Third Party APIs supporting JSX Scripts

[JSuX]

Hey guys,

We're considering moving away our scripting in the cloud and are looking for a solution.

I know that this might not be the right place to ask this question, but has anyone worked with third party APIs (over HTTP) that support JSX scripting.

The process I of using this API is as follows:

1. You provide a file

2. You provide a JSX to be executed on the file

3. The file is returned and ready for download

[Mylenium]

The scripting engines are specific to the individual apps. You can't just fire any scrip at a completely different host and expect it to produce a result when the respective functions aren't present. Adobe apps also cannot be easily hosted in cloud environments/ on servers and that would require specific extra licensing, anyway, so this plan is likely not going anywhere.

Mylenium

[JSuX]

Thank you for the answer @Mylenium,

We're fairly familiar with the differences in the JSX scripting API for different Adobe Products (Illustrator, InDesign Server) and also the licensing that comes with those products.

We're currently looking for an API service provider that has gone through the process of creating this API and offers it as a service.

The ideal scenario is for an API that reuses the web for doing what a user would do when they drag and drop a script to Illustrator or InDesign.

[Mylenium]

I don't think anyone has bothered to develop such a thing. There are individual intermediate APIs like Templater for After Effects, but at the end of the day it's aimed at specialized use cases for data graphics and broadcast automation and doesn't even re-create the entire AE scripting. Rinse-repeat for all other apps. There may bits and pieces for each one of them, but no doubt none of them will do what you want.

Mylenium

[Loic.Aigon · Accepted solution]

It's important to clarify your exact needs because it's a sensitive topic, to say the least, and also a bit technical. Executing JSX scripts on the cloud would basically mean asking for a script to be run on a server.

InDesign has that covered with InDesign Server and basically, one of the ways to drive it is to pass a SOAP request with file and JSX script as arguments just like you are thinking of. But I will close the digression here.

As we are on the Illustrator forum, I will presume the request deals with Illustrator automation on the cloud. And there is no Illustrator Server today that you can use for that purpose just like InDesign Server allows.

It doesn't mean you are out of solutions but the next steps are closely tied to legal concerns and more specifically to EULA. First thing is that the Adobe Illustrator CC app cannot be installed (legally) on a server or virtualized. So whatever "cloud" automation you would think of, it cannot be on a server. 

Eventually, you can use a third-party solution like Enfocus Switch to set an automated Workflow (it can drive the Adobe app thanks to specific connectors). Your workflow would receive requests, run Illustrator, and send back the result.

BUT

As EULA stands, only the license owner can run an automated process. SO in the latter case, you would be EULA compliant only if you, the license owner, send the HTTP request to the workflow where Illustrator is driven.

I know it can seem cumbersome but I am just providing as much info as I can as those concerns are rarely exposed and customers end up doing a lot of incredible technical stack but just illegal.

As you can see, having Illustrator Scripts executed on the cloud isn't that much possible in the actual context. 

ONCE THAT SAID, what are your options:

- Port your layouts to InDesign, buy an InDesign Server license, and set HTTP requests to drive IDS with legal compliance.

- Use some HTML to PDF engine out of Adobe tech. 

- Use a PDF Prepress tool that can customize PDFs file on the cloud

- You may as well keep an eye on Kris Koppieters new project (but I am ashamed I forget its name) that basically creates an automation bridge between machines and apps where jsx script can be run (but you will still need to comply to EULA)

EVENTUALLY, you could revert the paradigm and have a "solution" (could be a script or an extension) inside Illustrator that would receive requests (but won't process them right away). And a user that would release the automation. I know it's not the purpose of a fully automated workflow but at least you would be good with EULA.

ALSO, Adobe is working on providing cloud API (see Photoshop online API for ex) and it's possible Illustrator provides such an API in the future but it's a wild wild wild guess here and I haven't seen any evidence of something being worked on at any point.

I hope it's useful.

Loic