Applescript and Automation

One of the great things in Mac OS X is the build in script-ability and Automator. Of course there is always a discussion about the syntax of Applescript but besides that it enriches the platform a lot. Good scriptable applications provide incredible possibilities for their users.

A pretty cool usage of Applescript is being shown on Macbreak and can be downloaded from Automator.us. It’s a clever combination of Applescript, Keynote and the speech system for doing self presenting presentations.

I’m looking forward to Leopard and the incredible improved new voices.

If you are a Mac developer think about adding script-ability to your application for a number of reasons:

  • let your users integrate your app in their workflow (and they probably never will switch to the app of your competitor)
  • use automatic tests for some parts of your application
  • improve the design of your app by providing a scripting API (you probably want get a good API without a clear design)
  • provide some clever Automator workflows to give users an idea about what your app can do for them beside the core features

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 16th, 2007 at 5:37 pm and is filed under Automator. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Applescript and Automation”

  1. Lukas Says:
    January 18th, 2007 at 11:14 pm

    you always should
    use automatic tests for MANY parts of your application

    has it really something to do with scriptability?-)

  2. martin Says:
    January 18th, 2007 at 11:34 pm

    Of course any kind of automatic tests is great.

    But with scriptability you get an interface for doing some functional tests, too. Testing your business logic through the user interface can be a tough job.