Script Debugger 8.0.11

Script Debugger 8: the AppleScript IDE for Mac

Make your Mac work for you. Script Debugger is an integrated development environment built entirely around AppleScript, so you can write, test, and share automation scripts faster, with complete visibility into what your code is doing. It has been making AppleScript better for over 25 years, and Script Debugger 8 now runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs, with full support for universal applets, Dark Mode, and themes.

Explore before you write
Discover what your apps can do before you write a single line. The Dictionary Explorer shows you the live data inside any scriptable application. You can experiment with it and manipulate it to see how the app responds, so you never have to turn a written scripting dictionary into code in your head. The Explorer stays available while you create and debug, so the data is in front of you as you work.

Write code faster
The code creation tools are built for the peculiarities of AppleScript. You can insert tell blocks for applications, objects, and properties, and drop in commonly used code segments. Script Debugger adds "end" lines and closing delimiters for you. You can also drag objects from the Dictionary Explorer straight into your script, which saves time and avoids typos.

Debug with total clarity
You don't have to guess what your script is doing or scatter log statements through your code. Run your script line by line, set breakpoints to pause at key moments, and see the result of every statement and the value of every variable at each stage of execution. When something goes wrong, you can isolate the problem and fix it in minutes.

Share with confidence
Packaging scripts for clients and colleagues is simple. Script Debugger checks for common errors while packaging. It also tells you right away which applications, scripting additions, libraries, and frameworks your script needs to run. If your code contains sensitive information, you can export it in run-only form so others can't read it.

Key features

• Dictionary Explorer: look into the live data of any scriptable app and interact with it without writing a line of AppleScript.
• Step-wise debugging: execute scripts line by line, set breakpoints, and see the result of each statement as you go.
• Variable viewer: watch every variable change as your script runs, and view values in different ways. A file reference, for example, can be shown as its source code, its name, path and icon, or a Quick Look preview of its contents.
• Powerful code completion: complete variable names, AppleScript and scripting addition commands, application commands and names, and AppleScriptObjC handlers.
• Split-pane editing and code folding: view several sections of a long script at once, and collapse code to stay focused.
• Tabbed windows: open multiple scripts at once and organize them into separate windows or tabs.
• Open Quickly: find scripts by target application, document, variable, or handler name, even if you only remember part of it.
• AppleScriptObjC value viewing: see real Objective-C values such as arrays, NSString, NSNumber, NSImage, NSDate, and NSURL instead of cryptic object IDs.
• Error detection: the Leaks feature catches files left open and database transactions left unfinished. It also warns about common mistakes, such as saving an idle handler script without enabling Stay Open.
• Customization: create script templates and clippings with parameter markup, automate Script Debugger with your own scripts, and assign keyboard shortcuts to any command.
• Dark Mode and text themes: control how your scripts look in light and dark appearance.
• Enhanced applets: deploy scripts as standalone apps with an improved interface, automatic updates via Sparkle, and drop target windows with Spotlight search for droplets.
• Apple Silicon support: runs natively on M1 Macs and generates universal applets.
• Code signing and notarizing: sign and notarize your script apps through integration with the free SD Notary app.

Why AppleScript
Apple introduced AppleScript in 1992, and it remains a proven way to automate tasks on the Mac. It reads much like plain English and is easier to learn than most scripting languages. It is also fully object-oriented, so it can handle complex jobs when needed. You can use it to automate repetitive, error-prone manual work, such as retrieving files from remote servers or scheduling and running important updates. This saves time and money for individuals and businesses alike.

Whether you're automating your first workflow or maintaining scripts for an entire team, Script Debugger lets you see exactly what your code is doing. Download Script Debugger 8 and make AppleScript simple, reliable, and automatic.