What's the difference between a scrip and a program and between a scrip and a programming language?

Barnaby W. Füi

Elite Member
Aug 14, 2001
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Generally script means it's plain-text code that is then interpreted or compiled when run. A program can be a script and a script can be a program, but normally you would call something a script when it's not very big or complicated.

more /usr/bin/libtool
more /usr/bin/automake
more /usr/bin/autoconf
more /usr/bin/updatedb

There are lots of things that you think of as programs which are actually scripts.

As far as the difference between a scripting and programming language -- a scripting language is a programming language, but a programming language is not necessarily a scripting language. Generally in a "programming language," (say, C) you write some code, and then a compiler (say, gcc) compiles it, a linker (say, ld) links it to required libraries, and then you execute it as a binary. With a script, you write your script, and then you run it under its interpreter, and the interpreter handles all of the stuff involved in making your script actually do things with the computer. This is all done on the fly, so it's slower than a compiled language, but it is generally faster to develop, and usually adequate speed-wise.
 

pitupepito2000

Golden Member
Aug 2, 2002
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thanks.

I am trying Kahakai. Could you explain me what are its features, since I don't really understand them.

Thanks,
pitupepito
 

pitupepito2000

Golden Member
Aug 2, 2002
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I don't know what makes it so great? I am trying to learn how to use it. I don't know where to start? I have gone to its website and I have only ever used KDE and Gnome.

Thanks for the help,
pitupepito
 

Barnaby W. Füi

Elite Member
Aug 14, 2001
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The main thing is scripting with (now) python and (in the future) ruby and maybe perl too. Mouse/key bindings are more configurable than any other window manager. Window snapping, transparency, AA fonts, pixmap themes. Merged windows (which are like tabs) (but these are buggy).
 

pitupepito2000

Golden Member
Aug 2, 2002
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what are mouse/key bindings? I looked that you can merge windows but how do you do that?

Thanks,
pitupepito
 

Barnaby W. Füi

Elite Member
Aug 14, 2001
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Mouse and keyboard bindings are what make your keyboard and mouse cause the windows to do stuff, or launch external commands, or other things like restart the window manager.

For merging windows, just right click on the window titlebar, and go into "merge functions."