Choice of language for application?

[björn nilsson]

Hello everyone,

I have an idea for a simple software that I would like to realise but as always (ever heard this statement before!?) I´m not sure on which programming langue to use.

I´m aware that I could probably use just about any language for this task, but I´m not sure if there´s any advantages to using any specific language in this case.

Well any way, this is part of what I want to do:

I want to write a program that runs active in the background (windows enviroment, preferably minimized to the system tray) and listens for an input (i.e. mouse + keyboard) and upon input opens a menu on top of all active programs located at mouse pointer. Just as any right-click/context menu you encounter in windows.

The thing is. I don't want to use any existing windows menu features for this. I want to write my own "menu-object" in order to be able to customize the menu and add the features I need to it (.i.e. shortcuts, weblinks, folder, macros, etc).

Is this a difficult thing to produce? I have basic programming skills in C++ and Java. Is there any prefered software development tools for things like this?
I've never programmed anything before using graphics so I'm really a nobody and would appreciate any hints, tips, recommended books, tutorials that can be of aid.

If anyone knows anything I would very much appreciate help on this.

Best Regards

-Björn

[Jordan]

I believe Java would be a great language to develop this in and it would be portable to other systems making it viable for more users (Mac, Linux, Windows).

Any of the .NET languages (C#, VB, C++) have most of the functions you described and you can overwrite their Menus to create your own custom look. I suggest using whatever you are comfortable with.

[björn nilsson]

Thank you for this comment. I'm going to follow this lead and see what guidance I can find on the web. Thanks!

Btw. Just for starts; is there a general name for programs that run in the background of your OS?

[Lop]

Originally Posted by björn nilsson

Thank you for this comment. I'm going to follow this lead and see what guidance I can find on the web. Thanks!

Btw. Just for starts; is there a general name for programs that run in the background of your OS?

Programs that run *only* in the background are called processes. If you program has a loadable front-end (IE, click a tray icon and it appears) it is not quite a process.

[v0id]

Each program that runs on your computer have a process, not only those in the background. The program itself is just a bunch of instructions, which the process for the program executes.
Each program have at least one process, but can have multiple.

[DevilsCharm]

Wow this seems like quite a big project. I don't know anything about programming but based on what Jordan said Java sounds perfect.