AppleScript vs. Lua vs. VBScript vs. Viscosity Comparison Chart

AppleScript is a scripting language created by Apple. It allows users to directly control scriptable Macintosh applications, as well as parts of macOS itself. You can create scripts, and sets of written instructions, to automate repetitive tasks, combine features from multiple scriptable applications, and create complex workflows. AppleScript 2.0 can use scripts developed for any version of AppleScript from 1.1 through 1.10.7, any scripting addition created for AppleScript 1.5 or later for macOS, and any scriptable application for Mac OS v7.1 or later. A scriptable application is one that can be controlled by a script. For AppleScript, that means being responsive to inter-application messages, called Apple events, sent when a script command targets the application. AppleScript itself provides a very small number of commands, but it provides a framework into which you can plug many task-specific commands, those provided by scriptable applications and scriptable parts of macOS.

VBScript is a programming language included with Microsoft Internet Explorer. For other browsers, contact your vendor about support. VBScript 2.0 (or later) is recommended for use with Agent. Although earlier versions of VBScript may work with Agent, they lack certain functions that you may want to use. You can download VBScript 2.0 and obtain further information on VBScript at the Microsoft Downloads site and the Microsoft VBScript site. With VBScript (2.0 or later), you can verify whether Microsoft Agent is installed by trying to create the object and checking to see if it exists. The following sample demonstrates how to check for the Agent control without triggering an auto-download of the control.