Fix modstore/favourites hang by adding asynchronous lua job support

2024-11-27 10:03:45 +01:00 · 2013-11-26 18:15:31 +01:00 · 2013-11-26 18:15:31 +01:00 · 2e66aca357
commit 2e66aca357
parent b08d7558de
27 changed files with 2271 additions and 559 deletions
--- a/builtin/async_env.lua
+++ b/builtin/async_env.lua
@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+engine.log("info","Initializing Asynchronous environment")
+
+dofile(SCRIPTDIR .. DIR_DELIM .. "misc_helpers.lua")
+
+function engine.job_processor(serialized_function, serialized_data)
+
+	local fct = marshal.decode(serialized_function)
+	local params = marshal.decode(serialized_data)
+	local retval = marshal.encode(nil)
+
+	if fct ~= nil and type(fct) == "function" then
+		local result = fct(params)
+		retval = marshal.encode(result)
+	else
+		engine.log("error","ASYNC WORKER: unable to deserialize function")
+	end
+
+	return retval,retval:len()
+end
--- a/builtin/async_event.lua
+++ b/builtin/async_event.lua
@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+local tbl = engine or minetest
+
+tbl.async_jobs = {}
+
+if engine ~= nil then
+	function tbl.async_event_handler(jobid, serialized_retval)
+		local retval = nil
+		if serialized_retval ~= "ERROR" then
+			retval= marshal.decode(serialized_retval)
+		else
+			tbl.log("error","Error fetching async result")
+		end
+
+		assert(type(tbl.async_jobs[jobid]) == "function")
+		tbl.async_jobs[jobid](retval)
+		tbl.async_jobs[jobid] = nil
+	end
+else
+
+	minetest.register_globalstep(
+		function(dtime)
+			local list = tbl.get_finished_jobs()
+
+			for i=1,#list,1 do
+				local retval = marshal.decode(list[i].retval)
+
+				assert(type(tbl.async_jobs[jobid]) == "function")
+				tbl.async_jobs[list[i].jobid](retval)
+				tbl.async_jobs[list[i].jobid] = nil
+			end
+		end)
+end
+
+function tbl.handle_async(fct, parameters, callback)
+
+	--serialize fct
+	local serialized_fct = marshal.encode(fct)
+
+	assert(marshal.decode(serialized_fct) ~= nil)
+
+	--serialize parameters
+	local serialized_params = marshal.encode(parameters)
+
+	if serialized_fct == nil or
+		serialized_params == nil or
+		serialized_fct:len() == 0 or
+		serialized_params:len() == 0 then
+		return false
+	end
+
+	local jobid = tbl.do_async_callback(	serialized_fct,
+											serialized_fct:len(),
+											serialized_params,
+											serialized_params:len())
+
+	tbl.async_jobs[jobid] = callback
+
+	return true
+end
--- a/builtin/mainmenu.lua
+++ b/builtin/mainmenu.lua
@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ dofile(scriptpath .. DIR_DELIM .. "modstore.lua")
 dofile(scriptpath .. DIR_DELIM .. "gamemgr.lua")
 dofile(scriptpath .. DIR_DELIM .. "mm_textures.lua")
 dofile(scriptpath .. DIR_DELIM .. "mm_menubar.lua")
+dofile(scriptpath .. DIR_DELIM .. "async_event.lua")

 menu = {}
 local tabbuilder = {}
@ -43,10 +44,10 @@ end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function menu.render_favorite(spec,render_details)
 	local text = ""
-	
+
 	if spec.name ~= nil then
 		text = text .. engine.formspec_escape(spec.name:trim())
-		
+
 --		if spec.description ~= nil and
 --			engine.formspec_escape(spec.description):trim() ~= "" then
 --			text = text .. " (" .. engine.formspec_escape(spec.description) .. ")"
@ -54,51 +55,51 @@ function menu.render_favorite(spec,render_details)
 	else
 		if spec.address ~= nil then
 			text = text .. spec.address:trim()
-			
+
 			if spec.port ~= nil then
 				text = text .. ":" .. spec.port
 			end
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if not render_details then
 		return text
 	end
-	
+
 	local details = ""
 	if spec.password == true then
 		details = details .. "*"
 	else
 		details = details .. "_"
 	end
-	
+
 	if spec.creative then
 		details = details .. "C"
 	else
 		details = details .. "_"
 	end
-	
+
 	if spec.damage then
 		details = details .. "D"
 	else
 		details = details .. "_"
 	end
-	
+
 	if spec.pvp then
 		details = details .. "P"
 	else
 		details = details .. "_"
 	end
 	details = details .. " "
-	
+
 	local playercount = ""
-	
+
 	if spec.clients ~= nil and
 		spec.clients_max ~= nil then
 		playercount = string.format("%03d",spec.clients) .. "/" ..
 						string.format("%03d",spec.clients_max) .. " "
 	end
-	
+
 	return playercount .. engine.formspec_escape(details) ..  text
 end

@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ end
 os.tempfolder = function()
 	local filetocheck = os.tmpname()
 	os.remove(filetocheck)
-	
+
 	local randname = "MTTempModFolder_" .. math.random(0,10000)
 	if DIR_DELIM == "\\" then
 		local tempfolder = os.getenv("TEMP")
@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ end
 function init_globals()
 	--init gamedata
 	gamedata.worldindex = 0
-	
+
 	worldlist = filterlist.create(
 					engine.get_worlds,
 					compare_worlds,
@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ function init_globals()
 						return false
 					end --filter fct
 					)
-					
+
 	filterlist.add_sort_mechanism(worldlist,"alphabetic",sort_worlds_alphabetic)
 	filterlist.set_sortmode(worldlist,"alphabetic")
 end
@ -148,12 +149,12 @@ end
 function update_menu()

 	local formspec
-	
+
 	-- handle errors
 	if gamedata.errormessage ~= nil then
 		formspec = "size[12,5.2]" ..
 			"field[1,2;10,2;;ERROR: " ..
-			gamedata.errormessage .. 
+			gamedata.errormessage ..
 			";]"..
 			"button[4.5,4.2;3,0.5;btn_error_confirm;" .. fgettext("Ok") .. "]"
 	else
@ -166,14 +167,14 @@ end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function menu.render_world_list()
 	local retval = ""
-	
+
 	local current_worldlist = filterlist.get_list(worldlist)
-	
+
 	for i,v in ipairs(current_worldlist) do
 		if retval ~= "" then
 			retval = retval ..","
 		end
-		
+
 		retval = retval .. engine.formspec_escape(v.name) ..
 					" \\[" .. engine.formspec_escape(v.gameid) .. "\\]"
 	end
@ -196,24 +197,39 @@ function menu.render_texture_pack_list(list)
 	return retval
 end

