Script Debugger
Encyclopedia
Script Debugger is a Macintosh computer source code editor
and debugging
environment for the AppleScript
programming language, and other languages based on Apple Inc.'s Open Scripting Architecture. It is a product of Late Night Software
.
alternative to Apple's freeware
application, Script Editor. Its competitors at that time included ScriptWizard and Main Event Software's popular Scripter. These two products today are defunct, leaving only Satimage's Smile
and integrated development environment
s such as FaceSpan (also from Late Night) and AppleScript Studio as Script Debugger's current competitors in the field.
From version 1 on the program contained several notable features: it was "scriptable," (it could be used to create scripts to control itself), recordable, (it could create scripts based on user actions), and attachable, (scripts could be written to respond to events
). More importantly, Script Debugger now allowed inspection of running applications to see what events they were emitting. True to its name, the new utility also contained a full debugger, with support for breakpoints
.
Script Debugger has since won many awards in the Macintosh scripting community. Version 1 received "5 mice" from MacUser
and 4 stars from MacWEEK
. Version 2 received the 2000 Macworld Eddy for "Best Development Software", and received "4.5 mice" from both MacUser
and Macworld
.
On February 9, 2006, version 4 of Script Debugger was released. This version was completely rewritten to take full advantage of the new Cocoa and Tiger
APIs. The new release also included an improved version of the JavaScript OSA
scripting component.
Source code editor
A source code editor is a text editor program designed specifically for editing source code of computer programs by programmers. It may be a standalone application or it may be built into an integrated development environment ....
and debugging
Debugger
A debugger or debugging tool is a computer program that is used to test and debug other programs . The code to be examined might alternatively be running on an instruction set simulator , a technique that allows great power in its ability to halt when specific conditions are encountered but which...
environment for the AppleScript
AppleScript
AppleScript is a scripting language created by Apple Inc. and built into Macintosh operating systems since System 7. The term "AppleScript" may refer to the scripting system itself, or to particular scripts that are written in the AppleScript language....
programming language, and other languages based on Apple Inc.'s Open Scripting Architecture. It is a product of Late Night Software
Late Night Software
Late Night Software Ltd., is a privately held Canadian software company that has produced several applications, utilities, and developer's tools for the Macintosh computer platform. The company was established in 1995. Its president is Mark Alldritt....
.
History
Script Debugger version 1.0 was released in 1995 by Mark Alldritt as a third-partyThird-party software component
In computer programming, a third-party software component is a reusable software component developed to be either freely distributed or sold by an entity other than the original vendor of the development platform...
alternative to Apple's freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
application, Script Editor. Its competitors at that time included ScriptWizard and Main Event Software's popular Scripter. These two products today are defunct, leaving only Satimage's Smile
Smile (software)
Smile is a Macintosh computer programming and working environment based on AppleScript. It features a number of production technologies and a natural fashion of having them work together...
and integrated development environment
Integrated development environment
An integrated development environment is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development...
s such as FaceSpan (also from Late Night) and AppleScript Studio as Script Debugger's current competitors in the field.
From version 1 on the program contained several notable features: it was "scriptable," (it could be used to create scripts to control itself), recordable, (it could create scripts based on user actions), and attachable, (scripts could be written to respond to events
Event-driven programming
In computer programming, event-driven programming or event-based programming is a programming paradigm in which the flow of the program is determined by events—i.e., sensor outputs or user actions or messages from other programs or threads.Event-driven programming can also be defined as an...
). More importantly, Script Debugger now allowed inspection of running applications to see what events they were emitting. True to its name, the new utility also contained a full debugger, with support for breakpoints
Breakpoint
In software development, a breakpoint is an intentional stopping or pausing place in a program, put in place for debugging purposes. It is also sometimes simply referred to as a pause....
.
Script Debugger has since won many awards in the Macintosh scripting community. Version 1 received "5 mice" from MacUser
MacUser
MacUser is a biweekly computer magazine published by Dennis Publishing Ltd. and licensed by Felden in the UK.In 1985 Felix Dennis’ Dennis Publishing, the creators of MacUser in the UK, licensed the name and “mouse-rating” symbol for MacUser to Ziff-Davis Publishing for use in the rest of the world....
and 4 stars from MacWEEK
MacWEEK
MacWEEK was a controlled-circulation weekly Apple Macintosh trade journal based in San Francisco founded by Michael Tchong, John Anderson , Glenn Patch, Dick Govatski and Michael F. Billings. It featured a back-page rumor column penned by the pseudonymous Mac the Knife.Founded in 1987, it was...
. Version 2 received the 2000 Macworld Eddy for "Best Development Software", and received "4.5 mice" from both MacUser
MacUser
MacUser is a biweekly computer magazine published by Dennis Publishing Ltd. and licensed by Felden in the UK.In 1985 Felix Dennis’ Dennis Publishing, the creators of MacUser in the UK, licensed the name and “mouse-rating” symbol for MacUser to Ziff-Davis Publishing for use in the rest of the world....
and Macworld
Macworld
Macworld is a web site and monthly computer magazine dedicated to Apple Macintosh products. It is published by Mac Publishing, which is headquartered in San Francisco, California...
.
On February 9, 2006, version 4 of Script Debugger was released. This version was completely rewritten to take full advantage of the new Cocoa and Tiger
Mac OS X v10.4
Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger is the fifth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Tiger was released to the public on 29 April 2005 for US$129.95 as the successor to Mac OS X Panther , which had been released 18 months earlier...
APIs. The new release also included an improved version of the JavaScript OSA
JavaScript OSA
JavaScript OSA, , is a freeware inter-process communication scripting language for the Macintosh computer....
scripting component.
External links
- Script Debugger 4.5
- AppleScript Editors a comparison of several editors, out of date
- AppleScript Editors, a page of links to AppleScript utilities
- MacUser UK a review of version 3.0.1
- Macworld another review