1. A progress indication data processing system comprising: a processor having a script execution engine; a memory stored therein a history table; and, a smart progress indicator coupled to the history table, the smart progress indicator comprising program code enabled during execution by the processor to compute an expected duration of execution of a script by the script execution engine based upon measured observed durations of execution for annotated portions of the script, to determine conditions precedent to executing the annotated portions of the script, to select individual ones of the annotated portions unable to be executed based upon the conditions precedent, and to modify the expected duration of execution of the script to account for the selected individual ones of the annotated portions unable to be executed.