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Automator

A brief history of scripting the Mac

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Includes HyperTalk, UserTalk, AppleScript, Prograph, shell scripts, Automator, Swift Playgrounds and Shortcuts, from 1987 to the present.

February 22, 2025 Macs, Technology

How the Mac didn’t bring programming to the people

HyperTalk, AppleScript, Prograph, Automator, Swift Playgrounds and Shortcuts – all wonderful tools in their day, but none has brought coding to the crowd.

September 16, 2023 Macs, Technology

Getting started with Shortcuts: 1 Basics

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Shortcuts in Monterey works in different ways to ensure that it can’t be used as a malware platform. This introduction shows how this works transparently.

October 19, 2021 Macs, Technology

Shortcuts: Automating the Mac

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October 1993: AppleScript for the Mac.
April 2005: Automator for the Mac.
September 2018: Shortcuts for iOS.
October 2021: Shortcuts for macOS.

October 13, 2021 Macs, Technology

Cleaning out old preference settings and other housekeeping

It’s time to do some spring-cleaning. How to clear out some of those thousands of old preference files without losing anything important. And here’s how to do it using Shortcuts too.

September 17, 2021 Macs, Technology

Shortcuts are coming to macOS

First AppleScript, then shell scripts, and in 2005 Automator: now Apple is bringing iOS Shortcuts to macOS 12. Will it make a difference, though?

June 25, 2021 Macs, Technology

What isn’t changing in macOS Monterey

macOS 12 Monterey promises consolidation and improvement, even truth and reconciliation perhaps. But Shortcuts and Universal Control promise strongly.

June 12, 2021 Macs, Technology

What has Accessibility got to do with me?

What is the Accessibility list for in the Privacy tab of Security & Privacy? If you don’t use any Accessibility features, does it do anything?

March 17, 2020 Macs, Technology

How does notarization affect your own apps and scripts?

Apple’s latest information on notarization can appear alarming and contradictory. Do you need to notarize your own apps and scripts? More helpful guidance.

April 12, 2019 Macs, Technology

Quick Actions 5: Third-party solution

Searching for third party Quick Actions, I came across the excellent Yoink, the only app which seems to have solved them. Or has it?

February 15, 2019 Macs, Technology

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