Batch files .bat and .cmd are the legacy of DOS, which is still found in Windows. They allow you to execute a sequence of commands to automate simple tasks: clearing folders, running programs, transferring files, or performing backups.
One day I got an old one. A bat script from a colleague that was supposed to run a data backup every night. But it didn't work - Windows 10 just blocked it due to security policy. Then I realized: it's time to move on to modern solutions that are not only supported by the system, but also provide more features.
But times are changing, and today BAT files can no longer cope with the new requirements:
- Working with JSON, XML, API
- Error handling
- Service and registry management
- Flexible logic and control over the interface
Modern compilers for bat scripts solve the problem with security and execution speed, but do not expand their capabilities. So if you are engaged in automation in 2025, you will need more powerful and safer alternatives.
In this guide, we will talk about the most popular replacements.bat files. Each of them has its own strengths, and below you will find out which method best suits your goals.
1 Windows Scripting Host
Before PowerShell, one of the popular solutions was VBScript and JScript, executed via Windows Script Host (WSH). The most important and significant difference was the ability to work with COM objects. This allowed not only to run the program, but also to perform some actions in it. For example, you could write a script that would open a browser, go to the specified address and check the page title.
Be that as it may, Microsoft stopped developing WSH after abandoning its own browser engine. Using this technology in new projects is considered ineffective due to the availability of more modern alternatives.
The main disadvantage of this method today is that it works too slowly. The Windows script engine has hardly been updated since Windows 98 and is orders of magnitude slower than modern browser interpreters in terms of Javascript speed. And of course, there is no standard library for working with popular data exchange formats, such as JSON.
However, corporate users still use VBS scripts for internal automation. The reason is compatibility with legacy systems where it is impossible to install Python or PowerShell with a graphical interface. In this case, compiling the VBS script into an EXE file using one of the compilers can improve the situation a little.
2 PowerShell is the de facto standard for system automation
PowerShell is not just a shell, but a real programming language created by Microsoft specifically for deep management systems. It has become the main one for administration, automation, and working with the Windows API.
The program uses .ps1 scripts, and allows:
- Manage services and registry
- Work with JSON, XML, WMI, and even Internet queries
- Process audio files, videos, logs, and data
- Integrate with cloud services like Azure
PowerShell is already pre-installed in Windows 7 and higher, although this only applies to the old version 2.0, which can be updated to version 5.1. After that, the familiar PowerShell was transformed into PowerShell Core. The main difference is that PowerShell Core is cross-platform and works on Windows, Linux, and MacOS, while the old one only works on Windows. Since our article is devoted to automating tasks in Windows, we are primarily interested in the original version, because PowerShell Core uses the less functional .NET Core instead of the .NET Framework.
I liked that PowerShell has rich functionality right out of the box. For example, once I needed to automatically convert a series of WAV files to MP3 and add tags. I wrote only 15 lines of code, and the system began to do this every day without my participation.
To demonstrate the differences between the two approaches, let's take a simple example of a bat script
@echo off copy "C:\Source\*.mp3" "D:\Backup"
Now you can do the same, but much more flexibly, by adding a check:
if (Test-Path "C:\Source\*.mp3") {
Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Source" -Filter "*.mp3" | Copy-Item -Destination "D:\Backup"
} else {
Write-Host "No files found to copy"
}
Quick tip: PowerShell can be used right inside Visual Studio Code, where you get autocompletion, debugging, and even version control via Git. This makes it an alternative choice for those looking to grow into DevOps or systems administration.
3 AutoHotkey - when you need to emulate user actions
If you want to automate not only the launch of programs, but also actions inside windows, AutoHotkey will be your natural choice.
The program works through .ahk files and allows you to:
- Emulate keystrokes
- Click with the mouse
- Run programs on a schedule
- Manage active windows
For example, if you regularly open the same website in your browser and enter your username and password, you can write a script like this:
Run, C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe https://example.com
WinWaitActive, ahk_exe firefox.exe
SendInput, login{Tab}password{Enter}
This means: launch Firefox, wait for it to load, enter your username, Tab, password, and Enter.
