AHK4

AHK4 refers to the proposed fourth major version of the AutoHotkey scripting language, a tool used for Windows automation, including hotkeys, GUI scripting, and task automation. While AutoHotkey v1 and v2 are the officially released branches, AHK4 is discussed in community contexts as a potential future evolution that would build on the lineage of AutoHotkey while addressing some of the historical design issues of earlier versions. There is no single endorsed specification or release date for AHK4, and implementations, if any, may vary by project.

The goals associated with AHK4 commonly center on modernization and consistency. Proposals typically emphasize cleaner and more predictable syntax, optional or explicit typing, improved function semantics, and a more robust module or package system. Other anticipated enhancements include better error reporting, standardized naming, modernized Unicode and 64-bit support, and performance improvements. A migration path from an existing AutoHotkey scriptbase, including tools or guidance to ease transition from v1 and v2, is frequently discussed as a key consideration.

Status and governance around AHK4 are informal and evolving. No official release or universally adopted specification exists, and any concrete implementation would likely emerge from community-driven projects or an official project charter if undertaken by maintainers. In the interim, users often rely on AutoHotkey v2 for modernization and on various forks or experimental branches that explore aspects associated with an AHK4 design. As with any major version shift, practical adoption would depend on documentation, tooling, and the extent to which breaking changes are deemed acceptable for the user base.