Best programming/scripting language for a non-programmer [closed]

Question

What programming/scripting language would you recommend to a superuser who is a not a programmer?

Answer 1

For Windows, how about Windows PowerShell?

Microsoft Windows PowerShell command line shell and scripting language helps IT professionals achieve greater control and productivity. Using a new admin-focused scripting language, more than 130 standard command line tools, and consistent syntax and utilities, Windows PowerShell allows IT professionals to more easily control system administration and accelerate automation. Windows PowerShell is easy to adopt, learn, and use, because it works with your existing IT infrastructure and existing script investments, and because it runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2003.

It integrates with the .NET Framework so it could be a good way of developing skills and knowledge in that too.

Answer 2

Python should be pretty easy to understand and is powerful enough to do anything you'd need.

Also, there are good tutorials for beginners.

• http://www.sthurlow.com/python/
• http://docs.python.org/tutorial/
• http://diveintopython.org/

Answer 3

AutoIt or AutoHotkey are great for scripting anything you can do with a keyboard and mouse.

Answer 4

If it's for learning: LOGO !

You can start here ;-)

Answer 5

JavaScript:

1. No barrier to entry in the form of compilation, downloading the SDK or starting a virtual machine.
2. Everyone has a browser and a simple text editor.
3. Allows non-programmers to instantly show off their l33tness, in the form of a pimped out web page, so there is an additional incentive to learn JS.
4. Prototype languages are the future, don't ya know?

Answer 6

Python. Simple, nice and easy

Answer 7

If you're a superuser on a Windows platform, batch files can be a good solution because you know all of the commands already. You can learn the extra things (variables, loops, etc) with a quick reference.

Answer 8

If the person is serious about getting complicated tasks done, without having to learn a programming language/script, I'd invest in a automation tool, like the following:

• Automise - although not as updated as FinalBuilder
• FinalBuilder - although heavily geared towards programming tasks
• AutoMate

Of course, if you're looking for simple script-based things, there's many, like VBScript, or Python.

Answer 9

Others have taken down the Windows platform fairly well. If you're on a Mac, get started with AppleScript -- or even better, Automator. If you're on Linux, try perl.

Answer 10

If you don't mind spending a little money ($99), then REALbasic is probably the easiest way to start learning to program. It is a complete IDE (integrated development environment) that can create stand-alone applications in one step.

And the language is completely object-oriented, so it's pretty easy to transition to other languages such as Java or C# if you're so inclined.

Answer 11

I have found that one of the biggest obstacles to teaching programming or even daily computer related tasks for those who struggle with them is just learning to "think like the computer". What is it expecting of me, how will it react, how can I make it do what I want. For people who already "get it" and want to push things a bit I really like python, specifically starting with

Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/html/

The wealth of libraries both standard and available for download make it so easy to do massive amounts of work with tiny amounts of code. As a "super user" my motto is "it beats working" especially as it relates to automating repetitive and mundane tasks. I find that python works equally well for text, file, image, or sound processing depending on what the task is.

Answer 12

This depends a lot on what you're trying to achieve. Are you trying to program an application? A web site? Are you trying to do Windows scripting?

Answer 13

POSIX shell scripting.

Answer 14

I would recommend JavaScript or Python. JavaScript is an especially forgiving language and it can be run from any browser meaning that you don't have to compile or install anything. Python is also a very friendly language, although setting it up is more complicated.

To learn JavaScript, check out some free tutorials at http://w3schools.com/js/default.asp.

Answer 15

If you're looking to automate GUI tasks, I'd highly recommend Sikuli. Programming with pictures seems like a very good way to start, and especially get things done with minimal knowledge.

http://groups.csail.mit.edu/uid/sikuli/

Answer 16

On windows, vbscript, jscript (javascript can run via windows script host to perform batch-like operations), vb6 or vb.net. Ive heard good things about AutoIT and KixTart, and of course Powershell is wicked.

On Mac, go with ruby or python. I think one of the most important things to have when learning a language is a good editor or IDE. The free .NET express IDEs are great, for VBS - I love VBSEdit. There are also the wonderfull PrimalScript and AdminScriptEditor for windows. KomodoIDE is a good one too.