RE: What's the biggest barrier to wider AS adoption?
RE: What's the biggest barrier to wider AS adoption?
- Subject: RE: What's the biggest barrier to wider AS adoption?
- From: "Zavatone, Alex" <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 09:53:47 -0700
Lorin, now that I'm into Ascript, I'd love to provide some input to help and
answer your question.
As a background on me, I've been using the mac since '85. ( I just didn't
"get it" in 84.) And I've been using Director since '87. In fact, I worked
at Macromedia on Director for Director and Shockwave 4, 5, 6 and 7. I know
lingo. Director's Lingo is based in part on Ascript so many things SHOULD
be easy for the cross over user. But being the mac snob/advocate, and
hardcore Lingo coder, I just picked up Ascript this month.
Ya, I feel like a dork. Nuff said there.
Applescript for one is NOT promoted enough.
For one trying to pick it up, it is NOT as easy as one would think. "stuff
applies to other stuff in context". Doing error checking is in a foreign
syntax to me. Nesting the error handler within the parent handler seems
Bizarre.
Apple's script editor is NOT helpful in debugging and promoting problem
solving.
Certain tools like Director's message window are missing. This is
significant because in Director, you can just enter a line of code and watch
it run. A command execution and readout window are vital.
Take a look at the advanced and wonderful applescript debugger 2.0 by
latenightsw. A steppable debugger! Class libraries structures! SAMPLES!!
Realtime variable monitoring. Mmmmmmm. It's lovely. Now look at Director.
Also a debugger. But the immediate command execution power of the message
window is hard to live without. As is the capability to output to the
message window.
A learning course that explains the hows and whys of Ascript and provides a
growth path just ain't there.
Sure, the apple help files tell you how to do simple stuff and then more
complex stuff but they don't tell and show you how to tie them together to
do more complex stuff.
If it were not for the macscripter.net and applescript web sites, we'd be up
the creek IMHO.
on Friday, I just got the O'Reilly Applescript in a Nutshell. Already, I've
been able to sort some issues out.
Imho, Apple needs to rev the script edidor badly, promote applescript
solutions more, maybe offer some courses after demand come up and offer an
Apple sanctioned "Learning Applescript Guide" that actually fits the bill.
This is a great tool. We need more people using it.
best,
- Zav
Director Geek, Commerce Direct Systems