Script Compilers

(Encoders & Packagers)

I can think of several valid reasons to compile, or actually package scripts:

• hide the source code (a note of caution: it is not impossible to read the compiled code, I recommend using CPAU when passwords are involved, and even then use a temporary non-admin account with as many restrictions as feasible)
• prevent users from tampering with your scripts
• include a specific interpreter, so you need not worry if the right interpreter is available on the computers where the script will be running
• in thin client environments: allow only certain compiled scripts to be executed instead of having to allow an interpreter and thus all scripts
• a special category of packagers is that of batch files wrapped around scripts in other languages: they recreate and run a stored script in a different scripting language; the great advantage is that you need to distribute only a single "self-contained" batch file - no installation required, and no complex command lines

Note that some packagers (e.g. Perl2Exe) include a (copy of your) script interpreter in their executable, while others (e.g. Microsoft's Script Encoder) may still require an interpreter to be installed on the target system.

Packagers always need to unpack scripts in order to run them. Smart computer users may find a way to locate and read these unpacked files.
ExeScript and ExeScript Editor use their own JScript/VBScript engine, so they do not need to unpack JScript and VBScript code to disk. For scripts in other languages, they too need to unpack to disk.

As for PowerLocker and Microsoft's Script Encoder, they aren't packagers or compilers, really. I included them because they can hide source code from prying eyes, which is the most common reason for using a packager.
Don't use the script encoder to protect administrators' passwords, or rather: don't ever use administrators' passwords hardcoded in your scripts, after all there seem to be several script decoders around...

Also note that most anti-virus software doesn't "like" compiled scripts.
On my own computer, compiled scripts are the most common source of "false positives".

Batch File Compilers
Product	Programmer / Manufacturer	Download	Purchase
Advanced BAT to EXE Converter	Brandon Dargo	💾	Free for personal use
Advanced BAT to EXE Converter Professional Edition	Brandon Dargo	💾	🛒
Bat To Exe Converter	Fatih Kodak	💾	Free
Bat2Exec	Doug Boling	💾	Free
BatLite	Pieter A. Hintjens	💾	Free
ExeScript	ScriptCode.com	💾	🛒
ExeScript Editor	ScriptCode.com	💾	🛒
IExpress	Microsoft	Native in XP	Free
Quick Batch File Compiler	Abyssmedia.com	💾	🛒
Note that batch compilers may not always understand all the magic you are performing in your batch files (packagers use the standard interpreter, so no problem there, other than batch file compatibility with Windows versions). Use standard commands only, if possible, and forget about undocumented DOS features. Advanced BAT to EXE Converter, Batch File Compiler and Quick Batch File Compiler offer both Win32 and DOS6 compilation and handle NT's extended command switches very well, ExeScript (packager) can handle batch files for the default command interpreter (NT's CMD.EXE) only, and Bat2Exec and BatLite are for "real" DOS only. I still need to test IExpress (most likely will require XP SP2 to run).
Java Compilers
Product	Programmer / Manufacturer	Download	Purchase
JEXECreator	UCWare	💾	🛒
JScript Compilers
Product	Programmer / Manufacturer	Download	Purchase
ExeScript	ScriptCode.com	💾	🛒
ExeScript Editor	ScriptCode.com	💾	🛒
Script Encoder	Microsoft	💾	Free (validation required)
ScriptCryptor	Abyssmedia.com	💾	🛒
KiXtart Compilers
Product	Programmer / Manufacturer	Download	Purchase
Kix2Exe	Senser	💾	Free
Perl Compilers
Product	Programmer / Manufacturer	Download	Purchase
ExeScript Editor	ScriptCode.com	💾	🛒
Perl2Exe	IndigoStar Software	💾	🛒
PowerShell Encrypters
Product	Programmer / Manufacturer	Download	Purchase
ExeScript Editor	ScriptCode.com	💾	🛒
PowerLocker Community version	PowerLocker	💾	Free (if you deselect the CD in the order form)
PowerLocker Pro	PowerLocker	💾	🛒
Rexx Compilers
Product	Programmer / Manufacturer	Download	Purchase
ExeScript Editor	ScriptCode.com	💾	🛒
Open Object Rexx	ooRexx.org	💾	Royalty-free (CPL v1.0)
Rexx/Wrapper	SourceForge.net	💾	Free (GNU GPL)
Rexx2Exe (for OS/2)	Dennis Bareis	💾	Free
Rexx_Exe (for OS/2)	Veit Kannegieser	💾	Free
REXXCC (for OS/2)	Bernd Schemmer	💾	Free
RXCLS (for OS/2)	Steven Higgins	💾	Shareware
VBScript Compilers
Product	Programmer / Manufacturer	Download	Purchase
ExeScript	ScriptCode.com	💾	🛒
ExeScript Editor	ScriptCode.com	💾	🛒
HtaEdit (HTAs only)	Adersoft	💾	🛒
IExpress	Microsoft	Native in XP	Free
Script Encoder	Microsoft	💾	Free (validation required)
ScriptCryptor	Abyssmedia.com	💾	🛒
Vb Script to EXE Converter	A. Sabry	💾	Free
Vb Script to EXE Online Converter	A. Sabry		Free
VBS2CMD	Denis St-Pierre	💾	Free
Vbs2Exe	Enkeladress.com	💾	🛒
VbsEdit	Adersoft	💾	🛒

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