When comparing Win Automation vs AutoHotkey, the Slant community recommends AutoHotkey for most people. In the question“What are the best GUI automation tools for Windows?” AutoHotkey is ranked 2nd while Win Automation is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose AutoHotkey is:
Basic Stuff is very easy and even advanced programming is possible, as the language is now able to use objects and classes and has a ton of free libraries and one of the most helpful and friendly communities on the Internet.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Easy to learn
Macro recorder helps get started on functions you're not immediately familiar with.
Pro Easy To Learn but extremely Powerful
Basic Stuff is very easy and even advanced programming is possible, as the language is now able to use objects and classes and has a ton of free libraries and one of the most helpful and friendly communities on the Internet.
Pro Powerful
Can interact with any Windows program / dialog / form, filling fields, submitting data, etc., without dependency on the window placement.
Pro Allows for extremely easy remapping keys and buttons on your keyboard, joystick, and mouse
You can reprogram any key combination, including the Windows key with a syntax like this one:
h::msgbox true
that automatically remaps the H key to show a message box.
Pro Can map keys to scripts
Pro Scripting of common procedures
AHK allows full scripts to be created and used, it is very flexible.
Pro Helpful forum
Pro Programming language is easier to learn and to use
Pro Good help documentation
Pro C-like syntax
C-like languages dominate the industry, making it easier to switch over to other ones in the C family.
Pro Fully programmable
With a full programming language powering the hotkeys, including GUIs, it is powerful and flexible.
Cons
Con Has become too expensive for the individual / contractor to invest in self skilling
Early pricing model was accessible to anyone, but since Softomotove has "come-of-age" it has targeted only the enterprise pricing model and the little-guys have been left in the cold.
Con Programming language is primitive
The base syntax, inherited from the first version of AutoIt, is primitive (a bit like an improved batch syntax).