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Leopard Reference Library
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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Customizing Rails Applications on Mac OS X Leopard (HTML)
Learn how to enhance your Rails application with views and web forms, AJAX, and iPhone support.
General Articles 2008-06-09
Deploying Rails Applications on Mac OS X Leopard (HTML)
Learn how to deploy your Ruby on Rails application on Mac OS X Leopard Server.
General Articles 2008-06-09
Developing Rails Applications on Mac OS X Leopard (HTML)
Learn how to develop your Ruby on Rails application using Xcode 3 and the tools in Leopard.
General Articles 2008-06-09
Checkout Lets You 'Get a Mac, Start a Store': Madebysofa Does It with Python and Cocoa (HTML)
Success story on how Mac-only Checkout was built using Python and Cocoa.
Cocoa Articles 2007-07-10
Using Python with Quartz 2D on Mac OS X (HTML)
New article on using the Python bindings in Mac OS X to access the Quartz 2D graphics API.
General, Other Scripting Languages Articles 2007-07-10
Using Ruby on Rails for Web Development on Mac OS X (HTML)
Learn why Mac OS X is the preferred platform for Ruby on Rails.
Internet & Web, Other Scripting Languages Articles 2007-06-06
Transforming a Shell Script into an Automator Action (HTML)
Custom shell script actions let you quickly turn shell, Perl, or Python scripts into Automator actions.
Automator Articles 2007-06-01
Enhance Your Dashboard Widgets with Quartz Composer Compositions (HTML)
Learn to create a composition and embed it easily in your widgets.
JavaScript Articles 2007-02-13
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: Introducing Dashcode (HTML)
Learn how Dashcode makes widget development easier than ever.
JavaScript, Tools Articles 2007-01-09
Automating Development Tasks with Automator and Xcode (HTML)
Learn to streamline daily tasks in your development projects using Automator.
Automator, Tools Articles 2006-08-07
Scripting the COM/ActiveX Control in QuickTime 7 for Windows (HTML)
Learn to build standalone Windows applications that use QuickTime, without needing to master the API.
QuickTime Articles 2005-09-12
Using PyObjC for Developing Cocoa Applications with Python (HTML)
Learn how to build a sample Cocoa app using the Cocoa-Python bridge PyOjbC.
Cocoa, Other Scripting Languages, Tools Articles 2005-08-15
Introduction to Open Source Scripting on Mac OS X (HTML)
Learn your scripting options for automating a wide range of tasks quickly.
Other Scripting Languages, Tools Articles 2005-08-01
Using Automator to Expand the Market for Your Software (HTML)
Learn how building Automator actions and workflows can create new sales opportunities.
Automator Articles 2005-07-19
Tiger Developer Overview Series: Developing Dashboard Widgets (HTML)
Learn how to create powerful mini-applications quickly and easily.
JavaScript Articles 2004-12-07
Cocoa and AppleScript: From Top to Bottom (HTML)
Learn how to activate AppleScript in your application so that users can create scripts.
AppleScript, Cocoa Articles 2004-08-23
Shell Scripting Primer (HTML) (PDF)
A guided tour of (Bourne) shell scripting, including control structures, numerical computation, regular expressions, subroutines, and error handling.
General, Other Scripting Languages, System Administration, Tools Guides 2009-04-08
Dashcode User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Dashcode to create Dashboard widgets.
JavaScript, Tools Guides 2009-03-04
Dashboard Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Dashboard and WebKit technologies used in widgets.
JavaScript, Tools Guides 2009-02-04
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 Guides 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 Guides 2009-01-06
Apple JavaScript Coding Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the JavaScript language, its object-oriented features, and coding best practices.
General, Internet & Web, JavaScript, QuickTime Guides 2008-11-19
System Startup Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the boot process used to initialize the Mac OS X operating system.
System Administration Guides 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, QuickTime Guides 2008-10-15
WebKit DOM Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use JavaScript in web content and WebKit-based applications.
