ModuleLoader

ModuleLoader is a system for managing and loading libraries(modules) of AppleScript.

In OS X 10.9, built-in support of libraries was introduced to AppleScript, which called as "AppleScript Libraries". ModuleLoader is a yet another library system, which has been developed from 2006 before release of OS X 10.9, and has been maintained without interruption until now.

ModuleLoader have similar functions to "AppleScript Libraries" as follows.

• Find a library from predefined locations and load the library as a script object.

  Libraries are searched from following sub-folders under user's home directory and the root directory.

  • Library/Scripts/Modules
  • Library/Script Libraries
• Sub-libraries required by the loaded library are automatically loaded.
• The version of a library to be loaded can be specified.

In OS X 10.9 or later, AppleScript Libraries will be first choice to work with libraries. "AppleScript Libraries" will be sufficient in usual tasks. But ModuleLoader can work with "AppleScript Libraries" and complement following missing functions of "AppleScript Libraries".

• All libraries can be loaded and embeded at compile time.
  • Loading all libraries when compiling a script causes removing dependencies on libraries and ModuleLoader.osax. The script can works other computers in which the libraries and ModuleLoader.osax are not installed.
• Libraries can be forced to reload anytime.
• AppleScript text source file (.applescript) , applets and droplets can be libraries.
• Arbitrary locations can be added into locations to search for libraries.
  • ModuleLoader has high flexibility to customize locations to search for libraries.

• 4.0 --
  • Reimplemented as an AppleScript Library and a background application, because scripting additions don't work on macOS 10.4 or later.
  • Syntaxes are changed :
    • property ModuleName : module → property ModuleName : "@module"
    • boot (module loader) for me → script "ModuleLoader"'s setup(me)
    • See the manual for detailes.
• 3.0.2 -- 2017-04-19
• • Fixed : incorrect library will be loaded.
    • Library names are found by perfect matching instead of bacword matching.
• 3.0.1 -- 2016-12-16
  • Fixed problems for woking with AppleScriptObjC.
  • If the launched path of a local loader applet is under /private/var/folders/, an error will raise. Because it is considered that the local loader applet is affected by Gatekeeper Path Randomization.
• 3.0 -- 2016-08-23
  • Added ability to interpolate with AppleScript Libraries.
    • Added "Script Libraries" folders (~/Libraries/Script Libraries and /Libraries /Script Libraries) into the locations to search for libraries.
    • ModuleLoader can interpret 'use LibName : script "LibName"' statement and load the library.
  • If a library has "module loaded by" event handler, the handler must have a returned value. The returned value is treated as a loaded library.
  • Modernized source code.
  • Mac OS X 10.7 or later is required.
  • Added code signing.
• 2.3.4 -- 2016-02-05
  • Compiled with Garbage Collection support.
  • Small fixes.
• 2.3.3 -- 2011-10-08
  • Fixed memory leaks.
• 2.3.2 -- 2011-10-07
  • Fixed memory leaks.
• 2.3.1 -- 2011-10-03
  • Fixed : .applescript files can not be loaded.
• 2.3 -- 2011-09-13
  • Function to specify the version of the module to be loaded.
    • Inspired by AppleMods.
• 2.2.4 -- 2011-03-05
  • Fixed errors in osacompile of Mac OS X 10.6
  • Added Local Loader options of "collecting modules" and "only local".
• 2.2.3 -- 2010-11-21
  • Fixed errors on Mac OS X 10.4.
• 2.2.2 -- 2010-08-27
  • Internal Changes.
• 2.2.1 -- 2010-08-18
  • Fixed an error of a local loader on Mac OS X 10.6 (Thanks to hiRaoka-san).
  • Improved English manual (Thanks to Ed Stockly).
• 2.2 -- 2010-05-25
  • .applescript files could be loaded as modules.
  • Following handlers of loader object were added/documented.
    • load
    • set_additional_paths
    • prepend_paths
    • module_paths
    • clear_cache
• 2.1.1 -- 2010-01-15
  • Fixed a problem that a script file which does not have a type code can not be loaded.
• 2.1 -- 2010-01-12
  • Introduced new module loading scheme.
  • "make loader" command is renamed to "module loader".
• 2.0 -- 2009-11-25
  • Reimplemented as a scripting addition.
• 1.3.3 -- 2009-03-11
  • Fix an error when loading a module of which parent is a returned value of proxy().
• 1.3.2 -- 2007.09.15
  • Performance is improved.
  • HelpBook.osax is contained in own bundle. Additional install is not required .
• 1.3.1 -- 2007.05.14
  • Added English Manual.