I'm looking for recommendations for an easy-to-use GUI automation/macro platform for Linux.
If you're familiar with AutoHotkey or AutoIt on Windows, then you know exactly the kind of features I need, with the level of complexity. If you aren't familiar, then here's a small code snippet of how easy it is to use AutoHotkey:
InputBox, varInput, Please enter some random text...
Run, notepad.exe
WinWaitActive, Untitled - Notepad
SendInput, %varInput%
SendInput, !f{Up}{Enter}{Enter}
WinWaitActive, Save
SendInput, SomeRandomFile{Enter}
MsgBox, Your text`, %varInput% has been saved using notepad!
#n::Run, notepad.exe
Now the above example, although a bit pointless, is a demo of the sort of functionality and simplicity I'm looking for. Here's an explanation for those who don't speak AutoHotkey:
----Start of Explanation of Code ----
Shows a Message Box with some text and the contents of a variable
Registers a hotkey, Win+N, which when pressed executes notepad.exe
----End of Explanation----
So as you can understand, the features are quite obvious: Ability to easily simulate keyboard and mouse functions, read input, process and display output, execute programs, manipulate windows, register hotkeys, etc. - all being done without requiring any #includes, unnecessary brackets, class declarations, etc. In short: Simple.
Now I've played around a bit with Perl and Python, but it's definitely not AutoHotkey. They're great for more advanced stuff, but surely, there has to be some tool out there for easy GUI automation, right?
PS: I've already tried running AutoHotkey with Wine, but sending keystrokes and hotkeys don't work.
AutoIt is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Sikuli, which is both free and Open Source.
AutoHotkey includes a DLL file that you can call from other programming languages (so does AutoIt). AutoHotkey is open source, AutoIt is not. You have to search the AutoHotkey site to put all tools together. AutoIt does better at packaging all in its initial download.
PowerShell, Selenium, Python, JavaScript, and PHP are the most popular alternatives and competitors to AutoIt.
I'd recommend the site alternativeto.net to find alternative programs.
It shows three alternatives for AutoIt: AutoKey, Sikuli, and Silktest. AutoKey seems up to the job.
IronAHK is being developed as a cross-platform flavor of AutoHotkey which can be used on Linux, but it's not a fleshed out product yet.
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