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+function menu.asyncOnlineFavourites()
+	menu.favorites = {}
+	engine.handle_async(
+		function(param)
+			return engine.get_favorites("online")
+		end,
+		nil,
+		function(result)
+			menu.favorites = result
+			engine.event_handler("Refresh")
+		end
+		)
+end
+
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function menu.init()
 	--init menu data
 	gamemgr.update_gamelist()
-	
+
 	menu.last_game	= tonumber(engine.setting_get("main_menu_last_game_idx"))
-	
+
 	if type(menu.last_game) ~= "number" then
 		menu.last_game = 1
 	end

 	if engine.setting_getbool("public_serverlist") then
-		menu.favorites = engine.get_favorites("online")
+		menu.asyncOnlineFavourites()
 	else
 		menu.favorites = engine.get_favorites("local")
 	end
-	
-	menu.defaulttexturedir = engine.get_texturepath() .. DIR_DELIM .. "base" .. 
+
+	menu.defaulttexturedir = engine.get_texturepath() .. DIR_DELIM .. "base" ..
 					DIR_DELIM .. "pack" .. DIR_DELIM
 end

@ -222,12 +238,12 @@ function menu.lastgame()
 	if menu.last_game > 0 and menu.last_game <= #gamemgr.games then
 		return gamemgr.games[menu.last_game]
 	end
-	
+
 	if #gamemgr.games >= 1 then
 		menu.last_game = 1
 		return gamemgr.games[menu.last_game]
 	end
-	
+
 	--error case!!
 	return nil
 end
@ -238,11 +254,11 @@ function menu.update_last_game()
 	local current_world = filterlist.get_raw_element(worldlist,
 							engine.setting_get("mainmenu_last_selected_world")
 							)
-							
+
 	if current_world == nil then
 		return
 	end
-	
+
 	local gamespec, i = gamemgr.find_by_gameid(current_world.gameid)
 	if i ~= nil then
 		menu.last_game = i
@ -255,17 +271,17 @@ function menu.handle_key_up_down(fields,textlist,settingname)

 	if fields["key_up"] then
 		local oldidx = engine.get_textlist_index(textlist)
-		
+
 		if oldidx > 1 then
 			local newidx = oldidx -1
 			engine.setting_set(settingname,
 				filterlist.get_raw_index(worldlist,newidx))
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["key_down"] then
 		local oldidx = engine.get_textlist_index(textlist)
-		
+
 		if oldidx < filterlist.size(worldlist) then
 			local newidx = oldidx + 1
 			engine.setting_set(settingname,
@ -293,7 +309,7 @@ function tabbuilder.dialog_create_world()
 	end
 	mglist = mglist:sub(1, -2)

-	local retval = 
+	local retval =
 		"label[2,0;" .. fgettext("World name") .. "]"..
 		"field[4.5,0.4;6,0.5;te_world_name;;]" ..

@ -335,7 +351,7 @@ function tabbuilder.gettab()
 	if buildfunc ~= nil then
 		retval = retval .. buildfunc()
 	end
-	
+
 	retval = retval .. modmgr.gettab(tabbuilder.current_tab)
 	retval = retval .. gamemgr.gettab(tabbuilder.current_tab)
 	retval = retval .. modstore.gettab(tabbuilder.current_tab)
@ -345,18 +361,18 @@ end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function tabbuilder.handle_create_world_buttons(fields)
-	
+
 	if fields["world_create_confirm"] or
 		fields["key_enter"] then
-		
+
 		local worldname = fields["te_world_name"]
 		local gameindex = engine.get_textlist_index("games")
-		
+
 		if gameindex > 0 and
 			worldname ~= "" then
-			
+
 			local message = nil
-			
+
 			if not filterlist.uid_exists_raw(worldlist,worldname) then
 				engine.setting_set("mg_name",fields["dd_mapgen"])
 				message = engine.create_world(worldname,gameindex)
@ -365,28 +381,28 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_create_world_buttons(fields)
 			end

 			engine.setting_set("fixed_map_seed", fields["te_seed"])
-			
+
 			if message ~= nil then
 				gamedata.errormessage = message
 			else
 				menu.last_game = gameindex
 				engine.setting_set("main_menu_last_game_idx",gameindex)
-				
+
 				filterlist.refresh(worldlist)
 				engine.setting_set("mainmenu_last_selected_world",
 									filterlist.raw_index_by_uid(worldlist,worldname))
 			end
 		else
-			gamedata.errormessage = 
+			gamedata.errormessage =
 				fgettext("No worldname given or no game selected")
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["games"] then
 		tabbuilder.skipformupdate = true
 		return
 	end
-	
+
 	--close dialog
 	tabbuilder.is_dialog = false
 	tabbuilder.show_buttons = true
@ -395,16 +411,16 @@ end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function tabbuilder.handle_delete_world_buttons(fields)
-	
+
 	if fields["world_delete_confirm"] then
-		if menu.world_to_del > 0 and 
+		if menu.world_to_del > 0 and
 			menu.world_to_del <= #filterlist.get_raw_list(worldlist) then
 			engine.delete_world(menu.world_to_del)
 			menu.world_to_del = 0
 			filterlist.refresh(worldlist)
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	tabbuilder.is_dialog = false
 	tabbuilder.show_buttons = true
 	tabbuilder.current_tab = engine.setting_get("main_menu_tab")
@ -412,12 +428,12 @@ end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function tabbuilder.handle_multiplayer_buttons(fields)
-	
+
 	if fields["te_name"] ~= nil then
 		gamedata.playername = fields["te_name"]
 		engine.setting_set("name", fields["te_name"])
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["favourites"] ~= nil then
 		local event = explode_textlist_event(fields["favourites"])
 		if event.typ == "DCL" then
@ -429,12 +445,12 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_multiplayer_buttons(fields)
 					gamedata.password		= fields["te_pwd"]
 				end
 				gamedata.selected_world = 0
-				
+
 				if menu.favorites ~= nil then
 					gamedata.servername = menu.favorites[event.index].name
 					gamedata.serverdescription = menu.favorites[event.index].description
 				end
-				
+
 				if gamedata.address ~= nil and
 					gamedata.port ~= nil then
 					engine.setting_set("address",gamedata.address)
@ -443,53 +459,53 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_multiplayer_buttons(fields)
 				end
 			end
 		end
-		
+
 		if event.typ == "CHG" then
 			if event.index <= #menu.favorites then
 				local address = menu.favorites[event.index].address
 				local port = menu.favorites[event.index].port
-				
+
 				if address ~= nil and
 					port ~= nil then
 					engine.setting_set("address",address)
 					engine.setting_set("remote_port",port)
 				end
-				
+
 				menu.fav_selected = event.index
 			end
 		end
 		return
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["key_up"] ~= nil or
 		fields["key_down"] ~= nil then
-		
+
 		local fav_idx = engine.get_textlist_index("favourites")
-		
+
 		if fields["key_up"] ~= nil and fav_idx > 1 then
 			fav_idx = fav_idx -1
 		else if fields["key_down"] and fav_idx < #menu.favorites then
 			fav_idx = fav_idx +1
 		end end
-		
+
 		local address = menu.favorites[fav_idx].address
 		local port = menu.favorites[fav_idx].port
-		
+
 		if address ~= nil and
 			port ~= nil then
 			engine.setting_set("address",address)
 			engine.setting_set("remote_port",port)
 		end
-		
+
 		menu.fav_selected = fav_idx
 		return
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["cb_public_serverlist"] ~= nil then
 		engine.setting_set("public_serverlist", fields["cb_public_serverlist"])
-			
+
 		if engine.setting_getbool("public_serverlist") then
-			menu.favorites = engine.get_favorites("online")
+			menu.asyncOnlineFavourites()
 		else
 			menu.favorites = engine.get_favorites("local")
 		end
@ -502,27 +518,27 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_multiplayer_buttons(fields)
 		engine.delete_favorite(current_favourite)
 		menu.favorites = engine.get_favorites()
 		menu.fav_selected = nil
-		
+
 		engine.setting_set("address","")
 		engine.setting_set("remote_port","30000")
-		
+
 		return
 	end

