Bot making

Okay. Don't laugh. Please.
Alright, you can. But if you laugh, you gotta pay me back by helping me! :nuts:

Here's my problem: I want to make bots. Great. I've been looking into this for a while. Obviously, I need to output pointer movement and keyboard strokes and be able to input pointer location in some cases. As well, I need to be able to have just a keyboard stroke activate an action (hotkeys). I know a little bit of Visual Basic, C++, and Python.

And now for the question:
So what functions can I use in what language to do each of the following actions: move the pointer, simulate keystrokes, input pointer location, and have hotkeys?

For now, I just want a working bot. After I write the core of a good bot, I'll come bug you guys about integrating this stuff with a VB GUI.

Thanks in advance!


-----EDIT------
I have a Windows XP service pack 3 and a Ubuntu 9.04 (linux). I have Vista on the computer that runs Ubuntu, but I half upgraded so many times that it doesn't show up on GRUB

 

Most bots are made with Java. I think you could make one with C++ I'm not completey sure.

 

Java. I'm taking a class in that next year. I got about 5 minutes of lessons from another student.

I figure I should add my OS. I'll go put that in the first post.

 

In Java, you would use the methods of the java.awt.Robot class (javadocs here).

In C++ you would use the SendInput function (documentation here) or the mouse_event function (documentation here). In addition, SMR wrote a quick little guide on using mouse_event to automate mouse clicks (located here).

 

If all you want to do is move the mouse, then use VB.net or C#. If you want to do stuff with reflection/BCEL, use Java, C# or C++.

Anyway, just google how to move your mouse cursor in VB to get what you need.

 

PERFECT! You rock! This exactly what I've been looking for!

----Edit----
Except I don't understand, lol. I just started Java today at school. For the c++ stuff, do you have any examples you can show me? Thanks!