AppleScript, MacScripter, Press Release, Script Debugger 8

Retiring Script Debugger

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We are announcing the retirement of Script Debugger as a product.

January 2025 marks Script Debugger’s 30th anniversary. It’s been a very long run for a two-person effort. Script Debugger began as a Classic MacOS product, survived Apple’s near-death experience, transitioned to macOS X and migrated across 4 CPU processor types. We are so grateful for the support we’ve received over these years. This support allowed us to keep working on Script Debugger much longer than we ever imagined.

Shane and I are retiring and the effort and costs associated with continuing Script Debugger’s development are too great for us to bear any longer.

Script Debugger will be withdrawn from the market in stages.

Stage 1 – End-Of-Development January 2025

As of January 2025, Script Debugger is declared end-of-development. We will continue to offer Script Debugger for sale and provide support and maintenance releases until the product is withdrawn from sale in June 2025.

During this time, the Script Debugger web site will be updated to make its end-of-development status clear to prospective customers.

Stage 2 – Product Withdrawal June 2025

In June 2025, Script Debugger will no longer be offered for sale and all support and maintenance will cease.

At this time, Script Debugger will become a free download. Links to all versions of Script Debugger back to 5.0 will be posted, along with registration numbers that can be used to activate the software. These free versions of Script Debugger will be provided as-is and without any maintenance or support.

The Late Night Software forum will continue operating indefinitely as a resource for those using Script Debugger. Shane and I will continue to participate in this on-line community as we are able, but will no longer be providing official product support.

FAQs

  • Will Script Debugger become an open-source project? No. Unfortunately, there are portions of the Script Debugger source code we do not have the right to release.
  • Will MacScripter.net continue to operate? Yes, Late Night Software will continue to operate the MacScripter.net forum indefinitely, along with the Late Night Software forum.
  • What does this mean for SD Notary SD Notary will continue to be freely available. However, we will no longer be developing or maintaining SD Notary.
  • What does this signify in terms of the future of AppleScript? AppleScript will, of course, continue to exist as long as Apple chooses to include it in future versions of macOS X. We have no information on Apple’s future plans — your guess is as good as ours.
  • Has it really been 30 years? You can read a bit about Script Debugger’s history here.

Mark Alldritt & Shane Stanley
Late Night Software Ltd.
alldritt@latenightsw.com
www.latenightsw.com