To extend the AdamM's answer, I want to put on the table the Python language. To start from zero, maybe a better and more structured "script option" than Perl (however Perl is widely used, since it was used for a lot of years), but, since my formation was in computing (assembler / Pascal) , Python seems to me more structured and easy to learn. I used Python, even under Windows plataform with zero changes to run under Linux. You have a nice on line support on http://www.python.org/ It also have runtimes for Solaris and Irix. Best wishes Daniel