Maximum PC

What programming language is best to do something that would automatet mouse movements and do color detections on screens.

C++ and Java are the two main languages you'll come across. But if you just want to make a macro, which I assume is what you want, then there are companies that already have macro programs available that can automate mouse movements. I don't know about color detection, though. What do you need this to do, specifically?

C or C++ allow easy access to the Windows API which has provisions for doing what you want.

Some testing packages can do this kind of tasks without programming. In the old days I used "Visual Test" an add-on to Visual Studio, but Bill Gates Is My Daddy discontinued that product.

If programming is a must, I would go with C# for a quick test, C++ for special need into the Win32 API.

As stated by another: What is it for?

Each language has its plus and minuses. Some are better for different tasks.

Currently there are 2 major types of programming languages

Native: C, C++ (and others)
Managed: Java, C#, VB.Net, anything written for the .Net Framework

and of course there are scripting languages, vbscript, javascript, perl, batch

if you are just beginning i suggest you start with C#, and learn the basics such as loops and conditionals. Once you are comfortable move to a native language.

I know it's not a REAL programming language, but rather a scripting language, but AutoHotKey works quite well for any automated tasks.

http://www.autohotkey.com/

autohotkey and autoit would the be easiest ways to go about it


e.g.
autoit

http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/downloads.shtml

MouseClick("left",100,150)
will left click at that location. Location is relative to a window or screen depending on setting.

This can also tell you the name of the window control the cursor is over, and it can press the controls without using the cursor.

$var = PixelGetColor( 100 , 150 )

$var now stores the color of that pixel (decimal)


Powerful language that will let you manipulate processes, files, COM, manipulate windows etc. Awesome help file too.

I agree with Kybo, C/C++ would do you well. You can access the Windows API which will do majority of want you want. With Java or C#, you still need to implement unmanaged code that will make calls to the Windows API. So just program it directly.

You realize that this was dead for a couple of months, right? Normally I wouldn't care, but I'm so sick of these stupid programming language threads that I wanted to scream when I saw your post. =)

Hahaha true that.
I think that all languages have their applications; I just think C or C++ would probably be the best way to do this (or if someone has written a scripting language for a macro, like suggested)

Sigh. Since someone else had to go and respond...

For automating mouse movements, I would say good old LOGO would be a bit hard to beat. =)

I'm not exactly sure what is meant by 'do color detections on screens'.

If this is a Windows project, my hunch is that C# is probably going to be the easiest solution.