Automating applications with AutoIt

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

Lately I’ve been experimenting with Cyberlink MediaShow Espresso, a simple video conversion utility that happens to support both CUDA and ATI Stream extensions. The idea was to compare performance across various Nvidia and ATI GPUs, but I quickly discovered a problem: MediaShow isn’t scriptable. To use it, you need to be there to click the right buttons at the right times. That’s not exactly an efficient approach for a test like this, and it invites human error.

Happily, a brief web search turned up the perfect solution: a free automation system named AutoIt. Using a BASIC-like scripting language, you can direct AutoIt to generate the necessary keypresses and mouse movements to automatically control any Windows application or feature.

It’s not limited to dumbly repeating a predefined series of actions, either. Scripts can monitor what’s happening on the desktop, and then sleep, branch, loop or manipulate windows and files in response. A generous library of example scripts and functions, along with contextual keyword help and a syntax-highlighting editor, makes it easy to implement some quite sophisticated logic. If you can explain to a friend how to use an application, you can use AutoIt to script it.

The package has a few bonus tricks too – you can compile AutoIt scripts to standalone executables, and even create GUIs for them. It’s such a powerful tool that I was surprised not to have heard of it before, especially since it’s been knocking around, through various versions, for more than a decade. But I suppose this kind of automation is a niche interest: writing scripts isn’t exactly fashionable, and while AutoIt’s active it effectively takes over your desktop, so it’s not exactly a time-saver.

All the same, I’m sure many of us have established a few repetitive desktop routines – for example, you might regularly open a group of applications and arrange their windows in a particular way, or perhaps you have a troublesome tool that requires you to click through multiple requesters every time it launches. Knock up a simple script and AutoIt can do the legwork for you.

Update: Thanks to those of you who have suggested AutoHotKey as an alternative. I confess, that’s a package I really ought to have known about, not least because it regularly features in the “Essential Programming” section of the PC Pro cover disc! Now it’s been brought to my attention I’ll be sure to check it out. And of course, any other comments or suggestions are very welcome…

Nvidia responds: There’s cash in CUDA

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Some companies take a very laid back approach to the press. I could publicly allege that Itanium was a front for a money-laundering operation and I doubt I’d hear a peep of complaint from Intel.

Actually, that might explain a lot. But I digress.

The point is that Nvidia, unlike Intel, is acutely tuned in to what people are saying about it — and can be quick to respond. (more…)

Reports of CUDA’s death exaggerated?

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

In my last post I suggested that DirectX 11’s extensive GPGPU support could mark the end of the road for CUDA. And I do expect that mass market GPU applications will quickly move to DirectX rather than restricting themselves to a single architecture.

But the other day I was discussing DX11 with Bit-Tech editor Tim Smalley, and I found him very reluctant to write CUDA off just yet. He pointed out that CUDA retains one big advantage over DX11, in that developers can knock up CUDA routines directly in C – or Fortran or even Matlab – without having to deal with the DirectX API. (more…)

All eyes on Nvidia as GTC kicks off

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

After last week’s Intel Developer Forum, it’s now Nvidia’s turn. Later on today the company will open its three-day GPU Technology Conference in San Jose – a more formal affair than last year’s flashy “Nvision” expo, but still a high-profile international event, and one which yours truly is lucky enough to be attending.

(The picture, in case you’re wondering, is a strange engine-type affair that’s been set up at the entrance to the delegates’ hotel, apparently to welcome us as we arrive. I guess that’s how they communicate with one another down here in the Valley.) (more…)