learning apple script

There are some AppleScript tutorials at MacScripter.net, and of course there is the AppleScript Language Guide.

I just started trying to learn programming also. I'm focusing on apple script (and the Apple Script Tutorial), and on .html, .xml and javascript (http://www.w3schools.com). I also tried to load the apple developer's kit, so that I can test the C++ type of programming, testing, debugging and compiling for applications that need to make more intense use of the CPU or else need to have a more visual user interface.

But I'm not sure yet about spending the $100 plus upgrading to Lion.

I've tried to download the xCode 3 for free, but the download repeatedly fails after a number of hours. Not sure how to fix that, or if it is a matter of not being able to get a good C++ starter kit for my Mac without buying in to the upgrades.

Oh, OK. I see that Safari already comes with .html and javascript editors/debuggers. That makes perfect sense and I expect it was Apple's vision of computing that created the 'Develop' menu on Safari. How totally great! (on Safari preferences, 'advanced', check 'show develop menu'.)

Is there something similar available for creating files and accessing/moving the data in them (is that what the terminal can do? Where are the commands for the terminal?)

Thanks.

You can get to most of the developer documentation and example stuff by just registering - you don't really need the paid programs unless you are looking at using IOS or the AppStore. Installation disks prior to Lion include a version of Xcode - it will probably be a couple of updates behind, but it will get you started.

So I should also have a version of xCode already installed. Where is it? Or is it on the installation disks still (maybe it was an installation preference?)

So I can also use the GNUbash commands to write programs like a batch file? What is the suffix of a text file that will have the computer read the document as a GNUbash command file? Are the commands sperated with some symbol?

Xcode is on the OS installation disks, but it is an optional install.

If you are familiar with command line stuff, you can go to the Terminal and look up the manual pages for the various commands, or use a web page such as Apple's Mac OS X Manual Pages.

Cool, thanks red_menace. I just found the Xcode package on the install disk. This is great.

Well, as mentioned in another topic around here somewhere, programming isn't exactly paint-by-numbers, and some of the concepts are kind of hard to describe in non-programming terms. The beginner tutorials at the MacScripter link start out with just learning your way around the Editor and go from there, so you might take a look at those first to see where you are.

I'm only just now learning C++ and the C++ library. I've not been much of a programmer in the past, and not sure how far necessity will now take me into the developer world, but apart from learning the Script editor, or to type 'help' into the terminal for a general introduction to programming, or to typing into the Safari 'Develop' menu to try out .html or javascript,

for really understanding how computers work and how programming works (as well as understanding the language of the best designs), I have found it an invaluable learning experience to build a little two-bit computer on a breadboard.

But be advised, I'm great with principles and poor with details, and to be a great programmer you have to be great at both. But to be a very good programmer you at least have to be very good with details.

I had a little book from radio shack with a diagram of a transistor logic gate, and I connected two of them together input-to-output, with little lights for output and touching a wire for input. I'm looking for some examples on the internet. The logic gates are on there, and there's a more complicated 4-bit computer, but I don't see my little 2-bit design anywhere. When I get the chance, I'll look some more.

As I recall, the keys were in the placement of the resistors, to meter out the flow of electricity correctly, and the use of both PNP and NPN transistors.