 	if fields["btn_mp_connect"] ~= nil or
 		fields["key_enter"] ~= nil then
-		
+
 		gamedata.playername		= fields["te_name"]
 		gamedata.password		= fields["te_pwd"]
 		gamedata.address		= fields["te_address"]
 		gamedata.port			= fields["te_port"]
-		
+
 		local fav_idx = engine.get_textlist_index("favourites")
-		
+
 		if fav_idx > 0 and fav_idx <= #menu.favorites and
 			menu.favorites[fav_idx].address == fields["te_address"] and
 			menu.favorites[fav_idx].port    == fields["te_port"] then
-			
+
 			gamedata.servername			= menu.favorites[fav_idx].name
 			gamedata.serverdescription	= menu.favorites[fav_idx].description
 		else
@ -531,10 +547,10 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_multiplayer_buttons(fields)
 		end

 		gamedata.selected_world = 0
-		
+
 		engine.setting_set("address",fields["te_address"])
 		engine.setting_set("remote_port",fields["te_port"])
-		
+
 		engine.start()
 		return
 	end
@ -547,7 +563,7 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_server_buttons(fields)

 	if fields["srv_worlds"] ~= nil then
 		local event = explode_textlist_event(fields["srv_worlds"])
-		
+
 		if event.typ == "DCL" then
 			world_doubleclick = true
 		end
@ -556,13 +572,13 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_server_buttons(fields)
 				filterlist.get_raw_index(worldlist,engine.get_textlist_index("srv_worlds")))
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	menu.handle_key_up_down(fields,"srv_worlds","mainmenu_last_selected_world")
-	
+
 	if fields["cb_creative_mode"] then
 		engine.setting_set("creative_mode", fields["cb_creative_mode"])
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["cb_enable_damage"] then
 		engine.setting_set("enable_damage", fields["cb_enable_damage"])
 	end
@ -570,7 +586,7 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_server_buttons(fields)
 	if fields["cb_server_announce"] then
 		engine.setting_set("server_announce", fields["cb_server_announce"])
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["start_server"] ~= nil or
 		world_doubleclick or
 		fields["key_enter"] then
@ -581,19 +597,20 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_server_buttons(fields)
 			gamedata.port			= fields["te_serverport"]
 			gamedata.address		= ""
 			gamedata.selected_world	= filterlist.get_raw_index(worldlist,selected)
-			
+
 			engine.setting_set("port",gamedata.port)
+
 			menu.update_last_game(gamedata.selected_world)
 			engine.start()
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["world_create"] ~= nil then
 		tabbuilder.current_tab = "dialog_create_world"
 		tabbuilder.is_dialog = true
 		tabbuilder.show_buttons = false
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["world_delete"] ~= nil then
 		local selected = engine.get_textlist_index("srv_worlds")
 		if selected > 0 and
@ -611,7 +628,7 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_server_buttons(fields)
 			end
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["world_configure"] ~= nil then
 		selected = engine.get_textlist_index("srv_worlds")
 		if selected > 0 then
@ -639,7 +656,7 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_settings_buttons(fields)
 	if fields["cb_opaque_water"] then
 		engine.setting_set("opaque_water", fields["cb_opaque_water"])
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["cb_mipmapping"] then
 		engine.setting_set("mip_map", fields["cb_mipmapping"])
 	end
@ -652,7 +669,7 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_settings_buttons(fields)
 	if fields["cb_trilinear"] then
 		engine.setting_set("trilinear_filter", fields["cb_trilinear"])
 	end
-			
+
 	if fields["cb_shaders"] then
 		if (engine.setting_get("video_driver") == "direct3d8" or engine.setting_get("video_driver") == "direct3d9") then
 			engine.setting_set("enable_shaders", "false")
@ -683,23 +700,23 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_singleplayer_buttons(fields)

