My understanding is that the newer Intel boxes will have no bearing
on Applescripting compiling, is that correct?
Yes. Well, mostly. There are some tricks involving writing binary
data to files that will produce different results, especially if you
try to move the files between PowerPC and Intel systems.
Does it have any impact regarding the Applescript implementation
kit for making one's app scriptable?
Not especially, no. Dealing with four-character codes in an endian-
safe manner precludes using certain tricks, but all the basic
techniques are the same.
It seems the only real heartache is for folks who have Carbon apps
that they've been compiling in Metroworks. I have a friend who
maintains a large Carbon app... that's written in Pascal. Is it
even going to be possible for him to move a Pascal app into Xcode
in order to do a Universal Binary?
Sort of. While stock Xcode does not include a Pascal compiler, there
are third parties that make one. Assuming that one of them cares
enough to create an Intel back end, then yes, it would be possible.
However, it might be less trouble to translate the whole thing to C
-- there are automated tools that will do it. (The resulting C isn't
necessarily pretty, but it does work.)
--Chris Nebel
AppleScript and Automator Engineering
