[Pythonmac-SIG] Python+Automator?

[Paul Berkowitz]

On 1/24/05 12:42 PM, "Bob Ippolito" <bob at redivi.com> wrote:

> 
>> Now, what about the newbies, the new blood? The folks who are complete
>> newcomers to Python and/or to programming in general? Try to see it
>> from their point of view:
> 
> Personally, I'd rather not be bothered catering to that class of users.
>   I'm more interested in making the things work correctly for the people
> who DO know what they're doing.  There are lots of people with more
> interest in making possible things easier, such as yourself, but I'm
> more inclined to expand what is possible in the first place (in my
> spare time anyway)... with occasional bouts of cleaning things up and
> hand-holding (writing documentation, speaking at PyCon, doing a
> tutorial now and then, answering the mailing lists, setting up
> websites, releasing software, etc.).

Actually, writing Automator actions is probably always going to be too
difficult for that class of "users" (scripters). Even the AppleScript
variety is rather complex for such users - lots of different apps and
techniques. It's probably on a par with AppleScript Studio unless you want
to take advantage of yet another technology that's available - which makes
things quicker once you know how but has a steep learning curve. And most
applescripters won't even go near Studio because it's "too difficult".

The idea here is to develop Automator actions so that _end users_ can
automate with complete ease and simplicity, not to make the writing of
actions simple. I would agree with Bob that you'd do better to concentrate
on doing things right. The applescript code is simpler than ObjC for anyone
who's done AppleScript, but not for those who haven't.

-- 
Paul Berkowitz