Scripting programming language

Scripting programming languages are computer programming languages designed for "scripting" the operation of a computer. They are often designed for interactive use, having many commands that can execute individually, and often have quite high level operations (for example in UNIX sh most operations are programs themselves). They are often used for one-off tasks, often administrative or utility-like. Programs are typically stored only in their plain text form and interpreted, or (as with Perl) compiled at each runtime.

Just what differentiates a scripting language from an ordinary language is vague. In general you can write a script in any language (including C or assembly). Languages that are used specifically or designed primarily for scripting are called scripting languages. Even if a language is called a scripting language, you might still be able to write more general programmes in that language.

Some languages that have been called scripting languages are:

• ASP (Active Server Pages)
• AppleScript
• Awk
• bash
• Brain
• CobolScript
• Dylan
• E
• Escapade (server side scripting)
• Euphoria
• Guile
• ICI
• JavaScript (ECMAScript)
• BeanShell (scripting for Java)
• JCL
• Lua
• mIRC script
• Miva

• MUMPS
• ObjectRexx
• Perl
• PHP
• Pike
• Pliant
• Python
• QuakeC
• REBOL
• REXX
• Ruby
• Scheme
• ScriptBasic
• sh
• Simkin
• Tcl
• UnrealScript
• VBScript
• Visual DialogScript
• ZZT-oop