Capabilities of ExtendScript scripting vs UXP development - Can UXP do everything scripting can?

[futuremotion]

Hi,

I've really benefited from the scripts (and advice) that are shared around these forums, so to all: thank you.

Right now I'm really trying to level up my game and tackle both ExtendScript and UXP plugin development (Possibly with React). So my question is simple: Can UXP do everything ExtendScript can? Is UXP going to replace ExtendScript eventually? I want to get better clarity on what and where I should be investing my resources and time on.

Also, I'd really appreciate it if anyone who has experience with either could make recommendations on resources. By resources, I mean JavaScript libraries, custom development plugins (like Alchemist), workflow suggestions, essential documentation, etc.

Here are the tools and references I've been using:

https://github.com/jardicc/alchemist
The Photoshop API
ScriptingListener

I've seen some code around here make use of parts of the JSON Photoshop Scripting library by Tonton, but I have no idea if this is a good path to go down (The fact that the repo is now archived doesn't exactly inspire confidence).

Any help or guidance would be enormously helpful.

Thanks so much.

[wanokuni]

If you are looking to level up your game UXP is the way to go, it is way faster and better overall, though the Dom is not yet complete so many things are still missing, but you can use batchPlay which is good as well. 

Here are some links that can help you:

adobe UXP developer forum where to connect with other developers and the Adobe team: https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/

Photoshop API:

https://developer.adobe.com/photoshop/uxp/2022/guides/

Free SVG Icons:

https://spectrum.adobe.com/page/icons/

CSS styles (spectrum)

https://opensource.adobe.com/spectrum-css/

sample Plugins by Adobe:

https://github.com/AdobeDocs/uxp-photoshop-plugin-samples

good luck

[Ciccillotto]

I took the step and switched to uxp I honestly don't see many advantages [for now] the dedicated forum is not up to par and when you ask for something they link you to incomplete and not very usable documentation, I would gladly stick with Extendscript but adobe is pushing for uxp and we don't have many choices.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I have not managed to make the switch yet and I find the documentation for UXP, frankly put, challenging. (Though that may be more an issue on my side than on the technical writing.)

But as @Ciccillotto already pointed out: There may be no alternative in the long run.