Script Debugger: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Softwaresoftware

| name title = Script Debugger

| logo = [[Image:Script Debugger.png|64px|Script Debugger icon]]

| logo caption = Script Debugger icon

| screenshot =

| logo size = 100px

| caption =

| screenshot =

| developer = [[Late Night Software]]

| caption =

| latest release version = 6

| developer = [[Late Night Software]]

| latest release date = {{release date|2016|06|23}}

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

| latest preview version =

| discontinued = yes

| latest preview date =

| latest release version = 68.0.10

| operating system = [[Mac OS X]]

| latest release date = {{releaseStart date and age|20162025|0601|2318}}

| platform =

| operating system = [[Mac OS XmacOS]]

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

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

| license =

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

| website = http://www.latenightsw.com/

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

| website = http://{{URL|www.latenightsw.com/}}

}}

'''Script Debugger''' is a [[MacintoshMac (computer)|Macintosh computer]] computer [[source -code editor]] and [[Debugger|debuggingdebugger]] environment for the [[AppleScriptprogramming language]]s programming language[[AppleScript]], and other languagesothers based on [[Apple Inc.]]'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]] as a [[Third-party software component|third-party]] alternative to Apple's [[freeware]] application, [[AppleScript Editor|Script Editor]]. Its competitors at that time included [[ScriptWizard]] and [[Main Event Software]]'s popular [[Scripter. {{As (software)of|Scripter]].2024}}, Thesethose two products today are defunct, leaving only [[Satimage]]'s [[Smile (software)|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 versionVersion 1 on the program contained several notable features, such as: 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 [[Event-driven programming|events]]). More importantly, Scriptthe Debuggerprogram now allowed inspection of running applications to see what events they were emitting. True to its name, theThe new utility also contained a full debugger, with support for [[breakpoint]]s.

Script Debugger version 1.0 was released in 1995 by [[Mark Alldritt]] as a [[Third-party software component|third-party]] alternative to Apple's [[freeware]] application, [[AppleScript Editor|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 only [[Satimage]]'s [[Smile (software)|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.

ScriptThe Debuggerprogram 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]]''.

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 [[Event-driven programming|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 [[breakpoint]]s.

On February 9, 2006, version 4 of Script Debugger was released. This version was completely rewritten to take full 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 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]].

Version 5 of Script Debugger was released in June 2012.

On February 9, 2006, version 4 of Script Debugger was released. This version was completely rewritten to take full 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.

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>

Version 5 of Script Debugger was released in June 2012.

Version 6 of Script Debugger7 was released in JuneMarch 20162018, withintroducing supportthe forfree "Lite" mode and new features such as codeversion foldingbrowsing, enhanced applets, and AppleScriptObjCbetter bundle editing.<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://latenightsw.com/script-debugger-67-press-release/ |title=SCRIPTScript DEBUGGERDebugger 67 PRESSPress Release RELEASE|accessdatedate=2 March 2018 |access-date=175 JulyMarch 20162018}}</ref>

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==

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==External links==

* [http://{{Official website|www.latenightsw.com/ Script Debugger 6]}}

* [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://www.pcpro.co.uk/macuser/reviews/16524/script-debugger-301.html 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:MacMacintosh OSoperating systems development]]

[[Category:MacOS programming tools]]

{{macMac-software-stub}}