 	if fields["sp_worlds"] ~= nil then
 		local event = explode_textlist_event(fields["sp_worlds"])
-		
+
 		if event.typ == "DCL" then
 			world_doubleclick = true
 		end
-		
+
 		if event.typ == "CHG" then
 			engine.setting_set("mainmenu_last_selected_world",
 				filterlist.get_raw_index(worldlist,engine.get_textlist_index("sp_worlds")))
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	menu.handle_key_up_down(fields,"sp_worlds","mainmenu_last_selected_world")
-	
+
 	if fields["cb_creative_mode"] then
 		engine.setting_set("creative_mode", fields["cb_creative_mode"])
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["cb_enable_damage"] then
 		engine.setting_set("enable_damage", fields["cb_enable_damage"])
 	end
@ -711,19 +728,19 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_singleplayer_buttons(fields)
 		if selected > 0 then
 			gamedata.selected_world	= filterlist.get_raw_index(worldlist,selected)
 			gamedata.singleplayer	= true
-			
+
 			menu.update_last_game(gamedata.selected_world)
-			
+
 			engine.start()
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["world_create"] ~= nil then
 		tabbuilder.current_tab = "dialog_create_world"
 		tabbuilder.is_dialog = true
 		tabbuilder.show_buttons = false
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["world_delete"] ~= nil then
 		local selected = engine.get_textlist_index("sp_worlds")
 		if selected > 0 and
@ -741,7 +758,7 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_singleplayer_buttons(fields)
 			end
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["world_configure"] ~= nil then
 		selected = engine.get_textlist_index("sp_worlds")
 		if selected > 0 then
@ -768,7 +785,7 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_texture_pack_buttons(fields)
 			if #list >= current_index then
 				local new_path = engine.get_texturepath()..DIR_DELIM..list[current_index]
 				if list[current_index] == "None" then new_path = "" end
-				
+
 				engine.setting_set("texture_path", new_path)
 			end
 		end
@ -781,15 +798,15 @@ function tabbuilder.tab_header()
 	if tabbuilder.last_tab_index == nil then
 		tabbuilder.last_tab_index = 1
 	end
-	
+
 	local toadd = ""
-	
+
 	for i=1,#tabbuilder.current_buttons,1 do
-		
+
 		if toadd ~= "" then
 			toadd = toadd .. ","
 		end
-		
+
 		toadd = toadd .. tabbuilder.current_buttons[i].caption
 	end
 	return "tabheader[-0.3,-0.99;main_tab;" .. toadd ..";" .. tabbuilder.last_tab_index .. ";true;false]"
@ -802,21 +819,21 @@ function tabbuilder.handle_tab_buttons(fields)
 		local index = tonumber(fields["main_tab"])
 		tabbuilder.last_tab_index = index
 		tabbuilder.current_tab = tabbuilder.current_buttons[index].name
-		
+
 		engine.setting_set("main_menu_tab",tabbuilder.current_tab)
 	end
-	
+
 	--handle tab changes
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab ~= tabbuilder.old_tab then
 		if tabbuilder.current_tab ~= "singleplayer" and not tabbuilder.is_dialog then
 			menu.update_gametype(true)
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab == "singleplayer" then
 		menu.update_gametype()
 	end
-	
+
 	tabbuilder.old_tab = tabbuilder.current_tab
 end

@ -832,24 +849,24 @@ function tabbuilder.tab_multiplayer()
 		"field[6.75,5.25;2.25,0.5;te_port;;" ..engine.setting_get("remote_port") .."]" ..
 		"checkbox[1,3.6;cb_public_serverlist;".. fgettext("Public Serverlist") .. ";" ..
 		dump(engine.setting_getbool("public_serverlist")) .. "]"
-		
+
 	if not engine.setting_getbool("public_serverlist") then
-		retval = retval .. 
+		retval = retval ..
 		"button[6.45,3.95;2.25,0.5;btn_delete_favorite;".. fgettext("Delete") .. "]"
 	end
-	
+
 	retval = retval ..
 		"button[9,4.95;2.5,0.5;btn_mp_connect;".. fgettext("Connect") .. "]" ..
 		"field[9.3,3.75;2.5,0.5;te_name;;" ..engine.setting_get("name") .."]" ..
 		"pwdfield[9.3,4.5;2.5,0.5;te_pwd;]" ..
 		"textarea[9.3,0.25;2.5,2.75;;"
-	if menu.fav_selected ~= nil and 
+	if menu.fav_selected ~= nil and
 		menu.favorites[menu.fav_selected].description ~= nil then
-		retval = retval .. 
+		retval = retval ..
 			engine.formspec_escape(menu.favorites[menu.fav_selected].description,true)
 	end
-	
-	retval = retval .. 
+
+	retval = retval ..
 		";]" ..
 		"textlist[1,0.35;7.5,3.35;favourites;"

@ -857,7 +874,7 @@ function tabbuilder.tab_multiplayer()

