Script Debugger: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Softwaresoftware

| nametitle = Script Debugger

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

| logo size = 100px

| screenshot =

| caption =

| developer = [[Late Night Software]]

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

| latest release version = 4.0.4

| discontinued = yes

| latest release date = [[2006-08-30]]

| latest previewrelease version = 8.0.10

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

| operating system = [[Mac OS XmacOS]]

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

| platform =

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

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

| license =

| website = http://{{URL|www.latenightsw.com/sd4/}}

}}

'''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, [[AppleScript 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 [[FaceSpan]] (also from Late Night) and [[AppleScript Studio]] as Script Debugger's competitors in the field.

ScriptVersion Debugger1 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. TrueThe tonew its name, Script Debuggerutility also containscontained a full debugger, with support for breakpoints[[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, [[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 [[FaceSpan]] and [[AppleScript Studio]].

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]] [[MacWorldMacworld Eddy]] for "Best Development Software", and received "4.5 mice" from both [[''MacUser]]'' and ''[[MacWorldMacworld]]''.

Script Debugger 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 allowed inspection of running applications, to see what events they were emitting. True to its name, Script Debugger also contains a full debugger, with support for breakpoints.

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_v10Mac 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 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 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>

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==

* [http://{{Official website|www.latenightsw.com/sd4/ Script Debugger 4.0]}}

* [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]]

[[Category:Mac OS development]]

{{macMac-software-stub}}