3 ms·

OSA was always AppleScript, and it's not really that bad of a language.

by dubcanada 12y ago

matthewmacleod 12y ago
I don't agree - it's a hideous, imprecise, undocumented language. Truly awful to work with.
- dubcanada 12y ago
  AppleScript is very thoroughly documented? And I don't think hideous is a complaint, hideous is a personal opinion. Imprecise, you'll have to expand on. While certain things, depending on you want to do turn into a wild goose chase requiring multiple hundred lines of code to get something simple. That will not change with JavaScript, in some instances it looks like it may require even more lines with JavaScript. And it is a natural language, language. I don't think it is as terrible as you make it out too be.
  - e40 12y ago
    AppleScript is very thoroughly documented? As a recent Mac OS user, there were a bunch of things I wanted to automate with AS. I looked and looked for documentation and basically never found a coherent set of docs anywhere. So, I'd (still) love to see the thorough documentation.
    - steveax 12y ago
      The best documentation is Matt Neuburg's _AppleScript: The Definitive Guide_ [1] although it may be a bit dated now. Matt is one of the most talented tech writers out there. [1]: http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596102111.do http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596102111.do
    - tjl 12y ago
      Well, AppleScript is well documented. See Apple's Developer Site, https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/AppleScript/conceptual/AppleScriptlangguide/introduction/ASLR_intro.html https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/AppleS... But, that's just AppleScript. The problem is that the scripting dictionaries for applications are inconsistent. But, that's the fault of the developers and you'll run into the same problem with Javascript. Oh, for a good overall site, I'd recommend Mac OS X Automation, http://www.macosxautomation.com http://www.macosxautomation.com which has pointers to a lot of resources for AppleScript, Automator, and Services.
sigzero 12y ago
When OSX first came on the scene there was a javascript OSA. A company called "Late Night Software" or some such had a drop in that allowed you to use js.

OSA was always AppleScript, and it's not really that bad of a language.

matthewmacleod 12y ago

I don't agree - it's a hideous, imprecise, undocumented language. Truly awful to work with.

dubcanada 12y ago
AppleScript is very thoroughly documented? And I don't think hideous is a complaint, hideous is a personal opinion. Imprecise, you'll have to expand on. While certain things, depending on you want to do turn into a wild goose chase requiring multiple hundred lines of code to get something simple. That will not change with JavaScript, in some instances it looks like it may require even more lines with JavaScript. And it is a natural language, language. I don't think it is as terrible as you make it out too be.
- e40 12y ago
  AppleScript is very thoroughly documented? As a recent Mac OS user, there were a bunch of things I wanted to automate with AS. I looked and looked for documentation and basically never found a coherent set of docs anywhere. So, I'd (still) love to see the thorough documentation.
  - steveax 12y ago
    The best documentation is Matt Neuburg's _AppleScript: The Definitive Guide_ [1] although it may be a bit dated now. Matt is one of the most talented tech writers out there. [1]: http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596102111.do http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596102111.do
  - tjl 12y ago
    Well, AppleScript is well documented. See Apple's Developer Site, https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/AppleScript/conceptual/AppleScriptlangguide/introduction/ASLR_intro.html https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/AppleS... But, that's just AppleScript. The problem is that the scripting dictionaries for applications are inconsistent. But, that's the fault of the developers and you'll run into the same problem with Javascript. Oh, for a good overall site, I'd recommend Mac OS X Automation, http://www.macosxautomation.com http://www.macosxautomation.com which has pointers to a lot of resources for AppleScript, Automator, and Services.

sigzero 12y ago

When OSX first came on the scene there was a javascript OSA. A company called "Late Night Software" or some such had a drop in that allowed you to use js.