 2025 in “You used to be able to just create a Native GUI App in 10 seconds”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Closed source for too long
“it was commercial and then closed source for too long”
Comment from 5 Nov 2025 in “Radiant Computer” Unfinished alpha, seen as abandoned
“I used it successfully as a scripting language when producing several games.”
Comment from 7 Jul 2026 in “Red Programming Language: Static linking support” “it is abandoned for years and I didn't wanted to use it”
Comment from 12 Jul 2026 in “Red Programming Language: Static linking support”
Other programming languages people recommend
The four most recommended other programming languages, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
See all 163 programming languages, rankedWhat people said
11 of the 13 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“All languages that multiply your insight into the nature of computer programming”
“it is abandoned for years and I didn't wanted to use it”
“Rebol3 was always considered an alpha version. In my fork, I've fixed hundreds of bugs and missing features.”
“I used it successfully as a scripting language when producing several games.”
“I always love to see Rebol and Red mentioned anywhere”
“as mind-blowing as it's dead technology from a lost timeline”
“From entropy POV, Rebol syntax is certainly close to optimal state.”
“I've only found Rebol to be easier to use and learn”
“Rebol was another language that was sleek at making UI Form”
“Look at both View and Draw I think.”
“it was commercial and then closed source for too long”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.