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Chapter 1 - Introducing the ScriptX
Language
This volume provides a definitive description of the ScriptX
authoring language, part of the ScriptX Language and Class
Library. It contains the syntax for ScriptX and provides
information on using the language effectively. The book is
designed to offer several different paths that readers can
follow, depending on their familiarity and experience with
other programming languages, with object-oriented programming,
and with formal grammars.
Appendix A, "ScriptX Reference," is intended as an alternative
entry-point and reference for advanced users. Appendix A
presents an annotated EBNF grammar of the ScriptX language.
This chapter, "Introducing the ScriptX
Language," provides an overview of the ScriptX language.
It includes a section that introduces concepts in
object-oriented programming, beginning on page 12. Readers who are familiar
with other object-oriented programming languages may want to
skip this section, proceeding directly to the following
chapter.
Whatever path you take through this book and the other
documentation you receive with your ScriptX Language and Class
Library, you will want to reinforce your reading with hands-on
experience. The ScriptX Language and Class Library includes an
interactive listener window that can be used for trying out
the examples in this book. The Listener provides you with
instant feedback, evaluating expressions as you enter them. If
you prefer not to type, you will find complete listings of all
scripts, organized by chapter, on your CD-ROM. For directions
on using the ScriptX Listener, see the ScriptX Tools Guide.
The description of the ScriptX language and the code examples
used in this book are independent of any existing authoring
tool or environment. Although you should be able to enter code
examples in this book in any ScriptX environment that allows
it, the examples in this book are intended to be more
illustrative than tutorial.
ScriptX-A Technical Overview
The ScriptX language is part of an overall framework for
multimedia title development. ScriptX is a cross-platform,
dynamic, object-oriented programming language with influences
that include CLOS (Common Lisp Object System), Smalltalk, and
Dylan, as well as scripting languages such as Lingo and
HyperTalk. The language was designed to be easy to use in an
interactive session.
is expected that most ScriptX titles will eventually be
generated by authoring tools or development environments
specialized for creating multimedia titles. Those tools will
effectively hide much of the actual code of the ScriptX title.
However, many of those authoring environments may require some
additional scripting with ScriptX. For example, an environment
may require the author to fill in parts of a title with
specific scripts (for example, to describe the action of a
button), or to provide other capabilities that the tool itself
does not provide. In addition, some environments may provide
an interactive environment, such as the ScriptX Listener,
which can be used to enter ScriptX expressions and see an
immediate result.
This document is part of the ScriptX Language Guide, one of the volumes of the ScriptX Technical Reference Series. ScriptX is developed by the ScriptX Engineering Team at Apple Computer, successor to the Kaleida Engineering Team at Kaleida Labs, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Apple Computer, Inc. All Rights Reserved.