General, Internet & Web, JavaScript Guides 2008-10-15
AppleScript Language Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the AppleScript scripting language. Includes many brief sample scripts.
AppleScript, Carbon, Cocoa Guides 2008-03-11
Cocoa Scripting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create scriptable Cocoa applications that use the scripting definition (sdef) format.
AppleScript, Cocoa, General Guides 2008-03-11
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 Guides 2008-03-11
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, JavaScript, QuickTime Guides 2008-02-08
Automator Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the concepts and tasks for developing actions, which are bundles loaded by the Automator application.
Automator, General, Tools Guides 2007-12-11
Apple Events Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides conceptual information and programming examples for working with Apple events.
AppleScript, Carbon Guides 2007-10-31
AppleScript Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the technology for writing scripts to control applications. Useful for scripters and application developers.
AppleScript, General Guides 2007-10-31
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, Other Scripting Languages, Scripting Bridges Guides 2007-10-31
Automator AppleScript Actions Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Guides you through the procedure for creating a simple Automator action implemented in AppleScript.
AppleScript, Automator Guides 2007-07-18
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, General, Tools Guides 2006-04-04
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, QuickTime Guides 2005-06-04
XML-RPC and SOAP Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to make remote procedure calls from applications or from AppleScript scripts.
AppleScript, Carbon, Cocoa, Internet & Web Guides 2005-03-03
Dashboard Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for implementing Dashboard widgets.
JavaScript Reference 2009-02-04
iSync JavaScript Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a few JavaScript classes used to write phone connection functions in iSync Plug-in Maker.
JavaScript Reference 2009-01-09
JavaScriptCore Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the API for evaluating JavaScript programs from within a C-based program
JavaScript Reference 2008-04-08
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.
AppleScript, Carbon, Cocoa, Tools Reference 2007-10-31
NSScriptKeyValueCoding Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to provide additional key-value coding capabilities in a scriptable application.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2007-10-31
NSScriptCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to represent a scripting statement and the information needed to perform the operation it specifies.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2007-07-20
NSScriptClassDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to encapsulate the scriptability information for a scriptable class.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2007-07-17
Apple Event Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for interapplication communication using Apple events.
AppleScript, Carbon Reference 2007-07-13
NSAppleScript Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides the ability to load, compile, and execute scripts.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2007-07-10
NSPositionalSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an insertion point in a container relative to another object in the container.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2007-06-29
NSScriptObjectSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract class used to instantiate objects that represent references to scriptable objects.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2007-06-29
Scripting Bridge Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface that allows Cocoa applications to communicate with scriptable applications.
Scripting Bridges Reference 2007-05-29
Open Scripting Architecture Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for compiling and executing scripts in applications and writing scripting components.
AppleScript, Carbon Reference 2007-05-07
NSAppleEventDescriptor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to access the basic data structures in an Apple event.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2007-04-10
NSScriptCommandDescription Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to provide a description of a script command.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2007-04-10
NSScriptSuiteRegistry Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used as the top-level repository of scriptability information for an application at runtime.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2007-04-10
NSIndexSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the position of an object in a collection.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2007-04-01
Automator Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for creating and working with actions used by the Automator application.
