Question

By lightweight apps, I mean the toolset can create a single executable file or set of files that can be copied into a folder and run as an EXE with no other installation process.

Of particular interest:

• What’s the programming language
• what versions of Windows are supported
• is there interactive debugging
• are there GUI layout/design tools
• other notable features and limitations

Answer 1

For quick prototyping, Autoit is a viable option (but it is a scripting language though).

Combined with Scite as an Editor, and autoit to exe capability (AutoIt3.exe in Scite and Autoit3Wrapper.exe to actually produce exe), you have a full GUI development environment.

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AutohotKey is an alternative, but based on old AutoitV2.

Still, you can execute AutohotKey scripts from Autoit 😉

Run('c:\Program Files\Autohotkey\Autohotkey.exe c:\scripts\devicesset.ahk') 

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While interactive debugging is not natively supported, they are (2008, but in 2014: was?) several debugging tools to facilitate the debug process. (from this ticket)

Update 2014: the ‘AutoEditDebugger’ might not be supported:

EDIT October 2009: NB This script has not been maintained since some time in 2008. Due to some problem with the editor it crashes in Vista.