Re: Scripting Additions: Embracing the Horror of Unix
Re: Scripting Additions: Embracing the Horror of Unix
- Subject: Re: Scripting Additions: Embracing the Horror of Unix
- From: "John C. Welch" <email@hidden>
- Date: Sat, 02 Feb 2002 11:53:17 -0500
On 02/01/2002 20:09, "Jon Pugh" <email@hidden> wrote:
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I think my largest point here is that in Mac OS 9, the simplest way to add
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functionality to AppleScript was to write a scripting addition instead of an
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application. Now, in Mac OS X, applications are theoretically easier to
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write, and scripting additions can generally be replaced by calls to the
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shell, since they are generally doing simple things that can't be done in
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straight AppleScript. That means the incentive to write a new scripting
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addition in OS X is fairly low, as a built-in workaround is pretty easy,
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considering.
Actually, I think that creating AppleScript Wrappers around shell commands
is a very good thing for a few reasons:
1) It uses what is already there. As Jon pointed out, the idea for OSAX is
to give you the ability to do things you normally cannot do with
AppleScript. They should not be duplicating existing capabilities. As well,
reinventing the wheel is usually more work than it's worth
2) It gives AppleScript *far* more value as a system maintenance tool. I
mean systems maintenance. If I can use familiar syntax to get things done in
the shell env., then I get to use AppleScript to run my sun boxes, my AIX
boxes, etc.
3) It also helps calm down the current idiotic religious war about
AppleScript v. Shell. They both have their places, but if it gives both
groups better insight into the value of the other groups tools, then things
get a bit more civil. No, it won't stop the wars, but for those folks who
aren't complete fanatics, it gives them a path out.
john
--
"Not by strength, but by guile"
- British Special Boat Service (SBS)