Another thing that impressed me was Goldstein's breadth of knowledge covering bridge technologies, going from AS to JScript, or BASIC to AS, or even JS to AS. Living in the web demands a programmer and designer to know many tools and use the best (or in some cases the only) for the right job. Adam is clear on what AS is good for, and offers a rather complete list of alternatives for various other needs. Adam is an honest writer, something politically not in vogue all the time with writers of technology. I appreciate him being a straight shooter regarding the limitations of AS, where it is most useful, now to maximize its power and leaving it behind for other tools more appropriate. To me that merits the other 1/2 of the retail price of USD $24.95.
Covering many application interfacing like MS Word, or Adobe PS, the process flow scripter/coder is going to love this up and fast running series of 'Power User's Clinic' box hilites throughout the book. Inclusive are the Workaround sections for solving conflicts and problems with apps that behave or have naming conventions in their AS dictionaries that may result odd behaviours. For those that want to explore the media aspects of AS programming, there are sections about coding iTunes, WebBrowsers, Commercial Graphic Apps and more.
At least two things lack in my opinion making this book a high recommendation rather than a perfect fit for my needs. One of which is the lack of mention of a few scripting technologies out there like FScript and SenseTalk, both of which are extremely powerful and complete, the first with true Cocoa objects, and the latter with an AS bridge call via the 'do AppleScript' command.
In all, I give this book a rating of 4.25 out of a potentail 5 rating, for a solid "B" score. A good first edition with a growing list of errata as I revisit sections and notes I made along the margins. I'd recommend it to the starter and intermediate AS programmer. I could see AppleScript: The Missing Manual used by those interested in an overview of AppleScript and how AS techonology could be integrated into an OS X user's productivity tool arsenal.
Disclosure: One thing I wish most would do is complete disclosure so I would know what kind of motivation and flavoring may occur during a review. To apply to self, I must tell you that I review O'reilly books for payment, in this case a free copy of the book in question. I am also a long time user of HyperSense, SenseTalk and Xmodules writer for SenseTalk dating back to 1990 and the advent of HyperCube the original NeXT/OSX Scripting Media System. However, I have attempted to be fair as well as critical of this book and its author when warranted. Goldstein's book would have benefited from more years of commercial software and configuration management experience and not hobby or part time scripting practices.
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Buy "AppleScript: The Missing Manual" at Amazon.com |
About the Author:
Todd Nathan is an old hand at new technology. Coding since 6502 ASM for the Apple ][ line of computers in the early 80s, he has seen technologies come and go, mostly go. He enjoys developing Forth compilers in scripting languages for the sheer torture of it all, and ASForth is his latest undertaking. A complete Forth compiler, runtime and interpreter written in AppleScript.
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