Automator, Cocoa, General Reference 2006-10-26
NSCloseCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to close a scriptable object or objects--typically a document or window.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-06-28
NSRelativeSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an object in a collection by its position relative to another object.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-06-28
NSSpecifierTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to apply a test to compare a specified object to another object.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-06-28
NSWhoseSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify every object in a container that matches a defined condition.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-06-28
NSAppleEventManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to work with Apple event handler routines and to suspend and resume event handling.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSAppleScript Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions to the NSAppleScript class to provide syntax-highlighted script source.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSCloneCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to clone a scriptable object or objects.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSComparisonMethods Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for default comparison methods in the NSSpecifierTest class.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSCountCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to count the number of objects of a specified class in the specified object container.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSCreateCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to create a specified scriptable object.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSDeleteCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to delete a specified scriptable object or objects.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSExistsCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to determine whether a specified scriptable object exists.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSGetCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to get the specified value or object from the specified scriptable object.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSLogicalTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to perform logical operations in determining the scriptable objects a command acts on.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSMiddleSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify the middle object in a collection.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSMoveCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to move the specified scriptable object or objects.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSNameSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an object in a collection (or container) by name.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSPropertySpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify a simple attribute value, a one-to-one relationship, or all elements of a to-many relationship.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSQuitCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to quit the specified application.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSRandomSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an arbitrary object in a collection.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSRangeSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify a range of objects in a container through two delimiting objects.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSScriptCoercionHandler Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a mechanism for converting one kind of scripting data to another.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSScriptExecutionContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a shared instance of the context in which the current script command is executed.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSScriptingComparisonMethods Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to define a set of methods for comparing script objects.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSScriptObjectSpecifiers Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used by scriptable objects to provide a fully specified object specifier to themselves.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSScriptWhoseTest Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract class used to represent expressions for testing scriptable object inclusion.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSSetCommand Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to set values in a scriptable object.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSUniqueIDSpecifier Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to specify an object in a container by unique ID.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSWindowScripting Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category on NSWindow for scripting basic properties and commands of windows in scriptable applications.
AppleScript, Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
AppleScript Studio 1.4 Release Notes (HTML)
Moving Tiger AppleScript Studio Release Notes to separate document.
AppleScript, Tools Release Notes 2007-12-22
AppleScript Release Notes (HTML)
Describes late breaking news and highlights of new or changed features in the latest release of AppleScript.
AppleScript Release Notes 2007-12-11
AppleScript Release Notes (Mac OS X 10.4 and earlier) (HTML)
Describes late breaking news and highlights of new or changed features in previous releases of AppleScript.
AppleScript Release Notes 2007-10-31
AppleScript Studio Release Notes (HTML)
Describes late-breaking news and highlights of new or changed features in the latest release of AppleScript Studio.
AppleScript, Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
Automator Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for changes in Mac OS X version 10.5.
Automator, Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
Foundation Release Notes (HTML)
Describes new features, notes, and known issues for the Foundation framework in Mac OS X v10.5.
Cocoa Release Notes 2007-10-31
Perl, Python, and Ruby Extensions Release Notes (HTML)
Describes how to create universal binary extensions for Perl, Python, and Ruby.
Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
Scripting Bridge Release Note (HTML)
A release note that describes the classes and techniques used to control scriptable applications from Objective-C code.
Cocoa, Scripting Bridges Release Notes 2007-10-31
Automator Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Automtor framework.
Automator, Cocoa Release Notes 2007-07-25
AppleScript Terminology and Apple Event Codes Reference (HTML)
Lists terms used in AppleScript, AppleScript Studio, and Standard Additions with their matching codes.
AppleScript, Carbon Release Notes 2006-06-28
SBSystemPrefs (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use Scripting Bridge to display a preference pane in System Preferences.
AppleScript, Cocoa, Scripting Bridges Sample Code 2008-10-13
SimpleScriptingObjects (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to add scriptable objects to an AppleScriptable application.
Cocoa Sample Code 2008-06-02
SimpleScriptingProperties (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to add some properties to the terminology provided by an AppleScriptable application.
Cocoa Sample Code 2008-06-02
SimpleScriptingVerbs (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to add verbs to the terminology provided by an AppleScriptable application.
Cocoa Sample Code 2008-06-02
ScriptingDefinitions (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Provides a starting sdef (scripting definition) and a completed one for the Sketch example code.
Carbon, Cocoa Sample Code 2008-05-30
SimpleScripting (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates the minimal steps required to make an application scriptable.
Cocoa Sample Code 2008-05-30