I liked that AHK is especially useful in situations where there is no API and everything has to be done manually. For example, I once wrote a macro that clicked on certain buttons in an old ERP application, and then it started working without human intervention.
Another interesting point: AutoHotkey can be compiled into .exe files and transferred to other people as an independent application. This is convenient if you are doing automation for other employees who are not familiar with programming.
4 Python + Windows Subsystem for Linux
If you're doing complex tasks where logic, readability, and reuse are important, then Python is the next step.
Although Windows does not install it by default, the installation is worth it. Especially if you use WSL (Windows subsystem for Linux), which allows you to run bash scripts and even use Linux commands directly in Windows.
The main advantage of Python is the huge number of ready-made libraries for all occasions. Because of this, a typical program contains less than a hundred lines of code. Do you want to download videos daily and extract an audio track from it for listening? Please, the script will look something like this:
import requests
from pydub import AudioSegment
url = "https://example.com/video.mp4"
response = requests.get(url)
with open("video.mp4", "wb") as f:
f.write(response.content)
audio = AudioSegment.from_file("video.mp4", "mp4")
audio.export("audio.wav", format="mp3")
This code downloads a file, converts it from MP4 to MP3 and does not require you to have any deep knowledge of working with multimedia data. It can be run on any device where Python is installed.
If you want your Python script to run on a schedule, as if you were running it manually yourself, you can configure the task in the Task Scheduler.
Step 1: Prepare the scriptSave it, for example, as download_video.py. Use venv so that the dependencies are local:
python -m venv env env\Scripts\pip install requests pydubStep 2: Create a BAT Wrapper
Create a run file.a bat with the following contents:
@echo off cd /d "%~dp0%" call env\Scripts\activate python download_video.py
This ensures that the script will always run with the required libraries.
Step 3: Set up the taskOpen Task Scheduler and create a new task. Select start a program as an action and specify the path to run.bat The task will start executing at the specified time, even if you have logged out of your account. It is perfect for:
- Automatic backup
- Downloading and processing audio
- Monitoring sites or servers
To be honest, I have a very negative attitude towards Python myself because of the huge compatibility and dependency issues. Yes, I know that all this can be solved by batch managers, but then a separate environment is created for each script, which takes up gigabytes on disk. I just don't have the words...
5 Tips for switching to modern methods
If you have used it before. If you think that new technologies are too complicated, here are some practical recommendations that will help you get started without unnecessary stress.
First, don't be afraid to upgrade to PowerShell. It seems too complicated, but in fact most tasks are performed in a few lines. You can start with simple commands and learn more over time.
Secondly, use AutoHotkey if you need to interact with the interface. For example, if you regularly open the same app and enter your username and password, AHK will help you do this with a single tap.
Third, don't ignore Python, especially if your work involves the web or neural networks. It not only runs on Windows, but is also perfectly compatible with macOS and Linux.
Fourth: Integrate Python with Task Scheduler to run tasks on a schedule. This is a replacement for the old cron, and it works even in the background.
Fifth: do not delete the old ones.bat files immediately. Sometimes they are easier and faster, especially if the task is really simple.
6 How do I choose the appropriate automation method?
The choice depends on your goals.
- If you are doing system automation, PowerShell will be your best choice.
- If you need to interact with windowed applications, use AutoHotkey.
- If you are writing serious programs where logic and portability are important, use Python + WSL.
- If you work in a corporate environment and cannot change the infrastructure, sometimes VBScript remains the only option, although not the most effective.
The main thing to remember is that automation is not only about speed, but also about long-term sustainability, maintainability, and scalability.
7 Conclusion
BAT files are not just an outdated way to run commands, they are a relic of the DOS era that can still be found in Windows. But technology is changing, and if you're automating in 2025, it's time to move on to more powerful solutions.
You can choose one thing, or you can combine all three methods: use PowerShell to run Python scripts, or link AutoHotkey to Python for the GUI.
So get down to business: open a terminal, check what level of rights you have, and start writing modern scripts. And may your automation always remain clean, honest and unlimited.
And if you're doing an archive or long—term projects, don't forget about logging, debugging, and backups. This will protect you from data loss and save you a lot of time in the future.