It can be used for automation or creating complex applications. The shell can
be extended via plugins in order to provide custom script commands.
AquaShell is an extendable scripting shell for Windows using
dnyScriptInterpreter. The shell can be used either in interactive mode or just
as a host for running DNYS script files. The functionality of the shell can be
extended via native DLL plugins. It is best suited for automation tasks as well
as complex script development.
AquaShell is an extendable scripting shell for Windows designed to provide a flexible environment for automation tasks and complex script development using the dnyScript language. It supports both interactive mode and execution of DNYS script files, with functionality that can be extended through native DLL plugins.
README
AquaShell
A scripting and automation shell for Windows
(C) 2017 - 2025 by Daniel Brendel
Released under the MIT license
AquaShell is an extendable scripting shell for Windows using dnyScriptInterpreter. The shell can be used either in interactive mode or just as a host for running DNYS script files. The functionality of the shell can be extended via native DLL plugins. It is best suited for automation tasks as well as complex script development.
Example code
# Example script code
# Demonstrate recursive function calls
const MAX_COUNT int <= 10;
function recursive void(count int)
{
if (%count, -ls, %MAX_COUNT) {
++ count;
print "Count value: %count";
call recursive(%count) => void;
};
};
call recursive(0) => void;
print "Done.";
pause;
Basic commands:
require (library) # Attempts to load a plugin library. Only needed when not running in interactive mode. Use __ALL__ to load all available plugins.
exec (scriptfile) (opt:args) # Executes a script file. In the script use %argc for the argument count and %argv[n] for the actual argument value. Using %n, where n is the argument index value, is also possible.
sys (string) (opt:storage var) # Attempts to run the expression as a windows command. If a result var is provided the output is stored in it, else the output gets echoed.
run (file) (args) (dir) # Attempts to launch a specified file
cwd (dir) # Changes the current working directory
gwd (result var) # Stores the current working directory in the result var
pause # Pause current script execution
listlibs # Lists all shell plugin libraries
quit # Exists the shell
Helper constants and variables
DNYAS_SHELL_VERSION: Contains the current product version as string
DNYAS_SHELL_VERNUM: Contains the current product version as a numeric value, in a concatenated manner
DNYAS_PLATFORM_NAME: The platform name of the product build, either x64 or x86
DNYAS_BUILD_TYPE: The build type of the product, either Release or Debug
DNYAS_IS_INTERACTIVE_MODE: Boolean value that indicates whether or not the current script code runs within the interactive mode
Extendable via custom plugins to add new commands or functionalities.
Capable of running scripts in interactive mode or as standalone executables.
Supports automation tasks and complex application development.
Includes built-in commands for file operations, system interactions, debugging, and more.
Offers multiline scripting support for writing longer, organized code blocks.
Audience & Benefit:
Ideal for developers, system administrators, and automation specialists seeking a powerful yet flexible shell environment. AquaShell enables users to streamline workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and build custom applications through its extensible plugin architecture and robust scripting capabilities.
DNYAS_BASE_PATH: Contains the base path of the shell
DNYAS_PLUGIN_PATH: Contains the path to the plugin directory
DNYAS_DEFSCRIPTS_PATH: Contains the path to the default scripts directory
CR: Represents a carriage return character
LF: Represents a line feed character
TAB: Represents a tab character
QUOT_SINGLE: Represents a single quotation character
QUOT_DOUBLE: Represents a double quotation character
void: Can be used with commands or functions if you want to dismiss the result value.
