Category:AutoIt

From The Ultimate Programming Reference

Developer: Jonathan Bennett & AutoIt Team

Operating System: Microsoft Windows

Genre: GUI; Utility

Licence: Freeware

Website: http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/

AutoIt is a freeware Microsoft Windows automation language. It was most commonly used to create automation scripts (sometimes called macros) for Microsoft Windows programs. Like other automation programs, AutoIt is best used for highly repetitive activities, such as rolling out a large number of PCs with identical installation instructions. However, with the new releases it has become an extremely flexible and easy to learn language. While it does lack some features that are commonplace for other languages (such as classes and advanced graphics functions), it is quickly becoming a serious contender for other languages.

AutoIt's version 3.1 source code is available for download from its website. The code was developed by a small team with the help of worldwide contributors. AutoIt has extensive third-party support, including help files, examples, support forums, mailing list, editor files, and third-party utilities.

With the release of AutoIt version 3, it is now possible to use it as a BASIC-like programming language. New features include the ability to:

• Communicate via the TCP and UDP protocols in the beta release
• Include files in the compiled file to be extracted when run
• Make GUI interfaces, create message and input boxes.
• Use COM (component object modelling) objects in the beta release.
• Play sounds
• Perform complicated mathematical calculations
• Automate tasks, in ways such as sending key strokes, even to applications and controls.
• Run console applications and access the standard streams in the beta release.
• Call functions in Win32 DLLs in the beta release.

It is available for download along with other beta releases.

See Also

• AutoIt Documentation in Chinese (The Chinese Documentation is hosted by The Ultimate Programming Reference)
• Official AutoIt Online Documentaion
• The AutoIt Home Page - autoitscript.com
• AutoIt Forums

Other uses

Although AutoIt is intended as a general purpose scripting and automation language its users always find new ways to make use of it. One of the most popular and unexpected uses of AutoIt is for "botting" in online games. Botting allows the user to run a script which automates some repetative action in the game - usually so the writer can advance in the game more quickly. Use of AutoIt in this way is usually frowned about by the AutoIt community as it can generate bad publicity.