I had to automate transforming some Excel data for a friend recently and I did it using AppleScript.

Turns out it’s not as bad as the prevailing HN narrative. It does require a change in mindset but once you get there, it’s actually quite nice, especially when using an app with a nicely designed dictionary.

Like a lot of Apple’s technology from the 90’s, it was a technology before its time. It certainly was pretty important during Apple’s near death experience in the late 90’s due to the publishing workflows that could only be done (at that time) using AppleScript and Quark XPress, etc.