AutoHotkey News 2025-06-26: To make more Money, Implement More and Innovate Less

AutoHotkey Newsletter

Howdy,

Seeing that you’ve found your way to AutoHotkey, at one point or another, you’ve probably considered selling your scripts.

A lot of people come to me saying they have an “amazing idea” for a script and are willing to share the idea for a “cut of the profits”.

The thing is: the vast majority of ideas are “cheap”❗

Many of us “grew-up” thinking the world would beat a path to our door if we could just “invent a better mouse trap”

In order to actually end up making money you need to be able to let the world know that you’ve created.

Some of our clients keep trying to tweak/perfect their “mouse trap” before launching.   This, more often than not, is a mistake.

I encourage our clients to get a 1st version of their tool created and get it in front of prospects as soon as possible.

Understanding just “how hungry” the audiences is for your product will help justify how much more work you should do on it.

I can also tell you with 100% confidence that, as a developer, you should:

Implement More and Innovate Less❗

Create something that is reliable enough to get the concept across and get it in the hands of your target market.

If they “go on and on” about how it changes their life then dive-deep into the product but don’t worry about making it “perfect“.   Remember

Version one is infinitely better than version none❗

Of course, if you’d like us to help you create that first version, check out my calendar and schedule a call!

Now on with the show…

Learn how to Master VSCode Make the switch to v2 Intro to AutoHotkey Intermediate AutoHotkey Intermediate ObjectsGUIs are Easy w/AutoHotkey Access all our Courses; Quit when you want

sprinkling


Fat Arrows => so much better than Skinny Arrows❗

During an AHK hero call a few weeks back Isaias gave us a great overview of learning how, and when, to use Fat Arrows.

⚡ AutoHotkey v2 =ᐳ Fat Arrows That Supercharge Your Scripts❗
⚡ AutoHotkey v2 =ᐳ Fat Arrows That Supercharge Your Scripts❗


Wrangling in your VS code Extensions

During this last weekend a Hero member was having issues with his AutoHotkey Extensions in VS code.

Isaias gave some great insights how to deal with them in this video.

If this interested you, check out our Intro to VS code course! It’s a game changer❗

VSCode extensions for AutoHotkey v1 and v2
VSCode extensions for AutoHotkey v1 and v2


Flipping Text for your Teleprompter

Several years ago Maestrith wrote a very cool v1 script that would “invert” text on the screen.  A client mentioned something the other day so I had Irfan convert it to v2.

The code itself is super-cool so, even if you don’t have a Teleprompter, it is worth getting just to see the approach.   You can see a demo of the script here.

Flip Text for Teleprompter
Flip Text for Teleprompter


Improving People’s Lives: Story #53

We used our AI Translator during a call with clients that only speak French.  I wasn’t perfect but definitely helped the communications!


What we’re reading


AI / Chat GPT-3 News / Usage


⚡️Productivity tips:

In PowerPoint you can hit Shift+F5 to Start the slideshow from current slide


A spot of Humor: Elaine getting down Everywhere!

The Bizarro Elaine Dance
The Bizarro Elaine Dance


What we utomated this week with AutoHotkey #90

Here I walk through 96 AutoHotkey scripts we worked on over the past week.

At the beginning I mention an amazing ffmpeg tool I built that records both my desktop and my webcam!

What we automated with AutoHotkey #90
What we automated with AutoHotkey #90


Client’s say…

The Automator is an amazing resource I use it weekly. — David Burk


Cartoon superhero mascot in green costume beside the bold text AHK Hero on a yellow background AHK Hero

Consider joining the AHK Hero club! Members receive 25% off courses, consultations, tutoring, done for you project work, etc.    Currently we have over 426 hours of recordings teaching AutoHotkey that is exclusive to AHK Hero members❗

During this Friday’s call we’re planning to discuss:

They also have access to exclusive & pre-released content and a 3 hours a week where we help people with their AHK issues (the Saturday calls are geared towards people new to AutoHotkey.)


️ Quotable quotes

  • Learn how to calculate the future cost of your bad decisions — Joe Glines
  • If every request is a five alarm fire, it’s your house that’s gonna go up in flames — Amy Landino
  • Decisions without actions are worthless — Dan Kennedy

AHK Newsletter⏩SHARE WITH A FRIEND⏩

Do you know someone that would benefit from learning useful automation tips like the gems in today’s issue?  Take a second and forward this newsletter and bask in the glow of their undying gratitude.  Was this email forwarded to you?

Sign up for this Newsletter here.  We never share your email with anyone.  Ever!


The-Automator

Joe, Isaias, Irfan, Denilson and staff


P.S. If you’d like to talk about how and where to market your product, check my calendar and schedule a call.

AutoHotkey News 2025-06-19- The Price of Doing Things “The Way We’ve Always Done It”

AutoHotkey Newsletter

Howdy %Name%,

Once upon a time there were Two villages and one well.

Every day, villagers trudged out from each city with buckets to get water.

It worked… kinda.

But if someone was sick, if it rained, or if the well ran low—tough luck.

Summers? Multiple trips just to keep crops and animals alive.

Then one village had a bright idea:

Build a system to pipe in water

It’d take time and effort, sure—but once done, they had fresh water on tap.  No more buckets!

Under significant costs this village built their water system.