 	if #menu.favorites > 0 then
 		retval = retval .. menu.render_favorite(menu.favorites[1],render_details)
-		
+
 		for i=2,#menu.favorites,1 do
 			retval = retval .. "," .. menu.render_favorite(menu.favorites[i],render_details)
 		end
@ -878,8 +895,8 @@ function tabbuilder.tab_server()
 	local index = filterlist.get_current_index(worldlist,
 				tonumber(engine.setting_get("mainmenu_last_selected_world"))
 				)
-	
-	local retval = 
+
+	local retval =
 		"button[4,4.15;2.6,0.5;world_delete;".. fgettext("Delete") .. "]" ..
 		"button[6.5,4.15;2.8,0.5;world_create;".. fgettext("New") .. "]" ..
 		"button[9.2,4.15;2.55,0.5;world_configure;".. fgettext("Configure") .. "]" ..
@ -895,27 +912,27 @@ function tabbuilder.tab_server()
 		"field[0.8,3.2;3,0.5;te_playername;".. fgettext("Name") .. ";" ..
 		engine.setting_get("name") .. "]" ..
 		"pwdfield[0.8,4.2;3,0.5;te_passwd;".. fgettext("Password") .. "]" ..
-		"field[0.8,5.2;3,0.5;te_serverport;".. fgettext("Server Port") .. ";" .. 
+		"field[0.8,5.2;3,0.5;te_serverport;".. fgettext("Server Port") .. ";" ..
 		engine.setting_get("port") .."]" ..
 		"textlist[4,0.25;7.5,3.7;srv_worlds;" ..
 		menu.render_world_list() ..
 		";" .. index .. "]"
-		
+
 	return retval
 end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function tabbuilder.tab_settings()
 	return	"vertlabel[0,0;" .. fgettext("SETTINGS") .. "]" ..
-			"checkbox[1,0.75;cb_fancy_trees;".. fgettext("Fancy trees") .. ";" 
+			"checkbox[1,0.75;cb_fancy_trees;".. fgettext("Fancy trees") .. ";"
 					.. dump(engine.setting_getbool("new_style_leaves")) .. "]"..
-			"checkbox[1,1.25;cb_smooth_lighting;".. fgettext("Smooth Lighting") 
+			"checkbox[1,1.25;cb_smooth_lighting;".. fgettext("Smooth Lighting")
 					.. ";".. dump(engine.setting_getbool("smooth_lighting")) .. "]"..
 			"checkbox[1,1.75;cb_3d_clouds;".. fgettext("3D Clouds") .. ";"
 					.. dump(engine.setting_getbool("enable_3d_clouds")) .. "]"..
 			"checkbox[1,2.25;cb_opaque_water;".. fgettext("Opaque Water") .. ";"
 					.. dump(engine.setting_getbool("opaque_water")) .. "]"..
-			
+
 			"checkbox[4,0.75;cb_mipmapping;".. fgettext("Mip-Mapping") .. ";"
 					.. dump(engine.setting_getbool("mip_map")) .. "]"..
 			"checkbox[4,1.25;cb_anisotrophic;".. fgettext("Anisotropic Filtering") .. ";"
@ -924,7 +941,7 @@ function tabbuilder.tab_settings()
 					.. dump(engine.setting_getbool("bilinear_filter")) .. "]"..
 			"checkbox[4,2.25;cb_trilinear;".. fgettext("Tri-Linear Filtering") .. ";"
 					.. dump(engine.setting_getbool("trilinear_filter")) .. "]"..
-			
+
 			"checkbox[7.5,0.75;cb_shaders;".. fgettext("Shaders") .. ";"
 					.. dump(engine.setting_getbool("enable_shaders")) .. "]"..
 			"checkbox[7.5,1.25;cb_pre_ivis;".. fgettext("Preload item visuals") .. ";"
@ -933,13 +950,13 @@ function tabbuilder.tab_settings()
 					.. dump(engine.setting_getbool("enable_particles"))	.. "]"..
 			"checkbox[7.5,2.25;cb_finite_liquid;".. fgettext("Finite Liquid") .. ";"
 					.. dump(engine.setting_getbool("liquid_finite")) .. "]"..
-			
+
 			"button[1,4.25;2.25,0.5;btn_change_keys;".. fgettext("Change keys") .. "]"
 end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function tabbuilder.tab_singleplayer()
-	
+
 	local index = filterlist.get_current_index(worldlist,
 				tonumber(engine.setting_get("mainmenu_last_selected_world"))
 				)
@ -966,19 +983,19 @@ function tabbuilder.tab_texture_packs()
 			"vertlabel[0,-0.25;".. fgettext("TEXTURE PACKS") .. "]" ..
 			"textlist[4,0.25;7.5,5.0;TPs;"

-	local current_texture_path = engine.setting_get("texture_path")	
-	local list = filter_texture_pack_list(engine.get_dirlist(engine.get_texturepath(), true))	
+	local current_texture_path = engine.setting_get("texture_path")
+	local list = filter_texture_pack_list(engine.get_dirlist(engine.get_texturepath(), true))
 	local index = tonumber(engine.setting_get("mainmenu_last_selected_TP"))
-	
+
 	if index == nil then index = 1 end
-	
+
 	if current_texture_path == "" then
 		retval = retval ..
 			menu.render_texture_pack_list(list) ..
 			";" .. index .. "]"
 		return retval
 	end
-	
+
 	local infofile = current_texture_path ..DIR_DELIM.."info.txt"
 	local infotext = ""
 	local f = io.open(infofile, "r")
@ -988,7 +1005,7 @@ function tabbuilder.tab_texture_packs()
 		infotext = f:read("*all")
 		f:close()
 	end
-	
+
 	local screenfile = current_texture_path..DIR_DELIM.."screenshot.png"
 	local no_screenshot = nil
 	if not file_exists(screenfile) then
@ -1009,7 +1026,7 @@ function tabbuilder.tab_credits()
 	local logofile = menu.defaulttexturedir .. "logo.png"
 	return	"vertlabel[0,-0.5;CREDITS]" ..
 			"label[0.5,3;Minetest " .. engine.get_version() .. "]" ..
-			"label[0.5,3.3;http://minetest.net]" .. 
+			"label[0.5,3.3;http://minetest.net]" ..
 			"image[0.5,1;" .. engine.formspec_escape(logofile) .. "]" ..
 			"textlist[3.5,-0.25;8.5,5.8;list_credits;" ..
 			"#FFFF00" .. fgettext("Core Developers") .."," ..
@ -1064,40 +1081,40 @@ function tabbuilder.init()
 	}

 	tabbuilder.current_tab = engine.setting_get("main_menu_tab")
-	
+
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab == nil or
 		tabbuilder.current_tab == "" then
 		tabbuilder.current_tab = "singleplayer"
 		engine.setting_set("main_menu_tab",tabbuilder.current_tab)
 	end
-	
+
 	--initialize tab buttons
 	tabbuilder.last_tab = nil
 	tabbuilder.show_buttons = true
-	
+
 	tabbuilder.current_buttons = {}
 	table.insert(tabbuilder.current_buttons,{name="singleplayer", caption=fgettext("Singleplayer")})
 	table.insert(tabbuilder.current_buttons,{name="multiplayer", caption=fgettext("Client")})
 	table.insert(tabbuilder.current_buttons,{name="server", caption=fgettext("Server")})
 	table.insert(tabbuilder.current_buttons,{name="settings", caption=fgettext("Settings")})
 	table.insert(tabbuilder.current_buttons,{name="texture_packs", caption=fgettext("Texture Packs")})
-	
+
 	if engine.setting_getbool("main_menu_game_mgr") then
 		table.insert(tabbuilder.current_buttons,{name="game_mgr", caption=fgettext("Games")})
 	end
-	
+
 	if engine.setting_getbool("main_menu_mod_mgr") then
 		table.insert(tabbuilder.current_buttons,{name="mod_mgr", caption=fgettext("Mods")})
 	end
 	table.insert(tabbuilder.current_buttons,{name="credits", caption=fgettext("Credits")})
-	
-	
+
+
 	for i=1,#tabbuilder.current_buttons,1 do
 		if tabbuilder.current_buttons[i].name == tabbuilder.current_tab then
 			tabbuilder.last_tab_index = i
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab ~= "singleplayer" then
 		menu.update_gametype(true)
 	else
@ -1112,18 +1129,24 @@ function tabbuilder.checkretval(retval)
 		if retval.current_tab ~= nil then
 			tabbuilder.current_tab = retval.current_tab
 		end
-		
+
 		if retval.is_dialog ~= nil then
 			tabbuilder.is_dialog = retval.is_dialog
 		end
-		
+
 		if retval.show_buttons ~= nil then
 			tabbuilder.show_buttons = retval.show_buttons
 		end
-		
+
 		if retval.skipformupdate ~= nil then
 			tabbuilder.skipformupdate = retval.skipformupdate
 		end
+
+		if retval.ignore_menu_quit == true then
+			tabbuilder.ignore_menu_quit = true
+		else
+			tabbuilder.ignore_menu_quit = false
+		end
 	end
 end

