Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Use OS X Automation Technologies
In this chapter, I want to talk about a particular subset of technologies that go considerably
deeper than things like keyboard shortcuts or text expansion. The four topics I cover
here—Automator, AppleScript, services, and shell scripts—aren't so much tools as
platforms
built into OS X you can use to create your own tools. As such, they're more complex, but also
far more powerful.
Coming in Yosemite:
Starting in OS X 10.10, you'll be able to use JavaScript, as well
as AppleScript, to control your Mac's apps.
I've arranged the topics in this chapter in order of what I consider least to most intimidating.
Services are plug-ins that add features for working with text, graphics, and more to almost
any app. Automator lets you construct multi-step operations called workflows using graphical
building blocks rather than code. AppleScript is a language you can use to write programs that
do all sorts of useful tasks on your Mac—but it's a step or two up from Automator in difficulty.
And shell scripts run in the Terminal command-line utility, performing tasks using OS X's
Unix underpinnings.
Worried that this all sounds too complicated? Don't be. I want to make sure you understand
this crucial concept up front:
You can
use
a service, Automator workflow, AppleScript, or shell script without knowing
how to
create
one.
In fact, that's precisely what I recommend. For each of the technologies in this chapter, I
suggest the following process:
1. Learn how to locate, install, and use scripts/tools written by other people.
2. Once you're comfortable using them, try modifying them slightly. That's one of
the easiest ways to learn how they work while also customizing them to better
meet your needs.
3. When you have time to tinker, start to create your own scripts/tools, using the
resources I recommend (and with other people's work as a guide).
