CLIST programming language

The CLIST language is a high-level interpretive language that enables you to work more efficiently with TSO/E. You can write programs called CLISTs to perform routine and complex programming tasks on TSO/E.

The term CLIST is short for Command List because the most basic CLISTs are lists of TSO/E commands. When you execute such a CLIST, it issues the commands in sequence. CLISTs can also perform more complex tasks such as displaying a series of full-screen panels and providing interfaces to applications written in other languages.

The CLIST language provides a wide range of programming functions. Its features include:

CLIST statements that allow you to write structured programs, perform I/O, define and modify variables, and handle errors and attention interruptions.
Arithmetic and logical operators for processing numerical data
String-handling functions for processing character data.

Because the CLIST language is an interpretive language, CLISTs are easy to write and test and do not require you to compile or link-edit them. To test a CLIST, you simply execute it, correct any errors, and then re-execute it.

For complete information about writing, testing, and executing CLISTs, see z/OS TSO/E CLISTs.