Since CLIST is an interpreted program and not a compiled program, it does not build a set of commands into an executable structure for run time. Instead, the machine translates the code into machine language each time it is run.

CLIST is also an alternative to Rexx, another language for TSO (Time Sharing Options) in storage networks. Although CLIST can be as simple as a set of commands run in sequence, it also includes tools for more sophisticated programming results, such as multi-screen displays and if-then-else loops.