KiXtart is a free-format scripting language

Scripting language

A scripting language, script language, or extension language is a programming language that allows control of one or more applications. "Scripts" are distinct from the core code of the application, as they are usually written in a different language and are often created or at least modified by the...

 for Windows. It is described as a logon script processor and enhanced batch scripting language by the official website. Its name is a portmanteau of "kick start

Kick start

Kick start refers to a method of starting an internal combustion engine by pushing a ratcheting lever with one's foot. Kick start mechanisms were almost universally a part of motorcycle engines before the mid-1970s, and were phased out of production over the next twenty years or so as electric...

".

Overview

KiXtart is developed by Ruud van Velsen of Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...

 Netherlands. It is now provided as careware

Careware

Careware is software licensed in a way that benefits a charity. Some careware is distributed free, and the author suggests that some payment be made to either a nominated charity, or a charity of the user's choice. Commercial careware, on the other hand, includes a levy for charity on top of the...

. Development started in 1991 to provide login scripting for the Microsoft LAN Manager environment.

It has rich built-in functionality for easy scripting and provides access to ADSI, ADO

ActiveX Data Objects

Microsoft's ActiveX Data Objects is a set of Component Object Model objects for accessing data sources. A part of MDAC, it provides a middleware layer between programming languages and OLE DB...

, WMI

Windows Management Instrumentation

Windows Management Instrumentation is a set of extensions to the Windows Driver Model that provides an operating system interface through which instrumented components provide information and notification...

, etc. The language can be used to display information, set environment variables, start programs, connect to network drives, read or edit the registry, change the current drive and directory, and much more.

With KiXforms, the user can create a GUI

Graphical user interface

In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...

 for KiXtart.

Versions

Development of KiXtart as a logon scripting language started in 1991

Later Version Release dates as follows:

• 23/10/00 v3.63

KiXtart 2001

• 19/11/01 v4.00
• 21/01/02 v4.02
• 08/07/02 v4.10
• 26/08/02 v4.11
• 11/11/02 v4.12
• 17/02/03 v4.20
• 15/07/03 v4.21
• 14/11/03 v4.22
• 31/12/04 v4.23

KiXtart 2010

• 01/07/05 v4.50
• 06/10/05 v4.51
• 21/07/06 v4.52
• 15/09/06 v4.53
• 03/10/07 v4.60
• 24/09/09 v4.61
• 12/08/11 v4.62

Related Software

Other graphical software has been built upon KiXtart technology including the popular Open Source solution Script Start Community

Books

• Kelly, Bob. Start to Finish Guide to Scripting with KiXtart / Bob Kelly
  Bob Kelly (Author)
  Bob Kelly best known as an expert on the deployment of the Microsoft Windows operating system.Kelly was a cryptologic technician in the US Navy from 1989 to 1997, finishing his service as the systems administrator for communications system at the White House during the Clinton administration.Bob...
  
  . Greenland, NH : Agility Press, 2004. ISBN 1-932577-09-2