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Sorry for being off-topic, but I can't resist asking why on Earth would you want to port iTunes and AppleScript? Everyone I know (except the HN user actsasbuffo

Sorry for being off-topic, but I can't resist asking why on Earth would you want to port iTunes and AppleScript? Everyone I know (except the HN user actsasbuffoon) loathes iTunes, while AppleScript is just... silly, compared to other scripting languages.

peterburkimsher 8y ago
I miss the old iTunes 10 interface, which I use as a database manager (I like smart playlists, playlist folders, and Genre > Artist > Album columns). AppleScript because it has so many APIs. BetterTouchTool makes heavy use of it. I taught myself how to code in it when I was 13, and I still use it now.
- tzahola 8y ago
  >AppleScript because it has so many APIs. You mean the commands you can use on apps like iTunes, Finder, Photos, etc.? Those are not AppleScript-specific per se (AFAIK there used to be an option to write Automator scripts in JS). You'd need the Linux/Gnome/KDE equivalent of the Open Scripting Architecture ( https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/AppleScript/Conceptual/AppleScriptX/Concepts/osa.html https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Ap... ) with active participation from app developers. Sounds like a huge overtaking.
  - peterburkimsher 8y ago
    Yes, it would be a huge undertaking. I've already rewritten my own apps for offline maps, calendar, notes, and I plan to write contacts and iTunes too. When there's a standard API comparable to Apple Events/OSA within those core apps, I'd hope to have enough leverage to persuade other app developers to accept pull requests.
    - snuxoll 8y ago
      We already have D-Bus to cover sending events to applications, what's really missing is a standard way to enable scripting. I've had a similar idea myself but never got around to implementing it, but I think a standard D-Bus interface applications could implement to expose a scripting dictionary along with a Python/Ruby/Whatever library to implement a more OSA-like interaction would go a long way.
    - gurkendoktor 8y ago
      Out of curiosity, what GUI toolkit have you written these apps in/for? Something Mac-like (GNUStep)?
  - corv 8y ago
    Yes, you can still write Automator scripts with JavaScript! Unfortunately the documentation is AppleScript only.
    - tzahola 8y ago
      So, in 2018, at peak JS, it's practically an easter egg that you can write Automator scripts in JavaScript. I guess this is indicative of Apple's commitment to macOS automation...
- jhasse 8y ago
  > I like smart playlists, playlist folders, and Genre > Artist > Album columns Doesn't Rhythmbox have that?
optimuspaul 8y ago
I like iTunes, I don't understand why people hate it. Applescript is silly in some respects. It was the first scripting language I learned so it has a special place in my heart. I would totally spend the time to port that if someone was wanting help with that. It's quirky and not difficult to pick up. I can't imagine it having much of a market outside of the Mac ecosystem though. I guess I'm also curious why.
actsasbuffoon 8y ago
Howdy. You've now met someone who thinks iTunes is decent for his uses.
dwighttk 8y ago
I like iTunes as a music player. I've never seen another app that tempted me to make the effort to switch. There are a few warts in its other tasks (which should be spun of into another app), but once I switched to iCloud syncing for my phone I stopped seeing those.

peterburkimsher 8y ago

I miss the old iTunes 10 interface, which I use as a database manager (I like smart playlists, playlist folders, and Genre > Artist > Album columns). AppleScript because it has so many APIs. BetterTouchTool makes heavy use of it. I taught myself how to code in it when I was 13, and I still use it now.

tzahola 8y ago
>AppleScript because it has so many APIs. You mean the commands you can use on apps like iTunes, Finder, Photos, etc.? Those are not AppleScript-specific per se (AFAIK there used to be an option to write Automator scripts in JS). You'd need the Linux/Gnome/KDE equivalent of the Open Scripting Architecture ( https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/AppleScript/Conceptual/AppleScriptX/Concepts/osa.html https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Ap... ) with active participation from app developers. Sounds like a huge overtaking.
- peterburkimsher 8y ago
  Yes, it would be a huge undertaking. I've already rewritten my own apps for offline maps, calendar, notes, and I plan to write contacts and iTunes too. When there's a standard API comparable to Apple Events/OSA within those core apps, I'd hope to have enough leverage to persuade other app developers to accept pull requests.
  - snuxoll 8y ago
    We already have D-Bus to cover sending events to applications, what's really missing is a standard way to enable scripting. I've had a similar idea myself but never got around to implementing it, but I think a standard D-Bus interface applications could implement to expose a scripting dictionary along with a Python/Ruby/Whatever library to implement a more OSA-like interaction would go a long way.
  - gurkendoktor 8y ago
    Out of curiosity, what GUI toolkit have you written these apps in/for? Something Mac-like (GNUStep)?
- corv 8y ago
  Yes, you can still write Automator scripts with JavaScript! Unfortunately the documentation is AppleScript only.
  - tzahola 8y ago
    So, in 2018, at peak JS, it's practically an easter egg that you can write Automator scripts in JavaScript. I guess this is indicative of Apple's commitment to macOS automation...
jhasse 8y ago
> I like smart playlists, playlist folders, and Genre > Artist > Album columns Doesn't Rhythmbox have that?

optimuspaul 8y ago

I like iTunes, I don't understand why people hate it. Applescript is silly in some respects. It was the first scripting language I learned so it has a special place in my heart. I would totally spend the time to port that if someone was wanting help with that. It's quirky and not difficult to pick up. I can't imagine it having much of a market outside of the Mac ecosystem though. I guess I'm also curious why.

actsasbuffoon 8y ago

Howdy. You've now met someone who thinks iTunes is decent for his uses.

dwighttk 8y ago

I like iTunes as a music player. I've never seen another app that tempted me to make the effort to switch. There are a few warts in its other tasks (which should be spun of into another app), but once I switched to iCloud syncing for my phone I stopped seeing those.