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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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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
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
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 Guides 2008-02-08
JavaScriptCore Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the API for evaluating JavaScript programs from within a C-based program
JavaScript Reference 2008-04-08
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: Introducing Dashcode (HTML)
Learn how Dashcode makes widget development easier than ever.
JavaScript Articles 2007-01-09
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
Tiger Developer Overview Series: Developing Dashboard Widgets (HTML)
Learn how to create powerful mini-applications quickly and easily.
JavaScript Articles 2004-12-07
WebKit DOM Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use JavaScript in web content and WebKit-based applications.
JavaScript Guides 2008-10-15
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 Articles 2005-08-01
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 Guides 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 Guides 2009-04-08
Using PyObjC for Developing Cocoa Applications with Python (HTML)
Learn how to build a sample Cocoa app using the Cocoa-Python bridge PyOjbC.
Other Scripting Languages Articles 2005-08-15
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.
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.
Other Scripting Languages Articles 2007-06-06
Apple JavaScript Coding Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the JavaScript language, its object-oriented features, and coding best practices.
QuickTime 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.
QuickTime Guides 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 Guides 2008-02-08
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
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 Guides 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 Guides 2007-10-31
SBSendEmail (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using the Scripting Bridge to tell Mail.app to send an email message with an optional attachment.
Scripting Bridges Sample Code 2008-02-28
SBSetFinderComment (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Set/Get Finder Comments using Scripting Bridge
Scripting Bridges Sample Code 2007-12-04
SBSystemPrefs (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use Scripting Bridge to display a preference pane in System Preferences.
Scripting Bridges Sample Code 2008-10-13
Scripting Bridge Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface that allows Cocoa applications to communicate with scriptable applications.
Scripting Bridges Reference 2007-05-29
Scripting Bridge Release Note (HTML)
A release note that describes the classes and techniques used to control scriptable applications from Objective-C code.
Scripting Bridges Release Notes 2007-10-31
ScriptingBridgeFinder (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using the Finder with Scripting Bridge
Scripting Bridges Sample Code 2007-12-13
ScriptingBridgeiCal (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Adding/updating events in iCal using Scripting Bridge.
Scripting Bridges Sample Code 2007-12-13
Apply Firmware Password (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to create an Automator Action for System Image Utility.
System Administration Sample Code 2007-06-12
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 Guides 2009-04-08
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
Why is my Ruby on Rails application with FastCGI generating "'load error /etc/irbrc" errors? (HTML)
QA1494: Describes how to resolve an error encountered hosting Ruby on Rails applications on Mac OS X 10.5.
System Administration Technical Q&As 2007-11-28
AppleScript Studio 1.4 Release Notes (HTML)
Moving Tiger AppleScript Studio Release Notes to separate document.
Tools Release Notes 2007-12-22
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 Guides 2006-04-04
AppleScript Studio Release Notes (HTML)
Describes late-breaking news and highlights of new or changed features in the latest release of AppleScript Studio.
Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.
Tools Reference 2007-10-31
Automating Development Tasks with Automator and Xcode (HTML)
Learn to streamline daily tasks in your development projects using Automator.
Tools Articles 2006-08-07
Automator Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the concepts and tasks for developing actions, which are bundles loaded by the Automator application.
Tools Guides 2007-12-11
Automator Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for changes in Mac OS X version 10.5.
Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
Calling AppleScript from an Application (HTML)
QA1026: Describes how to call an AppleScript from an application written in C.
Tools Technical Q&As 2001-04-10
Dashboard Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Dashboard and WebKit technologies used in widgets.
Tools Guides 2009-02-04
Dashcode User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Dashcode to create Dashboard widgets.
Tools Guides 2009-03-04
HelloStudio (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
This is a Hello, world application built using AppleScript Studio.
Tools Sample Code 2006-07-28
Introduction to Open Source Scripting on Mac OS X (HTML)
Learn your scripting options for automating a wide range of tasks quickly.
Tools Articles 2005-08-01
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: Introducing Dashcode (HTML)
Learn how Dashcode makes widget development easier than ever.
Tools Articles 2007-01-09
MoreAppleEvents (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Provides routines that assist with the creation and sending of Apple events and object descriptors.
Tools Sample Code 2003-01-14
ODOC (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates how to send an open document ('odoc') Apple event to another application process.
Tools Sample Code 2003-01-14
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
Processes (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
This process management application uses most of AppleScript Studio's significant features.
Tools Sample Code 2006-07-28
SampleCMPlugIn (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A contextual menu plugIn for Mac OS X.
Tools Sample Code 2006-10-09
ScriptView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to build a script editor application with a built-in script database using AppleScript Studio.
Tools Sample Code 2005-06-01
Shell Scripting Primer (HTML) (PDF)
A guided tour of (Bourne) shell scripting, including control structures, numerical computation, regular expressions, subroutines, and error handling.
Tools Guides 2009-04-08
TextEditPlus (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
This application is a version of TextEdit enhanced with additional document properties using AppleScript Studio.
Tools Sample Code 2006-07-28
UpdateXcodeSubprojects (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Updates all subprojects of an Xcode project to Xcode 2.1 format. Illustrates scripting techniques.
Tools Sample Code 2005-06-06
Using PyObjC for Developing Cocoa Applications with Python (HTML)
Learn how to build a sample Cocoa app using the Cocoa-Python bridge PyOjbC.
Tools Articles 2005-08-15