Scripting

WinBatch 2K3 Rocks!! On the project I'm on now everyone thinks the sun shines out of VBScript's backside, but I can code circles around them all with WinBatch. Everything's in it, no need to buy Windows API books to figure out how to do something. You can run your program interpretively for debugging purposes, even single step while watching the variables, or compile to an EXE. I can even use passwords in the code because it's compiled into an EXE. And there's a full IDE included, unlike VBScript. I can even create services with WinBatch. I don't need to learn OO programming either, it's much more like QuickBasic and DOS batch language, but with over 500 hundred commands, it's way better than KixStart, and there's no workstation licensing fees. Buy one copy of the compiler, write and deploy your application, you're all done, no additional costs. You can't beat that.

Mark Weston

WiseScript by Wise

Before Wise Package or Wise Installer, there was Wise scripting. Their latest version of wisescript express which is included in the Wise Software products is a really excellent program.

You can use it in combination with vbscript, batch files, jscript, etc. to create your own exe's for distribution, or in combination with the Windows Installer (MSI) engine.

WiseScript is powerful, clean, quick and effective way to create solutions for your support needs on the Microsoft Windows platforms.

DigitalFootprint Software Corporation
www.digitalfootprint.net

I am using Python. Python is a modern, OO language, easy to learn and to use. It is easy to generate *exe files, so you don'f need anything on the target system. And Python runs on any OS.

I use a combination of native NT commands, MountCommands, and the Expert NT/2K/XP/K3 Command Library.

(I work for the company. So, I'm obviously partial.)

But...

You might be surprised at what can be done using only the builtin commands and utilities. The problem with the builtin stuff is that the syntax is inconsistent and the output can vary, especially across OS's. The Command Libraries smooth out those bumps.

Any time I can stay with the lowest common denominator, I know I'll stay compatible with the greatest number of systems. There's also a free version of the library that anyone can use with no restrictions on use or distribution.

ntlib.com

I find VBS to be highly effective and easy to write.