Re: To shell or not to shell (was Re: URL Access Redux)
Re: To shell or not to shell (was Re: URL Access Redux)
- Subject: Re: To shell or not to shell (was Re: URL Access Redux)
- From: Mr Tea <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 10:51:55 +0100
This from Stockly, Ed - dated 23/5/06 1.55 am:
> OK, I think I complain about this more than anyone else because I'm concerned
> that this list is becoming more and more a list for shell scripters than for
> AppleScripters and that makes this list less and less hospitable to
> AppleScripters, especially new AppleScripters.
Seconded. I've recently been thinking that a new 'AppleScript for beginners'
list might provide newbies with an environment that supports and encourages
rather than sending them running screaming for the hills.
Even back in the days of System 7.5 when I first joined, the list was kind
of scary (mainly thanks to the contributions of John Delacour, who often
managed to make vanilla AS look like a shell script, bless him). Many many
months passed before I even began to get an inkling of what a 'variable' or
a 'handler' might be, but thanks to the efforts of a few patient and kindly
souls I received enough encouragement and guidance to develop a modest level
of competence.
It was a good feeling when I started to find that I had answers to post on
the list, instead of just more questions, and I think I've managed to help
several newcomers find their feet during the intervening years by
remembering my own early difficulties and applying my experience as a
primary school teacher when phrasing my replies. Lately, there seems to be
less opportunity to do this, and I suspect that the reason is because the
general tone of the list nowadays frightens away many potential scripters
who have only simple needs. They are looking for AS kindergarten but finding
themselves faced with a PhD syllabus (and a load of put-downs for not
knowing the basics or quite how to phrase their enquiries to best effect).
Ed, I think your post hit the nail on the head and was well-expressed, so I
was surprised to see so violent a rebuttal from John C Welch, who seemed to
have entirely misconstrued your drift. Sure, shell scripts have their place
about four of them have snuck their way into the hundreds of applescripts
that I use on a regular basis but what new scripters need for the most
part is advice that will help them to roll their own, not incomprehensible
magick incantations.
I'm sure the list has changed and become less newbie-friendly in recent
years, and lately I have started thinking 'why am I still here' on a regular
basis.
Is anyone else thinking it's time to petition Apple for the creation of a
new AS beginners list where 'old-school' scripters can still feel
comfortable and useful peddling their archaic skill sets to curious and
undemanding acolytes?
Nick
pp Mr Tea
--
Brew of the day: Ceylon Dimbulla
http://www.theteacaddy.co.uk
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