Re: Input for Upcoming Book (Long)
Re: Input for Upcoming Book (Long)
- Subject: Re: Input for Upcoming Book (Long)
- From: David Glass <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 20:53:36 -0800
On 01/16/2003 14:13, "email@hidden" <email@hidden>
wrote:
>
Please be sure to include Runtime Revolution (http://www.runrev.com) to
>
your methods of creating GUI AppleScripts. Revolution is a full-blown
>
truly cross-platform rapid GUI application development environment in its
>
own right. AND it can execute embedded AppleScripts, AND work with Apple
>
Events.
Yes, RunRev is an environment in its own right, and as such would be better
served by its own book. If you are going to include development tools that
can execute AppleScripts then you should also include REALbasic as it has
similar capabilities.
I'd say keep these subjects for the appendices, or a 'Further info/reading'
section.
As to the other stuff, if you are going to cover both OS 9 and X then
definitely Dialog Director and FaceSpan for OS 9, and AppleScript Studio and
24UAppearance OSAX for OS X (although 24UAppearance is not nearly as
functional as Dialog Director, IMO). FaceSpan may appear for X someday, but
if you plan on writing this soon you'll have to skip it.
The section/volume on Studio will prove to be a monumental undertaking, I
believe, for reasons that are similar to those presented should you include
RunRev/REALbasic; you will have to cover more than just the AppleScript to
make it understandable.
I can see no reason to do an OS 9-only book at this point in OS X's life, so
it seems you are faced with covering four topics (two for each OS), or only
two.
Re: your expected audience
At this point the use of Studio requires both a knowledge of AppleScript and
some understanding of "real" programming; it is not nearly as intuitive and
easy to use as Dialog Director or FaceSpan on the OS 9-side. So the
inclusion of it seems to kick your target audience up a bit, unless you are
diligent about keeping it simple (but still useful, i.e. more than "hello
world").
Dialog Director (especially when used with Dialog Studio), and FaceSpan are
eminently more approachable for novice scripters, as is 24UAppearance and
would therefore be quite a bit easier for you to cover, appeal to a possibly
wider audience (more people, not bigger people).
I think the true strength in your idea is the coverage of handlers and
script objects, as these are topics that both experienced scripters (not
being "programmers" oftentimes ) and newcomers often have trouble getting a
handle on.
My $1.02
--
David Glass
email@hidden
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