Script Debugger: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox software

'''Script Debugger''' is a [[Macintosh computer|Macintosh]] computer [[source code editor]] and [[Debugger|debugging]] environment for the [[AppleScript]] programming language, and other languages based on [[Apple computer]]'s [[Open Scripting Architecture]]. It is a product of [[Late Night Software]].

| title = Script Debugger

| logo = Script Debugger.png

| logo caption = Script Debugger icon

| logo size = 100px

| screenshot =

| caption =

| developer = Late Night Software

| released = {{Start date and age|1995}}

| discontinued = yes

| latest release version = 8.0.10

| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2025|01|18}}

| operating system = [[macOS]]

| platform = [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]]: [[ARM architecture family|ARM]], [[x86]]

| genre = [[AppleScript]] [[debugger]]

| license = [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] [[freeware]]

| website = {{URL|www.latenightsw.com}}

}}

'''Script Debugger''' is a [[MacintoshMac (computer)|Macintosh computer]] computer [[source -code editor]] and [[Debugger|debuggingdebugger]] environment for the [[programming language]]s [[AppleScript]] programming language, and other languagesothers based on [[Apple computerInc.]]'s [[Open Scripting Architecture]]. It is a product of [[Late Night Software]].

== History ==

Script Debugger version 1.0 was released in [[1995]] by [[Mark Alldritt]]. It wasas a [[Third-party software component|third -party]] alternative to [[Apple Computer]]'s [[freeware]] application, [[AppleAppleScript Editor|Script Editor]]. Its competitors at that time included [[ScriptWizard]] and [[Main Event Software]]'s popular [[Scripter. (software){{As of|Scripter]].2024}}, Thesethose two products today are defunct, leaving the only other competitors in the field being [[Satimage]]'s [[Smile (software)|Smile]] and [[integrated development environment]]s such as [[FaceSpaceFaceSpan]] (also from Late Night) and [[AppleScript Studio]] as Script Debugger's competitors in the field.

ScriptVersion Debugger1 wascontained consideredseveral innovativenotable features, insuch thatas: it was both "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 [[Event-driven programming|events]]). More importantly, the program now allowed inspection of running applications to see what events they were emitting. The new utility also contained a full debugger, with support for [[breakpoint]]s.

Script Debugger version 1.0 was released in [[1995]] by [[Mark Alldritt]]. It was a [[third party]] alternative to [[Apple Computer]]'s [[freeware]] application, [[Apple Script Editor]]. Its competitors at that time included [[ScriptWizard]] and [[Main Event Software]]'s popular [[Scripter (software)|Scripter]]. These two products today are defunct, leaving the only other competitors in the field being [[Satimage]]'s [[Smile (software)|Smile]] and [[integrated development environment]]s such as [[FaceSpace]] and [[AppleScript Studio]].

ScriptThe Debuggerprogram has since won many awards and review accolades in the Macintosh scripting community. Version 1 recievedreceived "5 mice" from ''[[MacUser]]'' and 4 stars from ''[[MacWEEK]]''. Version 2 received the [[2000]] [[MacWorldMacworld Eddy]] for "Best Development Software", and received "4.5 mice" from both [[''MacUser]]'' and ''[[MacWorldMacworld]]''.

Script Debugger was considered innovative, in that it was both 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 [[Event-driven programming|events]]).

On February 9, 2006, version 4 was released. This version was completely rewritten to take advantage of the new [[Cocoa (software)|Cocoa]] and [[Mac OS X v10.4|Tiger]] APIs. The new release also included an improved version of the [[JavaScript OSA]] scripting component.

Script Debugger has since won many awards and review accolades in the Macintosh scripting community. Version 1 recieved "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]].

Version 5 was released in June 2012.

As of [[May]], [[2005]], users are awaiting the forthcoming version 4.0 of the product. Mark Alldritt has stated that this version has been completely rewritten, to take full advantage of the new [[Cocoa (software)|Cocoa]] and [[Mac_OS_X_v10.4|Tiger]] APIs.

Version 6 was released in June 2016, with support for new features such as [[code folding]] and AppleScriptObjC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://latenightsw.com/script-debugger-6-press-release/ |title=Script Debugger 6 Press Release |date=18 June 2016 |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref>

== External Links ==

* [http://www.latenightsw.com/sd3.0/index.html Script Debugger 3.0]

Version 7 was released in March 2018, introducing the free "Lite" mode and new features such as version browsing, enhanced applets, and better bundle editing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://latenightsw.com/script-debugger-7-press-release/ |title=Script Debugger 7 Press Release |date=2 March 2018 |access-date=5 March 2018}}</ref>

* [http://www.tandb.com.au/applescript/editors/ AppleScript Editors] a comparison of several editors, out of date

Version 8 was released in May 2021, introducing support for macOS Big Sur and Apple Silicon. Other notable features include support for Dark Mode, and for generating standalone script applications that support code signing and notarizing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://forum.latenightsw.com/t/script-debugger-8-press-release/3086/ |title=Script Debugger 8 Press Release |date=4 May 2021 |access-date=10 March 2024}}</ref>

On January 1, 2025, Mark Aldritt announced the planned retirement of Script Debugger. On May 31, 2025, it was officially retired. As of June 2025, all macOS versions from 4.0 – 8.0.10 are available as [[freeware]] downloads. The Late Night Software website hosts the full software retirement announcement,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://forum.latenightsw.com/t/retiring-script-debugger/5071 |title=Script Debugger Announces It's Retiring |date=1 January 2025 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> Mark's goodbye note,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://forum.latenightsw.com/t/script-debugger-retired/5182 |title=Script Debugger Retires |date=31 May 2025 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> and a list of all freely downloadable versions on a downloads page.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://latenightsw.com/sd8/download/ |title=Script Debugger Free Downloads |date=31 May 2025 |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> The Forum web pages will remain available, and user-to-user discussions will be encouraged and supported.

Script Debugger has been around for over 30 years and has helped countless AppleScript developers over the years. Thank you Mark Aldritt and everyone else who helped make this software so great over all those years. Many people's lives were made a little bit easier and more productive thanks to all the effort that went in to making this a product that was so fun to use and so productive, and some were made a whole lot easier. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to Mark and Shane and all the others who made this software so fun and so helpful to so many people over three decades.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== External Links links==

* {{Official website|www.latenightsw.com}}

* [httphttps://wwwweb.archive.org/web/20050615083836/http://tandb.com.au/applescript/editors/ AppleScript Editors] a comparison of several editors, out of date

* [http://www.applescriptsourcebook.com/links/applescripteditors.html AppleScript Editors], a page of links to AppleScript utilities

* [http://macuserwww.pcpro.co.uk/dickiedycemacuser/reviews/16524/printreviewscript-debugger-301.php3?id=35784html MacUser UK]{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} a review of version 3.0.1

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050529001732/http://www.macworld.com/2002/02/reviews/scriptdebugger/ Macworld] another review

[[Category:Macintosh operating systems development]]

[[Category:MacOS programming tools]]

{{Mac-software-stub}}