Automation on the Mac is undergoing a transformation.
More than ever, the Mac is Apple’s power tool. Today’s Macs running Apple silicon can use the complete library of macOS apps, and apps from iOS via Catalyst or unmodified directly from the App Store. And then there’s everything that’s under the hood, from app scripting to Unix-based tools of all sorts.
But with the move to Apple silicon and Apple’s announcement in June that Shortcuts is coming to the Mac as a part of a multi-year automation transition, things are changing. While the Mac isn’t going to stop being a power tool, the next few years will change its nature in some fundamental ways.
Shortcuts replaces Automator
The news that Shortcuts is coming to replace Automator (and make no mistake, that’s what will happen) isn’t just important because macOS has a shiny new tool for user automation. It’s also an important sign that Apple is paying attention. In the last few years, it’s been tough for Mac app developers to feel like there was any point in adding automation features to their apps. But now we’ve got the answer: Shortcuts is here, and Apple’s going to be spending a few years in the transition to a new world.
Read more at MacWorld.com