Helper commands:
getscriptpath (result var) # Stores the full path of the current executed script in the result var
getscriptname (result var) # Stores the full file name of the current executed script in the result var
debug (text content) # Prints a system debug message
textview (file) # Prints the text contents of the file to the standard output
random (start) (end) (result var) # Generates a random number within the range and stores it to the result var
sleep (milliseconds) # Pauses the main thread for N milliseconds
bitop (operation) (array of operands) (result var) # Performs either a bitwise OR, AND or XOR operation and stores it to the result var
gettickcount (result var) # Stores the number of milliseconds that have elapsed since system start into the result var
timestamp (result var) # Stores the current system timestamp into the result var
fmtdatetime (format string) (opt:timestamp) (result var) # Creates a formatted datetime string and stores it into the result var
getsystemerror (result var) # Stores the last system error code of the shell process context into the result var
setsystemerror (code) # Sets the last system error code of the shell process context
threadfunc (function name) (opt:args) # Executes a function in a separate thread. Optionally an array of arguments can be passed
hideconsole # Hides the console window for the rest of the execution. Should only be used in scripts that don't need a console window
Multiline support:
< # Opens the editor in multiline mode
(code)
> # Closes the multiline mode and executes the script code
Init and unload script:
You can place a script named 'init.dnys' in the 'scripts' directory of the base directory
which will get executed when the shell is in loading progress. There you can place
initialization code
You can place a script named 'unload.dnys' in the 'scripts' directory of the base directory
which will get executed when the shell gets unloaded. There you can place cleanup code
The dnyAS_PluginLoad function is called when the plugin gets loaded. The function recieves the current shell interface version, a pointer to the plugin API class instance and a pointer to a plugin information structure where the plugin stores its information data. The function must return true on success, otherwise it must return false.
IShellPluginAPI* g_pShellPluginAPI;
//Example void-command interface
class IExampleVoidCommandInterface : public IVoidCommandInterface {
public:
IExampleVoidCommandInterface() {}
virtual bool CommandCallback(void* pCodeContext, void* pInterfaceObject)
{
ICodeContext* pContext = (ICodeContext*)pCodeContext;
//Replace all possible variables with their expressions that are used in the command context
pCodeContext->ReplaceAllVariables(pInterfaceObject);
//Print the first string-argument of the command
std::wcout << pContext->GetPartString(1) << std::endl;
//Return true to indicate that the command executed successfully.
//Returning false will cause the shell to stop script execution and show an error
return true;
}
} g_oExampleVoidCommand;
//Example result-type-command interface
class IExampleResultCommandInterface : public IResultCommandInterface {
public:
IExampleResultCommandInterface() {}
virtual bool CommandCallback(void* pCodeContext, void* pInterfaceObject)
{
ICodeContext* pContext = (ICodeContext*)pCodeContext;
//Replace all possible variables with their expressions that are used in the command context
pCodeContext->ReplaceAllVariables(pInterfaceObject);
//Access the first float-argument, multiplicate it by two, and then store it into the passed result variable of type float
IResultCommandInterface::SetResult(pContext->GetPartFloat(1) * 2);
//Return true to indicate that the command executed successfully.
//Returning false will cause the shell to stop script execution and show an error
return true;
}
} g_oExampleResultCommand;
plugininfo_s g_sPluginInfos = {
L"Plugin name",
L"1.0",
L"Author name",
L"Contact info",
L"Plugin description"
};
bool dnyAS_PluginLoad(dnyVersionInfo version, IShellPluginAPI* pInterfaceData, plugininfo_s* pPluginInfos)
{
//Called when plugin gets loaded
if ((!pInterfaceData) || (!pPluginInfos))
return false;
//Check version
if (version != DNY_AS_PRODUCT_VERSION_W) {
return false;
}
//Store interface pointer
g_pShellPluginAPI = pInterfaceData;
//Store plugin infos
memcpy(pPluginInfos, &g_sPluginInfos, sizeof(plugininfo_s));
//Register example commands
g_pShellPluginAPI->Cmd_RegisterCommand(L"mycommand", &g_oExampleVoidCommand, CT_VOID);
g_pShellPluginAPI->Cmd_RegisterCommand(L"mycommand2", &g_oExampleResultCommand, CT_FLOAT);
return true;
}
When the plugin is available, the example commands would be used as follows:
# Example of using mycommand
mycommand "This will be printed";
# Example of using mycommand2
global fResultVar float;
mycommand2 50 fResultVar; # fResultVar will then contain 100.0
The dnyAS_PluginUnload function is called when the plugin gets unloaded. Use it to free all resources, clean up memory, etc.
AquaShell