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AppleScript, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, Ruby, Python, various shell script dialects, and other popular scripting languages are available in Mac OS X. Developers can make their applications scriptable, enabling automation of repetitive tasks through AppleScript scripts. To make automation even easier, the Automator application offers a simple drag-and-drop interface for users to create sophisticated workflows involving Mac OS X system services and Apple applications. Developers and script writers can also create their own Automator actions, allowing applications, shell scripts, and AppleScript scripts to be called from within Automator workflows.
Learning paths for scripters, system administrators, and application developers.   Essential information about using and supporting scripts and automation.   C and Objective-C API references, organized by framework.
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Apple Events Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides conceptual information and programming examples for working with Apple events.
 AppleScript 2007-10-31
AppleScript Language Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the AppleScript scripting language. Includes many brief sample scripts.
 AppleScript 2008-03-11
AppleScript Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the technology for writing scripts to control applications. Useful for scripters and application developers.
 AppleScript 2007-10-31
AppleScript Studio Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create script-driven applications with complex user interfaces based on Cocoa UI classes. Includes tutorials.
 AppleScript 2006-04-04
Automator AppleScript Actions Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Guides you through the procedure for creating a simple Automator action implemented in AppleScript.
 AppleScript 2007-07-18
Cocoa Scripting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create scriptable Cocoa applications that use the scripting definition (sdef) format.
 AppleScript 2008-03-11
XML-RPC and SOAP Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to make remote procedure calls from applications or from AppleScript scripts.
 AppleScript 2005-03-03
Automator AppleScript Actions Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Guides you through the procedure for creating a simple Automator action implemented in AppleScript.
 Automator 2007-07-18
Automator Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the concepts and tasks for developing actions, which are bundles loaded by the Automator application.
 Automator 2007-12-11
Apple Events Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides conceptual information and programming examples for working with Apple events.
 Carbon 2007-10-31
AppleScript Language Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the AppleScript scripting language. Includes many brief sample scripts.
 Carbon 2008-03-11
XML-RPC and SOAP Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to make remote procedure calls from applications or from AppleScript scripts.
 Carbon 2005-03-03
AppleScript Language Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the AppleScript scripting language. Includes many brief sample scripts.
 Cocoa 2008-03-11
Cocoa Scripting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create scriptable Cocoa applications that use the scripting definition (sdef) format.
 Cocoa 2008-03-11
Ruby and Python Programming Topics for Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Ruby and Python on Mac OS X, and especially the bridges between them and Objective-C and OSA (AppleScript).
 Cocoa 2007-10-31
Scripting Bridge Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Scripting Bridge technology, which bridges OSA-compliant applications to Objective-C, and explains how to use it in Cocoa programs.
 Cocoa 2008-03-11
XML-RPC and SOAP Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to make remote procedure calls from applications or from AppleScript scripts.
 Cocoa 2005-03-03
Apple JavaScript Coding Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the JavaScript language, its object-oriented features, and coding best practices.
 General 2008-11-19
AppleScript Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the technology for writing scripts to control applications. Useful for scripters and application developers.
 General 2007-10-31
AppleScript Studio Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create script-driven applications with complex user interfaces based on Cocoa UI classes. Includes tutorials.
 General 2006-04-04
Automator Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the concepts and tasks for developing actions, which are bundles loaded by the Automator application.
 General 2007-12-11
Cocoa Scripting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create scriptable Cocoa applications that use the scripting definition (sdef) format.
 General 2008-03-11
Shell Scripting Primer (HTML) (PDF)
A guided tour of (Bourne) shell scripting, including control structures, numerical computation, regular expressions, subroutines, and error handling.
 General 2009-04-08
WebKit DOM Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use JavaScript in web content and WebKit-based applications.
 General 2008-10-15
Apple JavaScript Coding Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the JavaScript language, its object-oriented features, and coding best practices.
 Internet & Web 2008-11-19
HTML Scripting Guide for QuickTime (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the HTML tags and parameters used to communicate with the QuickTime browser plug-in, ActiveX control, and QuickTime Player.
