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== 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 of|2024}}, those 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 competitors in the field.
Version 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. The new utility also contained a full debugger, with support for [[breakpoint]]s.
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]]''.
On February 9, 2006, version 4 of Script Debugger 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.
Version 5 of Script Debugger was released in June 2012.
Version 6 of Script Debugger 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 |accessdateaccess-date=17 July 2016}}</ref>
Version 7 of Script Debugger 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 |accessdateaccess-date=5 March 2018}}</ref>
Version 8 of Script Debugger was released in May 2021, introducing support for macOS Big Sur and Apple Silicon. Other notablesnotable features in Script Debugger 8 include support for Dark Mode, and thefor ability to generategenerating 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 |accessdateaccess-date=10 March 2024}}</ref>
On January 1, 2025, Mark Aldritt announced the planned retirement of Script Debugger,. and onOn May 31, 2025, it was officially retired. AllAs of June 2025, all macOS versions from 4.0 thru– 8.0.10 of the software are now currently available foras free[[freeware]] downloaddownloads. For the full retirement announcement see <ref>{{cite web |url=https://forum.latenightsw.com/t/retiring-script-debugger/5071 |title=Script Debugger Announces It's Retiring |date=1 January 2025 |accessdateaccess-date=3 June 2025}}</ref> and for Mark's goodbye note see <ref>{{cite web |url=https://forum.latenightsw.com/t/script-debugger-retired/5182 |title=Script Debugger Retires |date=31 May 2025 |accessdateaccess-date=3 June 2025}}</ref>. For a list of all the freely available download versions see the Late Night Software web downloads page at <ref>{{cite web |url=https://latenightsw.com/sd8/download/ |title=Script Debugger Free Downloads |date=31 May 2025 |accessdateaccess-date=3 June 2025}}</ref>.
The Late Night Software Forum web pages will continue to be available and user-to-user discussions will be supported and encouraged.
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