@ -1134,54 +1157,54 @@ end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 engine.button_handler = function(fields)
 	--print("Buttonhandler: tab: " .. tabbuilder.current_tab .. " fields: " .. dump(fields))
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_error_confirm"] then
 		gamedata.errormessage = nil
 	end
-	
+
 	local retval = modmgr.handle_buttons(tabbuilder.current_tab,fields)
 	tabbuilder.checkretval(retval)
-	
+
 	retval = gamemgr.handle_buttons(tabbuilder.current_tab,fields)
 	tabbuilder.checkretval(retval)
-	
+
 	retval = modstore.handle_buttons(tabbuilder.current_tab,fields)
 	tabbuilder.checkretval(retval)
-	
+
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab == "dialog_create_world" then
 		tabbuilder.handle_create_world_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab == "dialog_delete_world" then
 		tabbuilder.handle_delete_world_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab == "singleplayer" then
 		tabbuilder.handle_singleplayer_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab == "texture_packs" then
 		tabbuilder.handle_texture_pack_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab == "multiplayer" then
 		tabbuilder.handle_multiplayer_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab == "settings" then
 		tabbuilder.handle_settings_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	if tabbuilder.current_tab == "server" then
 		tabbuilder.handle_server_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	--tab buttons
 	tabbuilder.handle_tab_buttons(fields)
-	
+
 	--menubar buttons
 	menubar.handle_buttons(fields)
-	
+
 	if not tabbuilder.skipformupdate then
 		--update menu
 		update_menu()
@ -1194,6 +1217,10 @@ end
 engine.event_handler = function(event)
 	if event == "MenuQuit" then
 		if tabbuilder.is_dialog then
+			if tabbuilder.ignore_menu_quit then
+				return
+			end
+
 			tabbuilder.is_dialog = false
 			tabbuilder.show_buttons = true
 			tabbuilder.current_tab = engine.setting_get("main_menu_tab")
@ -1203,6 +1230,10 @@ engine.event_handler = function(event)
 			engine.close()
 		end
 	end
+
+	if event == "Refresh" then
+		update_menu()
+	end
 end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- a/builtin/modmgr.lua
+++ b/builtin/modmgr.lua
@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function get_mods(path,retval,modpack)
 	for i=1,#mods,1 do
 		local toadd = {}
 		local modpackfile = nil
-		
+
 		toadd.name		= mods[i]
 		toadd.path		= path .. DIR_DELIM .. mods[i] .. DIR_DELIM
 		if modpack ~= nil and
@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ function get_mods(path,retval,modpack)
 			local error = nil
 			modpackfile,error = io.open(filename,"r")
 		end
-			
+
 		if modpackfile ~= nil then
 			modpackfile:close()
 			toadd.is_modpack = true
@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ modmgr = {}
 function modmgr.extract(modfile)
 	if modfile.type == "zip" then
 		local tempfolder = os.tempfolder()
-		
+
 		if tempfolder ~= nil and
-			tempfodler ~= "" then
+			tempfolder ~= "" then
 			engine.create_dir(tempfolder)
 			engine.extract_zip(modfile.name,tempfolder)
 			return tempfolder
@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ function modmgr.getbasefolder(temppath)
 				path=temppath
 				}
 	end
-	
+
 	testfile = io.open(temppath .. DIR_DELIM .. "modpack.txt","r")
 	if testfile ~= nil then
 		testfile:close()
@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ function modmgr.getbasefolder(temppath)
 				path=temppath
 				}
 	end
-	
+
 	local subdirs = engine.get_dirlist(temppath,true)
-	
+
 	--only single mod or modpack allowed
 	if #subdirs ~= 1 then
 		return {
@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ function modmgr.getbasefolder(temppath)
 			}
 	end

-	testfile = 
+	testfile =
 	io.open(temppath .. DIR_DELIM .. subdirs[1] ..DIR_DELIM .."init.lua","r")
 	if testfile ~= nil then
 		testfile:close()
@ -109,8 +109,8 @@ function modmgr.getbasefolder(temppath)
 			path= temppath .. DIR_DELIM .. subdirs[1]
 			}
 	end
-	
-	testfile = 
+
+	testfile =
 	io.open(temppath .. DIR_DELIM .. subdirs[1] ..DIR_DELIM .."modpack.txt","r")
 	if testfile ~= nil then
 		testfile:close()
@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ function modmgr.isValidModname(modpath)
 	if modpath:find("-") ~= nil then
 		return false
 	end
-	
+
 	return true
 end

@ -142,20 +142,20 @@ function modmgr.parse_register_line(line)
 	if pos1 ~= nil then
 		pos2 = line:find("\"",pos1+1)
 	end
-	
+
 	if pos1 ~= nil and pos2 ~= nil then
 		local item = line:sub(pos1+1,pos2-1)
-		
+
 		if item ~= nil and
 			item ~= "" then
 			local pos3 = item:find(":")
-			
+
 			if pos3 ~= nil then
 				local retval = item:sub(1,pos3-1)
 				if retval ~= nil and
 					retval ~= "" then
 					return retval
-				end 
+				end
 			end
 		end
 	end
@ -169,10 +169,10 @@ function modmgr.parse_dofile_line(modpath,line)
 	if pos1 ~= nil then
 		pos2 = line:find("\"",pos1+1)
 	end
-	
+
 	if pos1 ~= nil and pos2 ~= nil then
 		local filename = line:sub(pos1+1,pos2-1)
-		
+
 		if filename ~= nil and
 			filename ~= "" and
 			filename:find(".lua") then
@ -187,37 +187,37 @@ function modmgr.identify_modname(modpath,filename)
 	local testfile = io.open(modpath .. DIR_DELIM .. filename,"r")
 	if testfile ~= nil then
 		local line = testfile:read()
-		
+
 		while line~= nil do
 			local modname = nil
-		
+
 			if line:find("minetest.register_tool") then
 				modname = modmgr.parse_register_line(line)
 			end
-			
+
 			if line:find("minetest.register_craftitem") then
 				modname = modmgr.parse_register_line(line)
 			end
-			
-			
+
+
 			if line:find("minetest.register_node") then
 				modname = modmgr.parse_register_line(line)
 			end
-			
+
 			if line:find("dofile") then
 				modname = modmgr.parse_dofile_line(modpath,line)
 			end
-		
+
 			if modname ~= nil then
 				testfile:close()
 				return modname
 			end
-			
+
 			line = testfile:read()
 		end
 		testfile:close()
 	end
-	
+
 	return nil
 end

