Difference between Expression Engine and Scripting Engine ? [AE 2025.2 build 131]

Report · Apr 11, 2025

Hi,

In File > Project Settings > Expressions

we have a field named Expressions Engine and we can Select Javascript.

We can then use modern javascript for our expressions.

But When I tried to create a script, method like map, reduce.. on arrays are not recognized.

Does it means scripting is still on LegacyExtendscript ?

Report · Apr 11, 2025

Yes, ExtendScript has not been updated in a VERY long time. I think Adobe is making progress in this direction with UXP plugins, but there is a long way to go there. There are some shims you can find out there for ExtendScript, but the language itself is based on ECMA Script 3 which was released in late 1990s.

Report · Apr 11, 2025

Thanks for the quick reply, man!!

You might have seen some of my previous posts about UXP for Photoshop...

But let’s be honest — when things take this long, it becomes unacceptable. And the worst part? We never get a proper technical explanation. Just the usual: “work in progress”... then more “work in progress”...

I’m pretty sure every developer feels the same.

It’s like waiting for a train — and every 10 minutes, someone tells you: “work in progress”… and then again… “work in progress”...
I’m from Paris, I know the drill. If the guy announcing the delays keeps repeating the same vague excuse a third or fourth time, trust me — he’s getting chased down the platform by half the station 😂.

Can we please get a real technical breakdown from the community?

WHAT EXACTLY IS TAKING SO LONG? and WHY?
We’re not stupid — we can understand. 🙂

And of course please do not take that personally, it's for the community.

PEACE,

Kasra