source: trunk/Cocoa/F-Script Anywhere/Source/Read Me@ 215

F-Script Anywhere 1.2 [5 January 2004]
=====================

Add a F-Script interpreter to Cocoa applications dynamically.

Written by Nicholas Riley <mailto:fsa@sabi.net>.
Obtain updates from <http://web.sabi.net/nriley/software/>.


WHAT IS IT?
-----------

Ever wanted to inspect a Cocoa applicationÕs objects from the inside?
Frustrated with using GDB to debug Objective-C?

You need F-Script Anywhere! (with apologies to Guido van Rossum)


INSTALLATION
------------

Install F-Script; you can download it at <http://www.fscript.org/>.
In particular, make sure the framework is installed in a Frameworks
directory, such as /Library/Frameworks or ~/Library/Frameworks.

F-Script Anywhere 1.2 was tested with FScript.framework 1.2.5
(20031020) and Mac OS X 10.3.2 (7D24).  If you are using an earlier
F-Script version, please upgrade.  F-Script Anywhere 1.2 should also
work with Mac OS X 10.2.x, but will not work with Mac OS X 10.1 or
earlier: please use F-Script Anywhere 1.1.5 instead.


USAGE
-----

Open the F-Script Anywhere application.  Pick a Cocoa application from
the list and click Install or press return.  F-Script Anywhere will
either install itself in that application, give you an error message,
or crash.  (Hopefully not the latter!)

Switch to the application, and you should find a ÒFSAÓ menu there.
Select ÒNew F-Script WorkspaceÓ to display a F-Script workspace.
This behaves like any other workspace, except it's executing within
the context of the application.

You can also install F-Script Anywhere by using its dock menu.  If
the frontmost application is a Cocoa application, just pick ÒInstallÉÓ
from the menu and F-Script Anywhere will install in that application.
If F-Script Anywhere canÕt install, the menu item will tell you so,
or F-Script AnywhereÕs icon will bounce to indicate a pending sheet
explaining the problem.

To remove F-Script Anywhere from an application, quit the application.
Because of limitations in Apple's Objective-C runtime, it is
impossible to remove F-Script Anywhere while the application is
running.


BUILDING
--------

The source to F-Script Anywhere is included.  It has a number of
dependencies.

1. Install FScript.framework (see above).

2. Check out the source of 'otool' from the Darwin CVS repository.
   This is required because there's a bug in the function that returns
   the 'flavo(u)r' of an application: Cocoa, Carbon, Classic, etc.
   It identifies all Cocoa applications as Carbon ones.  So as a
   workaround, F-Script Anywhere examines the application itself to
   see what libraries it links with.  (This may fail if you're doing
   something weird like linking to development versions of Foundation
   and AppKit, but since I don't work for Apple, I couldn't test that
   eventuality.)

   Check out Commands/Apple/cctools/{include,libstuff} from Darwin
   CVS into the "Darwin source" directory.  If you don't have a CVS
   account, go to <http://www.opensource.apple.com/> and get one.

   cd to the libstuff directory and type 'make' (it doesn't use
   jam/pbxbuild).  I _think_ this is all you need.

3. Open 'F-Script Anywhere.pbproj' in Xcode and build the Application
   target.  This target depends on the Bundle and Bundle Loader
   targets, so you don't need to build them separately.  You
   shouldnÕt see any errors or warnings, and the F-Script Anywhere
   application (as well as two bundles, which you can ignore because
   they are copied into the application bundle) will appear in the
   build product directory.

If you have any problems building F-Script Anywhere, please let me
know.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
--------------------------

Q. What is F-Script?

A. F-Script is a dialect of Smalltalk which includes a bridge to
   the Objective-C runtime on Mac OS X.  It's open-source, and
   very nice.  Its author, Philippe Mougin, has written several
   articles on it, and documentation is available from the
   F-Script Web site:

   <http://www.fscript.org/>


Q. How do you access user interface elements?

A. One way is to access a window and its views programmatically:

   > app := NSApplication sharedApplication

   > windows := app windows

   > windows
   NSCFArray {<NSWindow: 0x186770>, <NSWindow: 0x1ba4a0>, <NSWindow:
   0x1f0cea0>}

   > windows collect: [:each | each title]

   error: an instance of NSWindow does not respond to "collect:"

   (...a gentle reminder that this is not Smalltalk...)

