Re: Tell Blocks Considered Harmful (was Re: open for access)
Re: Tell Blocks Considered Harmful (was Re: open for access)
- Subject: Re: Tell Blocks Considered Harmful (was Re: open for access)
- From: Shane Stanley <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:27:42 +1100
- Thread-topic: Tell Blocks Considered Harmful (was Re: open for access)
On 18/12/08 5:53 AM, "Chris Page" <email@hidden> wrote:
> Correction: they *apparently* work. They work for certain cases, as
> long as scripting additions and applications don't change.
That's pretty much my definition of "works". *Everything* is subject to
change, and cases where changes by Apple or developers break scripts are an
all-too-frequent fact of life. Scripters are pretty low on the food chain,
and most of us don't kid ourselves otherwise.
>
> As a result, attempts to improve things involves a certain amount of
> risk, because some scripts incidentally rely on some details of
> behavior that they did not intend to rely upon and which were never
> guaranteed to behave the way they do. I'm trying to assess what
> scripts rely upon and how many scripts do so.
As far as dialogs go, I think you've received a pretty consistent and strong
message. I don't think there have been any claims on behalf of other
commands.
>
> And, yes, I'm asking some AppleScript users to learn a new detail or
> two about the language and giving them some ideas for how to write
> better scripts. Scripts that are more specific about their intent,
> which makes them more likely to continue working in the long term, in
> a wider variety of circumstances, and makes it easier for script,
> addition and application developers to change things in the future
> without breaking as many scripts.
A noble aim, if somewhat problematic given how long people have been
accustomed to a much more laissez faire approach that, yes, has worked.
But you're also suggesting that functionality they've relied on could be
taken from scripters to make things easier for developers, and that's where
the tail is wagging the dog -- unless there's a very good reason.
--
Shane Stanley <email@hidden>
AppleScript Pro Florida, April 2009 <http://scriptingmatters.com/aspro>
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