Developing lightweight (no runtime) Windows based GUI applications using free tools
Does anyone know of free tools (languages, environments) that would support development of GUI applications on the Windows platform?
I am looking to be able to create a single executable file that has no dependencies on any external runtime or library.
I would like to be able to then run this EXE in a very similar manner to Process Explorer or Autoruns from SysInternals. In other words; a no installer, portable application.
This application must also provide a reasonably rich windowing (controls, widgets etc) user interface and should run on Windows 2000, XP, Vista and later.
I'm aware of C/C++ but I'm looking for an environment/language that provides more specific and faster support for GUI development. Also, Delphi costs money.
Answer
For quick prototyping, Autoit is a viable option (but it is a scripting language though).
Combined with Scite as an Editor, and autoit to exe capability (AutoIt3.exe in Scite and Autoit3Wrapper.exe to actually produce exe), you have a full GUI development environment.
AutohotKey is an alternative, but based on old AutoitV2.
Still, you can execute AutohotKey scripts from Autoit ;)
Run("c:\Program Files\Autohotkey\Autohotkey.exe c:\scripts\devicesset.ahk")
While interactive debugging is not natively supported, they are (2008, but in 2014: was?) several debugging tools to facilitate the debug process. (from this ticket)
Update 2014: the "AutoEditDebugger" might not be supported:
EDIT October 2009: NB This script has not been maintained since some time in 2008. Due to some problem with the editor it crashes in Vista.