I just learnt about this gem:
https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/mac/releasenotes/InterapplicationCommunication/RN-JavaScriptForAutomation/index.html#/apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40014508
It looks like now one can use JavaScript instead of AppleScript. I like it.
Cool. There is no reason to pick a specific language.
For myself, well, we have to be compatible to 10.9 or older, so we stick with AppleScript for the next 5 years…
There’s been a Javascript OSA for several years
Just not from Apple
When I first heard this, I was quite pleased because I find AppleScript a pain to write (it’s easy to read, of course). On closer examination, it appears to be a very basic wrapper around AppleScript dictionaries. Still, Apple rarely do these things without some sort of master plan - the start of the end of Apple’s love/hate relationship with AppleScript?!
The underlying OSA architecture is language agnostic
So it should be possible to write any number of language front ends for it
Ah right.
Do you remember Applescript Studio? For about five minutes back then, I thought REALbasic might have a challenger on their hands. But Apple seemed to get bored of it almost as quickly as they introduced it.
AppleScript Studio
FaceSpan
[quote=97642:@Norman Palardy]
FaceSpan[/quote]
FaceSpan! I wrote quite a few little prepress applications with FaceSpan, almost 20 years ago now. Loved that tool. The original CrossBasic seemed to draw some inspiration from it (though probably not in actuality).
You could write a frontent using XojoScript if you like.
[quote=97527:@Norman Palardy]There’s been a Javascript OSA for several years
Just not from Apple[/quote]
So, my memory was not at fault this time. I so not understoud why people was talking about that. Now I understand !
Thank you Norman.
On the other hand (use of AppleScript):
I use AppleScript to create small scripts easy to use instead of the 4MB applications. I recently revised my AppleScript use because it was, so, long to rename files vs a Xojo application !
Many minutes on AppleScript vsd some seconds (usually less than 5 seconds) with Xojo.
If I understand this correctly, it makes no difference for developers in what they implement in their apps. Dictionaries and the rest are exactly the same as they were before. The doors this opens are for automating the same apps with new languajes without resorting to add-ons (especifically, making JavaScript a first-class language for OSA automation).
For a long while I expected Lua to be the first language to get this treatment. While I waited for this JavaScript became THE go-to scripting language of this generation.
Let me understand, you are saying that Applescript will be finalized by Apple?
If the answer is yes because I’m having problems apps for Mac and use AppleScripts that many do not know how to do it another way, can you give me an idea how can I proceed?
I appreciate all the help
If you’re asking whether Apple is going to stop supporting AppleScript, the answer is no. They have not announced any such plans, and I’ll just go ahead and say that Apple will never, ever, ever stop supporting AppleScript.
Unless you know something that isn’t public, I wouldn’t be so confident. In the past Apple have dropped their own technologies for industry standards and it seems like with development, they’re trying to increase their numbers by making their own language more approachable.
What gives me doubt is the current state of Apple Scriptability with the App Sandbox. Apple is forcing people to move over to using ‘Scripting-Targets’ for scripting apps, yet most of their apps don’t have this functionality and the ones that do are only providing basic support.
This worries me because as I develop only for Mac and I use lots of AppleScripts for my programs and I honestly do not know much in order to get rid of them, could someone tell me if there is any way to convert my AppleScripts for JavaScripts, a converter or something?
I wouldn’t worry yet, simply wait until Apple actually notifies us that Apple Script is deprecated. You’ll be able to tell by the large volumes of screams from App Store developers that are now being rejected from using Apple Script!
Yes, exactly what I want to avoid, I want to be able to convert my AppleScripts in Javascripts before getting in trouble, anyone know any way to do this?
Apple has been “doing away” with AppleScript for at least 15 years now, if you believe the rumors. Don’t worry about it.
Whoa - seriously slow ya horses… It is just all speculation at the moment, plus if you convert everything to JavaScript, you’re going to cut out all existing customers (only those running 10.10 will be okay).
If we consider the QuickTime fiasco that happened;
July 2011, Apple released Mac OS X 10.7 with AVFoundation.
Dec 2013 / Jan 2014, Apple started to reject apps for using QuickTime.
That’s over two years, since they introduced the newer tech, till they cut of developers noses.
I understand exactly how you feel, Apple’s recent lacking of warnings before changing the App Store rules have hurt us Mac developers and has made us very nervous. Look how nervous I got in regards to a rumor of rejecting 32-Bit apps.
In this case, I honestly feel that you have plenty of time before you need to panic.