Universal scripting language for Windows

Question

Linux user - Windows noob alert ;)

Could someone recommend me scripting/programming language that's functional and works on all Windows (let's focus on XP, maybe Vista too) machines without additional installation? Something that won't make me install new things to run code.

For example on Linux I have shell (heh) and can code basic things without installing anything; python is usually installed by default and I can use it without installing anything, etc. I'm searching for something like this for Windows (I guess that if I wanted to use python on Windows I would have to install it first).

...bat files? Is this used at all now?

.NET (for, let's say C#) isn't installed by default, I guess?

Something else?

technically on linux you do have to install the shell to use it. :) — John Weldon, Jul 09 '09 at 16:12

score 13 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:11

13

VBScript and JScript are two such languages.

answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:11

RichieHindle

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i think that might be what i'm searching for, will have to check these :) – Phil Jul 09 '09 at 16:21

dfa · Answer 2 · 2009-07-09T16:19:38.700

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you can use batch files withount any additional software
PowerShell is included in Windows 7 (RC) by default and cannot be uninstalled; with XP/Vista you need to install it

edited Jul 09 '09 at 16:19

answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:12

dfa

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hmmmm, nice to know that it's enabled by default in win7 – Phil Jul 09 '09 at 16:15

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:11

4

Powershell.

Does require an installation, but well worth it.

answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:11

John Weldon

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Er, doesn't that go against one of his key points, that he not have to install anything? Would be fine for Windows 7, since no install necessary there, but that's not exactly standard yet. – Sarah Vessels Jul 09 '09 at 16:16
yeah, exactly. i'm searching for something universal. – Phil Jul 09 '09 at 16:24
Then probably cscript is your best option, but you'd be giving up a LOT of convenience :) – John Weldon Jul 09 '09 at 16:26
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cscript being the script host for VBScript and JScript. – John Weldon Jul 09 '09 at 16:27

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:14

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What about Windows Script Host?

answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:14

merkuro

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Wow, that's interesting... So many good answers (except powershell on versions below win7 ;]), everyone talking about different good thing, though... I'll vote up each interesting answer. – Phil Jul 09 '09 at 16:37

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 10 '09 at 05:29

2

@OP if you want a "universal" scripting language, why don't you try out Python (for windows, go to ActiveState Python). (Or even Perl/Java etc) As for using batch, powershell, vbscript, the one minor thing to take note is that scripts written in them are not portable to *nix. therefore, cannot be considered "universal"

answered Jul 10 '09 at 05:29

ghostdog74

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yeah, that's an issue... i try to limit learning curve and avoid learning language that i would use on only one platform, but most important thing for me is making my program run on every standard winxp/vista install without need to prompt user to install additional packages... so i guess portable python is fantastic in this case. although if not it, i would use something like bat scripts or vbscript even though it has learning curve - most important is portability on desired systems. i'll look into portable python and see how it goes... – Phil Jul 10 '09 at 14:05
*steep learning curve (du-oh, sorry, writing too fast ;) – Phil Jul 10 '09 at 14:06
@Phil,actually, if you use portable python, aren't you going to install that python interpreter on every PC too if you want to run your script? what i would do is, you can just download Python distribution ONCE to your development environment, do your coding, then use py2exe or pyinstaller to make it into an executable for distribution. that way, you don't have to install python interpreter on every PC you use your script. – ghostdog74 Jul 10 '09 at 22:34
Python crashes if you try to output UTF-8 to the Windows console using codepage 65001 )-: – hippietrail Feb 21 '11 at 01:21

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:12

1

cmd

VbScript will work but you probably want to go through the pain of installing powershell.

This may be surprising to you as installing windows software involves double clicking the installer.

In all seriousness though if you're going to learn a new shell for windows, learn powershell, very very good.

answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:12

Spence

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This may be surprising to you: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/software-installation-in-linux-is-difficult/ – Sarah Vessels Jul 09 '09 at 16:17
well, i'm debian user so for me install usually involves apt-get install packagename ;). i prefer linux but i have to say i'm not big fan of compiling programs on linux (i hope other distro users won't kill me now ;) – Phil Jul 09 '09 at 16:18
+1 because I respect good smackdown :). It's true though I do love the combined package managers in modern linux distros. – Spence Jul 10 '09 at 03:41

score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:13

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For XP and Vista, you can stick with the enhanced functionality in the cmd.exe shell scripts.

answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:13

Sinan Ünür

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score 1 · Answer 8 · answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:13

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BAT files are still used as well.

Powershell is supposed to replace VBS and JS as the scripting language of choice on Windows machines but I'm not sure if you can assume it's present yet. .Net 1.0 is a pretty safe bet though.

answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:13

Spencer Ruport

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score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Jul 09 '09 at 17:10

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As a Linux user I think you will like portablepython.

answered Jul 09 '09 at 17:10

that's awesome... i assume i can just extract it to dir on hd... would solve my problem – Phil Jul 09 '09 at 17:37
might as well get the whole distribution that contains lots more useful modules. – ghostdog74 Jul 10 '09 at 05:30

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:14

0

PowerShell, without a shadow of a doubt. It's the future (and fortunately also the present) of scripting on Windows.

Download PowerShell

answered Jul 09 '09 at 16:14

Gregory Higley

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Universal scripting language for Windows

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