what is the best way to expose C++ for LUA?

[AnthonyPython]

I found this http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19381301/how-to-expose-c-functions-to-a-lua-script which is helpful, but what is your all's opinion on this subject?

[Guppy]

http://www.leadwerks.com/werkspace/blog/138/entry-1288-pushing-complex-lua-tables-from-c/

 

In the article I do show how to use the function but it's quite easy;

 

 

(this is from a now abandoned UI kit for Leadwerks C++/Lua )

 

   luaInterface::luaInterface(LeadwerksUI* _gui):gui(_gui){
       //ctor

       typeMap guiObj={
           {"loadCore",new luaMemberFunction<luaInterface,&luaInterface::loadCore>(this)},
           {"loadLayout",new luaMemberFunction<luaInterface,&luaInterface::loadLayout>(this)},
           {"findWidget",new luaMemberFunction<luaInterface,&luaInterface::findWidget>(this)},
           {"findWidgets",new luaMemberFunction<luaInterface,&luaInterface::findWidgets>(this)},
           {"removeWidget",new luaMemberFunction<luaInterface,&luaInterface::removeWidget>(this)},
           {"showMouse",new luaMemberFunction<luaInterface,&luaInterface::showMouse>(this)},
       };


       luaTable *table=new luaTable(guiObj);
       table->push();
       Leadwerks::Interpreter::SetGlobal("myGUI");
       delete table;
   }

 

This binds member functions to an lua table giving a faux object in lua

 

Breakdown;

 

 

new luaMemberFunction<luaInterface,&luaInterface::loadCore>(this)

 

 

luaInterface - class name

&luaInterface::loadCore - member function note the format, it's important

this pointer to the actual instance you want the member function to be called on - in this case it's "this" because I wanted it to call it's own member functions but it could be any instance of the given class.

 

 

I thougth about posting the actual functions I used above but they honestly do not make much sense so I cooked up a new one to show you the ropes;

   int luaInterface::findWidget(lua_State *L){
       //I used a single macro for these lines as you need to write them often, I can post if if you like
       int argc=Leadwerks::Interpreter::GetStackSize();
       if ( argc != 1 ) { 
           std::cerr << "Wrong argument count for findWidget" << std::endl;
           Leadwerks::Interpreter::PushBool(false); //Put a the bool value false on the stack to let the user know he screwed up
           return 1; //This lets lua know that we returned 1 argument
       }        

       std::string parameter1=    Leadwerks::Interpreter::ToString(1); //or ToBool, etc depending on what parameter you expect.

       Leadwerks::Interpreter::PushBool(true); /*Look at the source for Leadwerks to figure out
                       what types you can push - you can even return a 
                       complex lua table as outlined above */
       return 1; /*once again tell lua that how many parameters we returned
        if you get this wrong you get crashes or memory leaks*/
   }


   int luaInterface::hideMouse(lua_State *L){
       assertArgc(!= 0, "hideMouse") //the first 6 lines of the other function rolled into a nice discrete macro
       //We dont expect any parameters
       gui->showMouse(false); //you can call any member function of the object even setting variables for later use
       return 0;  //Nor do we return anything - tell lua the stack is empty
   }

 

 

It may seem a little daunting at first but once you get the hang of it it's quite easy

[Rick]

You can also expose stuff via a DLL if you don't want to do it from your game's exe directly. http://www.leadwerks.com/werkspace/topic/11875-more-precise-timer/page__st__20#entry87654

 

This would make it a little more modular and easier to distribute to others if that's something you are interested in doing.

[Josh]

This is what I use:

http://www.leadwerks.com/werkspace/files/file/216-tolua/

[AnthonyPython]

Thanks a bunch guys