Leo Bachmair

Scripting languages are widely used in the IT industry. Programming with scripting languages, also known as scripting, has several advantages compared to programming with other types of languages in that scripts facilitate rapid program development; can automate high-level jobs or tasks very effectively; and can be used to compose various software components, even binaries, into more complex and powerful applications. This course introduces the principles of scripting, covers one or two selected scripting languages in depth, and illustrates the advanced use of scripting by extensive case studies in application areas such as system administration, web application development, graphical user interface development, and text processing.

After this course, students

• can read and maintain existing scripting programs
• can effectively utilize and compose common command-line utilities
• can effectively utilize scripting to new situations, namely:
  • can identify and determine if scripting is suitable given a software requirement specification
  • can analyze the requirement specification, design, and implement moderately-sized scripting programs

No required textbook

• Weeks 1-2 : Principles of scripting languages
• Weeks 3-5 : Basics of selected scripting languages
• Weeks 6-8 : Regular expressions and text processing
• Weeks 9-14 : Application case studies, e.g., in system administration, graphical user interface and Web applications

Crosslisted with CSE337