The AppleScript Depot
If you want to try your hand at scripting, I recommend checking out the books on the right. Writing AppleScripts is actually quite easy, and you'll find yourself scripting all sorts of stuff for your daily life. You know you've reached "Script Addict" status when you post a script on a private part of your website that you can download and run to install your custom "script pack" on any machine you happen to be sitting at, because damnit, three clicks too many is three clicks too many!
Aside from a few scripts that are noted "Closed Source", they're all open-source scripts released under the GPL.
As for installation, I highly recommend storing them all in your ~Library/Scripts folder. And for ease of access, use the AppleScript Utility (located in /Applications/AppleScript) and turn on the "Show script menu in menubar" option. You'll thank me later.
Shameless plug: If you've found one of my scripts helpful, help encourage me to write more. How? Make your next purchase from
TimeMachine on Leopard is great. Unless you're
running on Tiger. Or unless you have two drives
that you want to swap out for rotating backups
sets. This script will allow you to set up
incremental backups from any source, to any
destination. Be sure to read the Read Me for how to
configure the script. Released free under the GPL.
Run as an iCal alarm, this script sends an SMS
message to your cell phone through iChat. Be sure
to read the Read Me for configuration instructions.
This gem I wrote for Guy Kawasaki to help him sync
Now Up-To-Date with his Motorola Q. (Long story.)
This script parses a Palm Desktop-formatted text
file then creates and populates a new calendar in
iCal with the data. Closed-source.
A companion to PD2iCal, this script parses a Palm
Desktop-formatted text file and generates a
vCal-formatted file on your desktop. Closed-source.
Locks and unlocks the InputManagers folder,
securing it from the Leap-A/OompaLoompa trojan.
Editable script released under the GPL.
This script deletes all font caches and restarts
the computer. It requires administrator
authentication, but if you want end-users to be
able to "heal thyself" just tack on a "password...
with administrator privileges" and you should be
set. Editable script released free under the GPL.
Used with a Mail rule, any message that doesn't
have the X-mailer header will be flagged as spam.
Editable script released free under the GPL.
Attach this script to a folder to alert you to new
files added to it. Great for your public dropbox
when using Personal File Sharing. Editable script
released free under the GPL.
Gets the path to the currently selected item in the
Finder and copies it to the clipboard. Editable
script released free under the GPL.
If you're missing MailAppetizer under OS X 10.5
Leopard and you're running Growl (and you should
be), try this script out. Add it as a Mail rule to
run on every message after you're done running any
spam rules. It'll pop up a Growl notification for
any new mail message, and tell you the message
subject and the 1st paragraph of text. I recommend
Growl's "Music Video" style display. Editable
script released free under the GPL.
If you use Wikipedia to look stuff up on a regular
basis, you'll love this. Select and copy (Apple-C)
the text you want to search for in any email, web
page, Word document, et cetera, then run this
script. It'll open a new browser window (or tab) in
your default browser and automatically search
Wikipedia for whatever text is on the clipboard.
For best results, limit your selection to 1 or 2
words. Editable script released free under the GPL.
Have anyone in your Address Book who keeps sending
you loads of those mass-forwarded emails that may
be hoaxes but every once and a while they're true?
Check 'em with Snopes. Copy a key word or short
phrase (i.e. "Klingerman Virus") from the email
then run this script. It will pop open a new
browser window (or tab) in your default browser and
automatically search Snopes for whatever text is on
the clipboard. Editable script released free under
the GPL.