Re: What makes appleScript so easy
Re: What makes appleScript so easy
- Subject: Re: What makes appleScript so easy
- From: "J. Stewart" <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2007 05:03:16 -0500
On 12/6/07 at 9:55 PM, Stockly, Ed <email@hidden>
spake thusly:
That it can do much of this is due to external add-ons in the form of
applications and scripting additions.
That's true, but that also includes applications and scripting additions
from Apple.
<snip>
Though it isn't really I consider Apple as a third party when it
comes to scriptable applications. Looking at some of the
application dictionaries it's plain some of Apples programmers
haven't got a clue about Applescript.
Its strategy was to leverage third party applications and it relied on
developers to do that by implementing Apple Events and AppleScript
technologies in their products.
Thought I said that.
No matter how hard you beat a plow horse it isn't going to outrun a
thoroughbred race horse.
Unless, of course, you beat the race horse really really hard, but I take
your point.
in which case there probably won't be any race.
My point is that most third party scripting additions don't compare to the
quality of scripting tools from Apple.
I'm not too sure Mark Alldritt (LateNight Software) or Emmanual
(Satimage) would agree with that.
Just a comparison of the language and commands and the organization of most
of Apple's appleScript dictionaries and those of most (not all) third party
tool developers, reveals a deeper level of sophistication and understanding
of the technology and (more importantly) the user.
A lot of the problems we see on this list are because someone expects
Applescript to do something it was never intended to do.
<snip>
Second, the reality is that there are many aspects of the scripting language
and technology that users expect to be built in, things that go beyond the
basics, but are common enough that any serious scripter will need them
(sorting and text manipulations, to name but two.)
Both of which Applescript can do but third party apps can do better.
Third, in many areas apple has gone beyond the original design in providing
scripters useful and powerful tools (they never get enough recognition for
that IMHO, I'm thinking of the scriptable database, built into the system,
image handling and scripting GUI, none of which were part of the original
design, all were things third-party developers could have done and all now
part of the system. (Come to think of it, I'm not sure a third party
developer could have done GUI Scripting, but that actually reinforces what
I'm saying.)
Agreed
By the way, I do complain to third party vendors and I let those who don't
develop their apps with decent appleScript implementations know that they
are losing my business, which often includes sales that go beyond my
department and my company.
But, I wasn't complaining here. I was making a fairly thoughtful response to
a request for feedback on what users want from AppleScript.
I kind of wish more users had spoken up.
As do I.
The original core language of Applescript hasn't changed all
that much in comparison with Applescript 1.0. The changes have
mostly come in scripting additions and FBAs.
--
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from
magic. -Arthur C. Clarke
_______________________________________________
Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.
AppleScript-Users mailing list (email@hidden)
Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription:
Archives: http://lists.apple.com/archives/applescript-users
This email sent to email@hidden