[I'm cross-posting this from the AppleScript Users mailing list - it's
not a Cocoa question, but quite a few developers are extremely
interested in alternatives to AppleScript for application automation so
I believe it has relevance. I don't wish to risk the Cocoa Dev list
mom's wrath with a longer discussion thread though, so please post any
replies to ASU
<https://lists.apple.com/mailman/listinfo/applescript-users>, not here
on CD.]
Folks,
While there's still a couple months till Yosemite ships, it already
looks as if JavaScript for Automation is going to be one more priceless
opportunity down the drain. I've been testing it since DP2 and, like
Leopard's Scripting Bridge, it's a half-baked, half-broken mess whose
authors do not understand how AppleScript and application scripting
actually work in the real world, never eat their own dog food, and
ignore any criticism they don't understand or don't wish to hear.
As part of my feedback to the AS team, I hacked together first a
prototype JavaScript-AppleEvent Bridge and then a full JavaScript OSA
component that they could use as reference, although I've no idea if
they even bothered to look at it (I just got crickets). I've now
uploaded a zip file containing the JavaScriptOSA component, the JAB Demo
tool for translating application commands from AppleScript to JavaScript
syntax, and the original Xcode project files to the old appscript
project page so everyone else can have a look as well:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/appscript/files
Error reporting and documentation are incomplete, and there's bugs and
other issues not yet resolved, but the AE and OSA support almost all
works so folks already trying out JXA on Yosemite will find it useful
for comparison. Folks on Mavericks can also try it if they wish as it's
10.9-compatible too. I'll try to finish it later if I've time, but as
Apple have deprecated the whole OSA foundation it'll never be suitable
for production use; therefore it's JXA or bust.
At this late stage I think the only solution is for users to demand
Apple reschedule JXA's initial release for 10.11, giving them time to
[re]do it right. Bear in mind that once 10.10 ships, JXA's design
defects will be effectively welded in for good. So it's up to all of you
to decide if you're willing to accept something that's crippled, broken,
and thoroughly inferior to AppleScript, and to make yourselves heard by
those in charge if not.
Regards,
has
_______________________________________________
Cocoa-dev mailing list (Cocoa-dev@lists.apple.com)
Please do not post admin requests or moderator comments to the list.
Contact the moderators at cocoa-dev-admins(at)lists.apple.com
Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription:
https://lists.apple.com/mailman/options/cocoa-dev/archive%40mail-archive.com
This email sent to arch...@mail-archive.com