When done:

  • Their crops thrived
  • Animals were healthier
  • People were happier
  • The city grew because residents had time to do other things

They even built sanitation systems to improve health.

Life got easier and way better (in ways they had not anticipated ❗)

The other village?

They stuck with the bucket system.  “Too much work” they said.  “Too expensive.”

Over time, their best people left for the smarter village.  Progress passed them by…

but hey, they still had their buckets

Does this Sound familiar %Name%?

A lot of businesses do the same.  They keep doing things the hard way because “it works,” even though it’s draining them.

The truth? Real growth takes up-front work—but the payoff is massive (and long-term).

This is exactly why I’m so big on AHK!

AutoHotkey is your water system.

Yeah, there’s a learning curve—but once it’s set up? You save time, reduce errors, cut stress, and unlock crazy productivity.

Are you ready to ditch the bucket?

Check out some of the free resources I’ve got over at the-Automator.com or dive into one of the thousands of videos on my YouTube channel.  Or check out my calendar and schedule a call.

Now on with the show…

Learn how to Master VSCode Make the switch to v2 Intro to AutoHotkey Intermediate AutoHotkey Intermediate ObjectsGUIs are Easy w/AutoHotkey Access all our Courses; Quit when you want

Feeling Good


How to Update a Running Script

Have you ever wanted to let your users click a “check for update” option and not only detect a new version is available but also have the new version replace the current running script❓

Isaias walks through how we do this in this video.

But, be forewarned, it is fairly complicated…

How to Update your Running AutoHotkey Script / Program | AHK hero Extract
How to Update your Running AutoHotkey Script / Program | AHK hero Extract


Use AI to help Document your Programs

I realized that, with Google’s Gemini, you can share your screen (and now with Copilot also) and have AI explain your script for you.   You can check out this video.

Use AI to help Document your AHK Scripts
Use AI to help Document your AHK Scriptsv

Of course you can also use it to help you learn how to use tools and accomplish your goals.

The future truly is here!


Fixing Timing of your script

Don’t forget that, if you’re having issues with the timing of your script, you NEED to check this video out!   We explain how you can make a minor tweak that will affect 48 AutoHotkey functions!

Fix AutoHotkey Timing Issues FAST with This Simple Trick!
 Fix AutoHotkey Timing Issues FAST with This Simple Trick!


Interrupting your AHK Scripts

During an AHK Hero call we discuss some of the cool ways to Suspend, Un-Suspend, and Pause your AutoHotkey scripts.  I extracted the topic and put it in this video.  We also discuss the #SuspendExempt directive.

Suspending, Unsuspending and Pausing – AHK Hero Extract
Suspending, Unsuspending and Pausing - AHK Hero Extract


Improving People’s Lives: Story #52

I recorded a short video for a client and used our Window Snipping tool.  While he loved the work we did, he also so just how powerful (and easy to use) the Snipping tool is.

BTW I also had a cool idea.  Why not incorporate AI into the tool and have it auto-redact personal information.

I manually uploaded an image to Chat GPT to see how it would work.   It did an amazing job!

Redacted chat screenshot showing timestamps and messages with black bars covering names, a YouTube thumbnail with a ChatGPT logo, and a GitHub thread

Is this something you’d be interested in❓

If so, let me know and we’ll try and get it done sooner rather than later.


What we’re reading


AI / Chat GPT-3 News / Usage


⚡️Productivity tips:  The following work in MS Excel

  •  Ctrl+Space – Select entire column
  •  Shift+Space – Select entire row

A spot of Humor:  She’s pretty funny

He Took Me To The Back

He Took Me To The Back | Aiko Tanaka (Full Set) | Chick Comedy
He Took Me To The Back | Aiko Tanaka (Full Set) | Chick Comedy


Client’s say…

I am so thankful for all you are doing to help us in this conversion and our mission to produce a solid product. — Stephanie Holland


Cartoon superhero mascot in green costume beside the bold text AHK Hero on a yellow background AHK Hero

Consider joining the AHK Hero club! Members receive 25% off courses, consultations, tutoring, done for you project work, etc.    Currently we have over 423 hours of recordings teaching AutoHotkey that is exclusive to AHK Hero members❗

You can watch 1 hour a day for a year and not repeat content! That’s a lot of AHK Learning!

During this Friday’s call we’re planning to discuss:

They also have access to exclusive & pre-released content and a 3 hours a week where we help people with their AHK issues (the Saturday calls are geared towards people new to AutoHotkey.)


️ Quotable quotes

  • Whatever Your Mind Can Conceive and Believe We can create it for you! — Joe Glines
  • Hire people that are over-performing in crappy jobs — Dan Kennedy
  • Time spent alone in silence can yield breakthrough insights — Dave Dee

AHK Newsletter⏩SHARE WITH A FRIEND⏩

Do you know someone that would benefit from learning useful automation tips like the gems in today’s issue?  Take a second and forward this newsletter and bask in the glow of their undying gratitude.  Was this email forwarded to you?

Sign up for this Newsletter here.  We never share your email with anyone.  Ever!


The-Automator

Joe, Isaias, Irfan, Denilson and staff


P.S. Don’t wait for a “perfect time” to start.

Start now, and soon you’ll wonder how you ever lived without AutoHotkey.

Don’t forget, our courses come with a 200% money-back guarantee!

200% Money Back Guarantee badge with a yellow and green starburst seal for AHK courses