Okay. While I still can't sleep, a quick straw poll. Whoever wrote the Java interface to Applescript for OS X was:
- So comfortable with AppleEvents that he or she just wanted to replicate them verbatim in a new syntax, instead of providing a useful abstraction
- Completely ignorant of the Java Language
- A sadist
- All of the above
If you answered 'd', you're most likely correct!1 I spent a very frustrating Sunday afternoon putting together what should have been a simple servlet that puts my current iTunes song in the side-bar of the front page of this site. 75% of that time was spent with me being frustrated trying to decipher the totally opaque NSAppleEventDescriptor object that the AppleScript call returns. The whole class is so encrusted with legacy cruft and assumed foreknowledge, it's almost impossible to work with.
1If you answered '4', your browser's list-style-type support sucks
Come on, you can't blame lynx for displaying a '4'. :)
Come on, you can't blame lynx for displaying a '4'. :)
Oh come on, if you've gonna suffer with NSAppleEventDescriptor at least link your code up so the rest of us can profit from your misery! :-)
As a Java programmer, I had no problem what so ever with Apple Script and am very happy that you can program native os x apps using Java. Just becuase you suck at learning new languages, does not mean that Apple sucks. Apple Script is by far the easiest language on earth. If you cant do it, dont blame Apple!
Apple Product Support Sucks.....
I got an iPod for Xmas. The ear buds are defective.
After visiting the Apple Support Site and sending three
e-mails about it to Apple in the last three weeks, I've
had no response from them. I took the time to give them the info they demanded to be allowed into the iPod Support section, (I really resented having to give a friend's phone number as an alternative contact) let them know of my problem and then was ignored.
My first Mac was a Mac Plus. I now have an iMac. Obvious to me is that this problem is not worthy of Apple's attention. My next box will probably be a Linux box because Apple couoldn't care less about my ear buds so I don't care to buy any more Apple products. Their business practices suck.
Lon (arabbit@earthlink.net)