@ -231,29 +231,29 @@ function modmgr.tab()
 	if modmgr.selected_mod == nil then
 		modmgr.selected_mod = 1
 	end
-	
-	local retval = 
+
+	local retval =
 		"vertlabel[0,-0.25;".. fgettext("MODS") .. "]" ..
 		"label[0.8,-0.25;".. fgettext("Installed Mods:") .. "]" ..
 		"textlist[0.75,0.25;4.5,4;modlist;" ..
-		modmgr.render_modlist(modmgr.global_mods) .. 
+		modmgr.render_modlist(modmgr.global_mods) ..
 		";" .. modmgr.selected_mod .. "]"

 	retval = retval ..
-		"label[0.8,4.2;" .. fgettext("Add mod:") .. "]" .. 
+		"label[0.8,4.2;" .. fgettext("Add mod:") .. "]" ..
 --		TODO Disabled due to upcoming release 0.4.8 and irrlicht messing up localization
 --		"button[0.75,4.85;1.8,0.5;btn_mod_mgr_install_local;".. fgettext("Local install") .. "]" ..
 		"button[2.45,4.85;3.05,0.5;btn_mod_mgr_download;".. fgettext("Online mod repository") .. "]"
-		
+
 	local selected_mod = nil
-		
+
 	if filterlist.size(modmgr.global_mods) >= modmgr.selected_mod then
 		selected_mod = filterlist.get_list(modmgr.global_mods)[modmgr.selected_mod]
 	end
-	
+
 	if selected_mod ~= nil then
 		local modscreenshot = nil
-		
+
 		--check for screenshot beeing available
 		local screenshotfilename = selected_mod.path .. DIR_DELIM .. "screenshot.png"
 		local error = nil
@ -262,40 +262,40 @@ function modmgr.tab()
 			screenshotfile:close()
 			modscreenshot = screenshotfilename
 		end
-	
+
 		if modscreenshot == nil then
 				modscreenshot = modstore.basetexturedir .. "no_screenshot.png"
 		end
-		
-		retval = retval 
+
+		retval = retval
 				.. "image[5.5,0;3,2;" .. engine.formspec_escape(modscreenshot) .. "]"
 				.. "label[8.25,0.6;" .. selected_mod.name .. "]"
-				
+
 		local descriptionlines = nil
 		error = nil
 		local descriptionfilename = selected_mod.path .. "description.txt"
 		descriptionfile,error = io.open(descriptionfilename,"r")
 		if error == nil then
 			descriptiontext = descriptionfile:read("*all")
-			
+
 			descriptionlines = engine.splittext(descriptiontext,42)
 			descriptionfile:close()
 		else
 			descriptionlines = {}
 			table.insert(descriptionlines,fgettext("No mod description available"))
 		end
-	
-		retval = retval .. 
+
+		retval = retval ..
 			"label[5.5,1.7;".. fgettext("Mod information:") .. "]" ..
 			"textlist[5.5,2.2;6.2,2.4;description;"
-			
+
 		for i=1,#descriptionlines,1 do
 			retval = retval .. engine.formspec_escape(descriptionlines[i]) .. ","
 		end
-		
-		
+
+
 		if selected_mod.is_modpack then
-			retval = retval .. ";0]" .. 
+			retval = retval .. ";0]" ..
 				"button[10,4.85;2,0.5;btn_mod_mgr_rename_modpack;" ..
 				fgettext("Rename") .. "]"
 			retval = retval .. "button[5.5,4.85;4.5,0.5;btn_mod_mgr_delete_mod;"
@ -304,11 +304,11 @@ function modmgr.tab()
 			--show dependencies

 			retval = retval .. ",Depends:,"
-				
+
 			toadd = modmgr.get_dependencies(selected_mod.path)
-			
+
 			retval = retval .. toadd .. ";0]"
-			
+
 			retval = retval .. "button[5.5,4.85;4.5,0.5;btn_mod_mgr_delete_mod;"
 				.. fgettext("Uninstall selected mod") .. "]"
 		end
@ -320,15 +320,15 @@ end
 function modmgr.dialog_rename_modpack()

 	local mod = filterlist.get_list(modmgr.global_mods)[modmgr.selected_mod]
-	
-	local retval = 
+
+	local retval =
 		"label[1.75,1;".. fgettext("Rename Modpack:") .. "]"..
 		"field[4.5,1.4;6,0.5;te_modpack_name;;" ..
 		mod.name ..
 		"]" ..
-		"button[5,4.2;2.6,0.5;dlg_rename_modpack_confirm;".. 
+		"button[5,4.2;2.6,0.5;dlg_rename_modpack_confirm;"..
 				fgettext("Accept") .. "]" ..
-		"button[7.5,4.2;2.8,0.5;dlg_rename_modpack_cancel;".. 
+		"button[7.5,4.2;2.8,0.5;dlg_rename_modpack_cancel;"..
 				fgettext("Cancel") .. "]"

 	return retval
@ -340,15 +340,15 @@ function modmgr.precheck()
 	if modmgr.world_config_selected_world == nil then
 		modmgr.world_config_selected_world = 1
 	end
-	
+
 	if modmgr.world_config_selected_mod == nil then
 		modmgr.world_config_selected_mod = 1
 	end
-	
+
 	if modmgr.hide_gamemods == nil then
 		modmgr.hide_gamemods = true
 	end
-	
+
 	if modmgr.hide_modpackcontents == nil then
 		modmgr.hide_modpackcontents = true
 	end
@ -357,27 +357,27 @@ end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modmgr.render_modlist(render_list)
 	local retval = ""
-	
+
 	if render_list == nil then
 		if modmgr.global_mods == nil then
 			modmgr.refresh_globals()
 		end
 		render_list = modmgr.global_mods
 	end
-	
+
 	local list = filterlist.get_list(render_list)
 	local last_modpack = nil
-	
+
 	for i,v in ipairs(list) do
 		if retval ~= "" then
 			retval = retval ..","
 		end

