Re: AS adoption barriers --- vs. WSH and VB for PC's
Re: AS adoption barriers --- vs. WSH and VB for PC's
- Subject: Re: AS adoption barriers --- vs. WSH and VB for PC's
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 22:14:56 -0400
I've used both. Visual Basic is programming that tries to be scripting.
AppleScript is scripting that falters when it tries to be programming.
In AppleScript, its far easier to interact with the applications. Some of it is
the object model, some of it is the consistency of the objects provided by the
applications, and some of it is the high-level values sent and returned.
(Visual Basic has lots of numeric codes for modes, options, return values, and
error codes.)
Visual Basic has a better GUI-building capability and has a nice development
environment. (So its better than AppleScript out-of-the-box. But Facespan and
third-party script editors help level the playing field.) I like VB's context
help. And boy, does VB need context help. Every applications and control does
its own thing.
Also in comparison, realize that Visual Basic has four flavors (none exciting or
fruity): Visual Basic for Applications, Visual Basic Scripting, ASP, and full-up
Visual Basic. VBA runs from inside Word or Excel or Access. VB Scripting runs
on its own host, but doesn't have its own development environment (I think.
We've banned it entirely because of the security headaches it induces, so I have
little experience using it.) ASP runs on the web server. Full-up Visual Basic
requires you buy the development environment (like Visual Studio).
The best things I can say about Visual Basic are:
1. Its not as painful as C++ programming with Microsoft Foundation Classes
2. There are a lot of resources out there, particularly if you have money to
spend.
But if you use those resources, you have an installation problem that makes
Scripting Additions trivial. If you use any third-party or non-default controls
or DLLs, you'll need to develop an installer as well. Welcome to DLL Hell.
--
Scott Norton Phone: +1-703-299-1656
DTI Associates, Inc. Fax: +1-703-706-0476
2920 South Glebe Road Internet: email@hidden
Arlington, VA 22206-2768 or email@hidden