AHKCon 1 Intro and Comparing AHK v1 to AutoHotkey version 2
Channel: AUTOHOTKEY Gurus
Date: 07/08/2022

In this first hour of AHKCon we explain the format for the day and then discuss the plan of AutoHotkey Version 2.  You can learn more about AutoHotkey version 2 here:  https://the-Automator.com/V2  We've also put on Webinar on V2 and have some solid videos about what will trip you up

TLDR: The AutoHotkey community has adapted quickly to version 2, and developers are creating libraries to bridge the gap between JavaScript and AutoHotkey v2, making it easier to transition.

1. 00:00 🤔 We're discussing the pros and cons of AutoHotkey and asking the community which version they prefer.
 1.1 We are recording, Steve is here, and Isaiah is the co-host in case of a computer crash, and it's 9:01.
 1.2 People have been using AutoHotkey for over 10 years and are still learning new things.
 1.3 I have done a lot of automation with AutoHotkey, which has saved me a lot of time.
 1.4 Hold down the Windows key and hit either period or semicolon to bring up the question mark symbol in the chat.
 1.5 We are discussing the differences between version one and two of our hotkey and asking the community for their opinion on which one they prefer.
 1.6 People have been using Autohotkey for a long time, but some are considering switching.

2. 08:43 🤔 Considering the pros of AutoHotkey Version 2, with Dimitri providing more info.
 2.1 Most people have a specific answer to the question of which version of AutoHotkey to use, but some people's brains switch between versions.
 2.2 Many people haven't switched to version two of AutoHotkey yet, but some are planning to and there are things to consider when making the switch.
 2.3 Windows Vista cured Brian M's addiction to shiny new toys, but if it had been in beta for 10 years, it wouldn't have been such a colossal failure.
 2.4 Discuss the pros of Auto Hockey Version 2, with Dimitri providing more in-depth information.

3. 13:28 🚀 Adding the version 1.1 requirement to scripts can help speed up launch times when transitioning to version 2 of AutoHotkey.
 3.1 Fat arrow functions allow you to quickly perform one action in one line of code.
 3.2 Fat arrow functions allow for concise one-line code and can be defined inside functions for better organization.
 3.3 Version 2 of the function allows for better control of what can be used outside of the function and ensures parameters are always interpreted the same way.
 3.4 It usually depends on the feature, but popular features that are done right should be adopted while features that are not right should be avoided.
 3.5 The launcher automatically decides which version of AutoHotkey to run based on the requirement directive or by reading the code.
 3.6 Adding the version 1.1 requires to scripts can help speed up launch times when transitioning to version 2.

4. 23:36 🤔 Using the maybe operand (two question marks) can help prevent warnings when a variable is not set or declared.
 4.1 Fat arrow functions can be used for one-time use, but having multiple require statements in a script will only pick one of them.
 4.2 It is not a good idea to have two requirements, and it is suggested to put the lowest requirement available in the script.
 4.3 AutoHotkey's requirement to define variables before use can be annoying, but it helps detect errors faster.
 4.4 Having to define the type of a variable was an annoying obstacle for those new to programming.
 4.5 Joe's argue that non-programmers don't need to worry about variables being set or not, while programmers may need to hunt down why a variable has no value in a big project.
 4.6 Using the maybe operand (two question marks) can prevent warnings when a variable is not set or declared.

5. 32:26 🔒 Protect your code with compilation, compression, and embedding hidden information, and use functions to improve your programming game.
 5.1 The learning curve for AutoHotkey v2 has increased due to changes in command parameters and some commands working differently.

6. 39:32 🤔 Switching to AutoHotkey v2 can be confusing, but the community has adapted quickly and can minimize the mess of language changes by unifying.
 6.1 Autohotkey is simple to use for creating hotkeys, hotstrings, and automating tasks, but can become complicated when used for other purposes.

7. 49:12 🔧 Developers are creating libraries to bridge the gap between JavaScript and AutoHotkey v2, making it easier to switch from v1.
 7.1 Developers are creating libraries for Hotkey Version 2, so if you want to use something better than Internet Explorer, you will need to use Version 2.
 7.2 Backporting new functionality from v2 to v1 may prevent people from switching due to lack of developers for v1 and the distraction it would cause for v2 developers.
 7.3 Libraries exist to add v2 functions to version one, so it's not complicated to switch.

8. 01:01:40 🤩 Different extensions can be great!
learn more about AutoHotkey v2 here: https://the-Automator.com/V1toV2Course

Summary for https://youtu.be/6rQCns7o3BA by www.eightify.app