What programming language should I use?

[Kitten Kong]

I only really know basic Ian. But in saying that, I have not programmed for close to 25 years!!. Last time I did was for my O'Level in Computer Studies.

All of this programming now, is really racking my brains, it is slowly coming back to me though. And I do mean SLOWLY!! lol.

This 'easy program' I am writing at the moment is close to 5k lines. It is all if..then.. statements though.

If it wasn't for Fred, (author of UVK), I wouldn't know where to start with this, he has helped me tremendously.

 

[joydivision]

There tricks to get round if statements but it is many years since I have done it too, I did some serious C# programming at university especially in my final year, but that was six years ago so I am very rust now. I have done a bit of PHP over the past few years though.

Just starting off simple but I will turn into a complete business management system once I work out a way of connecting to a MySQL database.

At least if you've done BASIC the syntax and everything else will be familiar, and you won't get frustrated with the lack of object oriented syntax.

The trick with this is to put as much into functions as possible, so you can just call a function rather than having to repeat bits of code all the time. I am not doing any direct API calls yet, that is when things will get very difficult I suspect.

The amazing thing is I bet you will find how much of what you learnt 25 years ago is still relevant

I find it good fun really .

One thing I have just noticed about AutoIT is the complier is a bit buggy, I made a silly mistake which and the program should not have complied, it did compile sending the CPU into 100% overdrive, I could not even load up task manager to stop it. I had no choice but to do a hard reset.

 

[Kitten Kong]

It is slowly coming back to me. The procedure side of things are pretty much the same as basic was all those years ago, which can only be a good thing for me lol.

Once I get finished with this one, I have another to do for laptops/netbooks, then can really get started on the things I want to write

 

[K007]

I am not doing any direct API calls yet, that is when things will get very difficult I suspect.

Of course you don't, cause you didn't hard code it, but AUTO IT does it already.
Any executable is ran by calling ShellExecute API.
Find out what switches every software has, and you can use ShellExecute + switches.
You can also hook into their windows and add your own menus, buttons, etc, read values and more, but I doubt AUTO IT lets you call "HWND"

Just an Idea...
One cool way to market yourself...
For example MBAM writes the reports.
When scan has finished, programatically append to the MBAM log file something like:
MalwareBytes Antimalware brought to you by "Your Company Name, Phone, website, email" etc.
Then make the log open on the customer's screen.

 

[joydivision]

Spent about 7 hours on it today and I now have something of working order. I have kept things as simple as possible, for example rather than creating code to edit the registry to show hidden folders I have simple run c:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 7

Now I need to test that on other versions of windows etc, and it is looking like my app is only 32-bit at this stage.

It will be very easy to make it work in 64-bit version of windows though but for the initial testing phase its 32-bit only.

With most things you just click on t a button called say CC Cleaner, if it is not installed it then runs a silent install and then runs application, if it is installed it skips the installation. It works so well it is almost as if all my usual apps are now portable.

I am going to use other tools rather making my own, e.g I know you can easily make some sort of process explorer within AUTOIT but I am just going to use tools which already exist but automate any scans or installs.

I think the best way to describe my simple application would be semi automatic. It will save me a load of time on each job though. It won't just be used for virus/malware jobs but for every single job I do. I then simply run the tools which are appropriate for the job in hand.

I am very excited about it because this will make me so much more efficient, I just wish I had got round to this years ago, it is something I kept meaning to do but life got in the way.

 

[Kitten Kong]

Sounds good Ian. This is something I have been planning on making for a while also. Are you planning on releasing the code when your happy with it, and it has been tested?

 

[joydivision]

The problem is things are written very specific to my way of working, if I did release it would be as a project so people can copy bits for their own use.

My coding is a bit sloppy though as its so long since I have done it. I would neaten it all up.

At the moment it is really just a fancy bath file, but so much easier to use. I would not be able to release it with all the licenced files I am using. For example the MalwareBytes switches I am using may not work on a free version.

My program dosn't do anything you can do manually but it just automates the tedious manual tasks involved in malware removal.

 

[joydivision]

Decided to call it a night now, spent all day on it but learnt quite a bit about operating systems. I started doing a lot of things the hard way until I noticed that AutoIT can do a lot of it automatically. I wish I had a written reference on paper but I can't work out how to print the entire help file.

My program is basic and does nothing fancy like some peoples projects. However my project could be a stepping stone for people so when it is complete I will write a complete tutorial of how I made it in case any of it is any use.

I shall not be releasing the EXE file because that is too easy for newbies but rather my tutorial will list the entire source code.

In a few days time I might start a project thread in the automation section.

Just want to so thank you all for suggesting AutoIT, I am not sure where I have been but I never heard of it until I started this thread.

I only started writing this program today and I've already got it working to stage where its going to make any of my jobs a lot quicker.

I just cannot believe AutoIT is free.

 

[ATTech]

What language do you know best Nige? My preference is C style so I find the lack of structure in BASIC hard to get used to, it is simple things I miss like

function whatever(){

do stuff;

}

Which is so much easier to read than the BASIC way

function whatever90
do stuff
end function

I just don't know why it has taken me so many years to develop this, but I suppose I lost interest in my business and its only financial problems which has forced me to make my business a lot stronger. Lack of motivation I guess caused it.

Basic is good for starting out because it's more English, but I do find it harder to get into if you are used to coding in Java/C.

 

[chuck_in_texas]

C++ is IMHO a good teaching tool

Just FWIW, the community colleges I teach at still keep C++ on the schedule. (with Java a close second)

Having taught it for several years, I think it gives beginning programmers a good foundation in structure, and most important, into the world of objects and functions.

After C++, other languages become easier to master. We don't teach ASM all that much any more, but students who sign up must have completed C++ first.

Just my $ .02

 

[ATTech]

Just FWIW, the community colleges I teach at still keep C++ on the schedule. (with Java a close second)

Having taught it for several years, I think it gives beginning programmers a good foundation in structure, and most important, into the world of objects and functions.

After C++, other languages become easier to master. We don't teach ASM all that much any more, but students who sign up must have completed C++ first.

Just my $ .02

There are a lot of niche languages that are based off C/C++ (Lua for gaming, Processing/Wiring for Microcontrollers). In addition, Java is derived from C++, so it's a good base line to learn.