   > windows title
   {'F-Script', '', ''}

   (...but F-Script has some tricks of its own...)

   > fsw := windows at: 0

   > fswView := fsw contentView

   To open an F-Script object browser on fswView, type:

   > sys browse: fswView

   Or, click ÒNew Browser: Object...Ó, then click on fswView.
   Click 'subviews' in the message list.  You can use 'subviews'
   repeatedly on container views if needed.


Q. ThatÕs too hard, especially all that scrolling.

A. If you need to access a view (such as a button or text field), menu or
   window, youÕre in luck.  Click in an F-Script workspace window, then
   choose ÒAssociate With InterfaceÓ from the ÒFSAÓ menu.
   Follow the instructions in the window to select a user interface
   element, view it in an object browser or assign it to a variable.

   The F-Script object browser now provides a similar feature: click the
   "Select view" button.


Q. I donÕt like F-ScriptÕs syntax.  I don't like the object browser.
   I donÕt like you either.

A. I didnÕt write F-Script.  Please address your questions to
   F-ScriptÕs author or the F-Script mailing list.
   
   <http://www.fscript.org/contacts.htm>

   Oh, and get lost.


Q. My question isn't answered here.

A. That's not a question.  But if you have a question about F-Script
   Anywhere, a suggestion or a bug to report, please email it to me at
   <fsa@sabi.net>.  Please try to keep your messages short and to the
   point, and I'll get back to you as soon as my schedule will allow.
   Thanks!


VERSION HISTORY
---------------

1.2   - 5 January 2004  - fixed window behavior on startup, delaying
                          display until launch is complete
                        - replaced libPatch with mach_inject and
                          SCPatch: provides improved compatibility
                          with Mac OS X 10.3 (doesn't crash randomly
                          any more!)
                        - no longer requires F-Script Anywhere
                          application to be running while installed
                          in applications
                        - F-Script Anywhere can now be installed in
                          itself
                        - check for F-Script version on startup
                        - use new, documented F-Script API for
                          identifier validation in associate window
                        - prepared for localization
                        - enable "Install" button when appropriate at
                          application startup
                        - fixed focus ring "flicker" on Mac OS X 10.3
1.1.5 - 1 October 2002  - better identify Cocoa vs. Carbon applications
                          on Jaguar; added hierarchical window list to
                          FSA menu; fixed startup crash on Puma with
                          certain Carbon CFM applications
1.1.4 - 25 August 2002  - fixed miscellaneous Jaguar issues; worked
                          around broken application quit notifications;
                          added unique interpreter/associate window titles
1.1.3 - 24 July 2002    - added bullseye-menu targeting cursor; added menu
                          association; work around bug by stopping capture
                          on suspend; added delegate, data source, target,
                          cell selection for views; window controller for
                          windows
1.1.2 - 18 July 2002    - fixed more startup issues with list management;
                          properly scale icons of apps which have no
                          small icons; added user interface association
1.1.1 - 3 July 2002     - fixed inefficiencies responsible for long
                          startup time; reorganized Window menu; support
                          paths to applications which contain non-ASCII
                          characters [Martin HŠcker]; added sample code
                          to grab UI elements [Philippe Mougin]; cleaned
                          up code and distribution layout
1.1   - 25 April 2002   - revised terminology; updated for F-Script 1.2;
                          zoom to fit in application list; added help
                          tags for workspace; focus workspace initially
1.0.2 - (unreleased)    - minor cleanups, added error messages, updated
                          scroll view component for faster UI response,
                          removed help menu item because it's useless
1.0.1 - 1 March 2002    - corrected message for error 5; libPatch 1.2;
                          fixed endless confirmation on window close
1.0.1d1 1 February 2002 - added error messages
1.0   - 3 February 2002 - added dock menu, URL launching, check for
                          F-Script framework, floating window,
                          application name in interpreter window title,
                          fixed bugs, cleaned up error handling,
                          licensed under the GPL (because of ASM code),
                          packaged, added Read Me file and license
1.0d1 - 1 February 2002 - proof of feasibility, private test version


CREDITS
-------

Thanks to the following people for their software and generous
donations of source code:

Philippe Mougin, for F-Script
Jonathan 'Wolf' Rentsch, for mach_inject
Jon Gotow, for SCPatch and lots of advice
Mike Ferris, for TextExtras
Apple, for Darwin
Frank Vercruesse, for ASM