KiXtart is a free-format scripting language developed in 1991 by Ruud van Velsen, a knockout post a Microsoft Netherlands employee, initially for LAN Manager logon scripting. Its name is a portmanteau of “kick start”, reflecting its purpose—getting users up and running the moment they log in. What distinguishes KiXtart is its unique balance of simplicity and power, enabling administrators to create sophisticated automation with minimal code. Its open, intuitive syntax has fostered an ecosystem rich with readily available code snippets and accumulated institutional knowledge.
A Legacy of Quiet Evolution
KiXtart’s history is a study in steady evolution rather than abrupt revolution. Since its inception, it has been distributed as careware, with users encouraged to donate to charity. From its roots as a LAN Manager tool, it has been continually updated to embrace new Microsoft technologies. A major milestone was version 4.00 (November 2001), which introduced support for COM, ADSI, ADO, and WMI—transforming KiXtart into a comprehensive administrative scripting platform.
Crucially, KiXtart has never been officially supported by Microsoft. It has remained the personal project of Ruud van Velsen, who has quietly maintained and updated the software for decades as a labor of dedication.
Core Features: Practicality in Every Line
KiXtart’s design philosophy prioritizes pragmatism. Its three core components—commands, functions, and macros—work together to create scripts that are both easy to write and read. Macros (e.g., @USERID, @IPADDRESS0) provide instant access to system and network state without complex queries, while built-in functions handle tasks like registry editing, network drive mapping, and message box displays with minimal code. It can read and edit the registry, map network drives, manage printers, start programs, set environment variables, and display information to the user.
Consider a classic logon script example that maps a departmental share based on group membership:
text
IF INGROUP("Dept_Accounting")
USE G: "\\Server\Accounting"
ENDIF
IF INGROUP("Dept_Sales")
USE H: "\\Server\Sales"
ENDIF
This simplicity extends across entire scripts. Much of KiXtart’s power lies in its ability to express complex administrative logic clearly, a quality that has inspired fierce loyalty among system administrators.
Practical Applications: KiXtart in Action
A classic use case is the mapping of network drives based on Active Directory group membership. helpful hints A real-world script might combine ADSI queries with conditional logic to map departmental shares and user-specific home directories. Another application is automated inventory collection, where scripts gather hardware specs, installed software, and OS details via WMI and write them to a central database or CSV file. KiXtart has also proven effective as a print-migration tool during domain consolidations, reassigning printers based on legacy group memberships.
More elaborate solutions can incorporate KiXforms to build interactive GUIs—for instance, an IT helpdesk tool that lets staff map drives, reset passwords, or view system information through point-and-click interfaces rather than command lines.
KiXtart in the Modern Era: Support, Compatibility, and Future
Windows 11 and Server 2022 Compatibility
Version 4.69, released as a “final build,” formally added support for Windows 11, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022. The subsequent version 4.70 (October 2022) added COM automation of the script engine itself, enabling KiXtart scripts to be called from other languages like VBScript. This demonstrates that KiXtart continues to function on modern platforms.
The Support Model
KiXtart is maintained through a dedicated community forum at KiXtart.org and the semi-official myITforum community group. While there is no formal vendor support, the community remains active, and developer Ruud van Velsen has shown willingness to address issues as they arise. Users regularly share code snippets, troubleshooting advice, and workarounds. The language’s stability—scripts written years ago can still run today with minimal modification—reduces the need for frequent support.
The Open Source Question
KiXtart remains closed-source, and recent community discussions indicate that releasing the source code under an open-source license is not currently planned. This is a key consideration for organizations with policies mandating open-source software.
Community Sentiment on the Future
The community recognizes that KiXtart is aging. It lacks built-in support for modern tasks such as removing Windows Store apps, and certain bugs (e.g., with the @ProductType macro on Server 2019) have gone unaddressed. Yet the user base remains pragmatic, choosing the best tool for each specific job rather than abandoning KiXtart wholesale.
KiXtart vs. PowerShell vs. VBScript: Choosing the Right Tool
The choice between KiXtart, PowerShell, and VBScript depends on the specific task.
| Feature | KiXtart | PowerShell | VBScript |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syntax Complexity | Low | Medium to High | Medium |
| Modern OS Support | Yes (Windows 11) | Native and Deep | Deprecated |
| Logon Script Use | Excellent, Purpose-Built | Possible, More Complex | Good |
| Advanced Management | Good (via COM/WMI) | Excellent | Limited |
| Community & Future | Stable, Niche | Large, Active, Growing | Legacy |
| Learning Curve | Gentle | Steep | Moderate |
While PowerShell is a powerful, object-oriented shell that is deeply integrated with modern Windows management interfaces and .NET, it comes with a steeper learning curve and can be cumbersome for relatively simple logon tasks like drive mapping and printer connections. In contrast, KiXtart excels at these scenarios with its concise, purpose-built syntax.
VBScript, once the standard for Windows logon scripting, is now a legacy technology. While still functional in some environments, it lacks the built-in functions and macros that make KiXtart so efficient, and its future is uncertain.
Microsoft itself has acknowledged KiXtart’s historical significance as a logon script processor alongside VBScript, even as it introduced PowerShell to address new administrative needs.
Conclusion: An Enduring Legacy
For many system administrators, KiXtart remains a trusted tool that simply works. Its strength lies in its simplicity and stability, delivering reliable logon script processing that newer, more complex solutions sometimes struggle to match. For environments with substantial investments in existing KiXtart scripts, it remains a viable solution well into the modern Windows era. As one community member aptly put it, visit this site right here “I will continue to use KiXtart until it no longer works in Windows!”—a sentiment that captures the loyalty this unassuming scripting language has earned over three decades of service.