 Internet & Web 2008-10-15
JavaScript Scripting Guide for QuickTime (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the objects, methods, and interfaces exposed to JavaScript by the QuickTime browser plug-in and ActiveX control.
 Internet & Web 2008-02-08
SMIL Scripting Guide for QuickTime (HTML) (PDF)
Defines support for using SMIL to communicate with the QuickTime browser plug-in, ActiveX control, and QuickTime Player.
 Internet & Web 2005-06-04
WebKit DOM Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use JavaScript in web content and WebKit-based applications.
 Internet & Web 2008-10-15
XML-RPC and SOAP Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to make remote procedure calls from applications or from AppleScript scripts.
 Internet & Web 2005-03-03
Apple JavaScript Coding Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the JavaScript language, its object-oriented features, and coding best practices.
 JavaScript 2008-11-19
Dashboard Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Dashboard and WebKit technologies used in widgets.
 JavaScript 2009-02-04
Dashcode User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Dashcode to create Dashboard widgets.
 JavaScript 2009-03-04
JavaScript Scripting Guide for QuickTime (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the objects, methods, and interfaces exposed to JavaScript by the QuickTime browser plug-in and ActiveX control.
 JavaScript 2008-02-08
Quartz Composer WebKit Plug-in JavaScript Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for manipulating Quartz Composer compositions in webpages and Dashboard widgets via the Quartz Composer WebKit Plug-in.
 JavaScript 2009-01-06
Safari User Guide for Web Developers (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the developer tools built into Safari for analyzing, testing, and debugging HTML, JavaScript, style sheets, and DOM structure.
 JavaScript 2009-01-06
WebKit DOM Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use JavaScript in web content and WebKit-based applications.
 JavaScript 2008-10-15
Ruby and Python Programming Topics for Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Ruby and Python on Mac OS X, and especially the bridges between them and Objective-C and OSA (AppleScript).
 Other Scripting Languages 2007-10-31
Shell Scripting Primer (HTML) (PDF)
A guided tour of (Bourne) shell scripting, including control structures, numerical computation, regular expressions, subroutines, and error handling.
 Other Scripting Languages 2009-04-08
Apple JavaScript Coding Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the JavaScript language, its object-oriented features, and coding best practices.
 QuickTime 2008-11-19
HTML Scripting Guide for QuickTime (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the HTML tags and parameters used to communicate with the QuickTime browser plug-in, ActiveX control, and QuickTime Player.
 QuickTime 2008-10-15
JavaScript Scripting Guide for QuickTime (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the objects, methods, and interfaces exposed to JavaScript by the QuickTime browser plug-in and ActiveX control.
 QuickTime 2008-02-08
SMIL Scripting Guide for QuickTime (HTML) (PDF)
Defines support for using SMIL to communicate with the QuickTime browser plug-in, ActiveX control, and QuickTime Player.
 QuickTime 2005-06-04
Ruby and Python Programming Topics for Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Ruby and Python on Mac OS X, and especially the bridges between them and Objective-C and OSA (AppleScript).
 Scripting Bridges 2007-10-31
Shell Scripting Primer (HTML) (PDF)
A guided tour of (Bourne) shell scripting, including control structures, numerical computation, regular expressions, subroutines, and error handling.
 System Administration 2009-04-08
System Startup Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the boot process used to initialize the Mac OS X operating system.
 System Administration 2008-11-19
AppleScript Studio Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create script-driven applications with complex user interfaces based on Cocoa UI classes. Includes tutorials.
 Tools 2006-04-04
Automator Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the concepts and tasks for developing actions, which are bundles loaded by the Automator application.
 Tools 2007-12-11
Dashboard Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Dashboard and WebKit technologies used in widgets.
 Tools 2009-02-04
Dashcode User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Dashcode to create Dashboard widgets.
 Tools 2009-03-04
Shell Scripting Primer (HTML) (PDF)
A guided tour of (Bourne) shell scripting, including control structures, numerical computation, regular expressions, subroutines, and error handling.
 Tools 2009-04-08