 		local color = ""
-		
+
 		if v.is_modpack then
 			local rawlist = filterlist.get_raw_list(render_list)
-			
+
 			local all_enabled = true
 			for j=1,#rawlist,1 do
 				if rawlist[j].modpack == list[i].name and
@ -386,14 +386,14 @@ function modmgr.render_modlist(render_list)
 						break
 				end
 			end
-			
+
 			if all_enabled == false then
 				color = mt_color_grey
 			else
 				color = mt_color_dark_green
 			end
 		end
-		
+
 		if v.typ == "game_mod" then
 			color = mt_color_blue
 		else
@ -408,34 +408,34 @@ function modmgr.render_modlist(render_list)
 		end
 		retval = retval .. v.name
 	end
-	
+
 	return retval
 end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modmgr.dialog_configure_world()
 	modmgr.precheck()
-	
+
 	local worldspec = engine.get_worlds()[modmgr.world_config_selected_world]
 	local mod = filterlist.get_list(modmgr.modlist)[modmgr.world_config_selected_mod]
-	
+
 	local retval =
 		"size[11,6.5]" ..
 		"label[0.5,-0.25;" .. fgettext("World:") .. "]" ..
 		"label[1.75,-0.25;" .. worldspec.name .. "]"
-		
+
 	if modmgr.hide_gamemods then
 		retval = retval .. "checkbox[0,5.75;cb_hide_gamemods;" .. fgettext("Hide Game") .. ";true]"
 	else
 		retval = retval .. "checkbox[0,5.75;cb_hide_gamemods;" .. fgettext("Hide Game") .. ";false]"
 	end
-	
+
 	if modmgr.hide_modpackcontents then
 		retval = retval .. "checkbox[2,5.75;cb_hide_mpcontent;" .. fgettext("Hide mp content") .. ";true]"
 	else
 		retval = retval .. "checkbox[2,5.75;cb_hide_mpcontent;" .. fgettext("Hide mp content") .. ";false]"
 	end
-	
+
 	if mod == nil then
 		mod = {name=""}
 	end
@ -447,11 +447,11 @@ function modmgr.dialog_configure_world()
 		modmgr.get_dependencies(mod.path) .. ";0]" ..
 		"button[9.25,6.35;2,0.5;btn_config_world_save;" .. fgettext("Save") .. "]" ..
 		"button[7.4,6.35;2,0.5;btn_config_world_cancel;" .. fgettext("Cancel") .. "]"
-	
+
 	if mod ~= nil and mod.name ~= "" and mod.typ ~= "game_mod" then
 		if mod.is_modpack then
 			local rawlist = filterlist.get_raw_list(modmgr.modlist)
-			
+
 			local all_enabled = true
 			for j=1,#rawlist,1 do
 				if rawlist[j].modpack == mod.name and
@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ function modmgr.dialog_configure_world()
 						break
 				end
 			end
-			
+
 			if all_enabled == false then
 				retval = retval .. "button[5.5,-0.125;2,0.5;btn_mp_enable;" .. fgettext("Enable MP") .. "]"
 			else
@ -474,15 +474,15 @@ function modmgr.dialog_configure_world()
 			end
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	retval = retval ..
 		"button[8.5,-0.125;2.5,0.5;btn_all_mods;" .. fgettext("Enable all") .. "]" ..
 		"textlist[5.5,0.5;5.5,5.75;world_config_modlist;"
-	
+
 	retval = retval .. modmgr.render_modlist(modmgr.modlist)
-	
+
 	retval = retval .. ";" .. modmgr.world_config_selected_mod .."]"
-	
+
 	return retval
 end

@ -490,23 +490,23 @@ end
 function modmgr.handle_buttons(tab,fields)

 	local retval = nil
-	
+
 	if tab == "mod_mgr" then
 		retval = modmgr.handle_modmgr_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	if tab == "dialog_rename_modpack" then
 		retval = modmgr.handle_rename_modpack_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	if tab == "dialog_delete_mod" then
 		retval = modmgr.handle_delete_mod_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	if tab == "dialog_configure_world" then
 		retval = modmgr.handle_configure_world_buttons(fields)
 	end
-	
+
 	return retval
 end

@ -516,13 +516,13 @@ function modmgr.get_dependencies(modfolder)
 	if modfolder ~= nil then
 		local filename = modfolder ..
 					DIR_DELIM .. "depends.txt"
-	
+
 		local dependencyfile = io.open(filename,"r")
-		
+
 		if dependencyfile then
 			local dependency = dependencyfile:read("*l")
 			while dependency do
-				if toadd ~= "" then	
+				if toadd ~= "" then
 					toadd = toadd .. ","
 				end
 				toadd = toadd .. dependency
@ -542,11 +542,11 @@ function modmgr.get_worldconfig(worldpath)
 				DIR_DELIM .. "world.mt"

 	local worldfile = Settings(filename)
-	
+
 	local worldconfig = {}
 	worldconfig.global_mods = {}
 	worldconfig.game_mods = {}
-	
+
 	for key,value in pairs(worldfile:to_table()) do
 		if key == "gameid" then
 			worldconfig.id = value
@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ function modmgr.get_worldconfig(worldpath)
 			worldconfig.global_mods[key] = engine.is_yes(value)
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	--read gamemods
 	local gamespec = gamemgr.find_by_gameid(worldconfig.id)
 	gamemgr.get_game_mods(gamespec, worldconfig.game_mods)
@ -573,11 +573,11 @@ function modmgr.handle_modmgr_buttons(fields)
 		local event = explode_textlist_event(fields["modlist"])
 		modmgr.selected_mod = event.index
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_mod_mgr_install_local"] ~= nil then
 		engine.show_file_open_dialog("mod_mgt_open_dlg",fgettext("Select Mod File:"))
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_mod_mgr_download"] ~= nil then
 		modstore.update_modlist()
 		retval.current_tab = "dialog_modstore_unsorted"
@ -585,26 +585,26 @@ function modmgr.handle_modmgr_buttons(fields)
 		retval.show_buttons = false
 		return retval
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_mod_mgr_rename_modpack"] ~= nil then
 		retval.current_tab = "dialog_rename_modpack"
 		retval.is_dialog = true
 		retval.show_buttons = false
 		return retval
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_mod_mgr_delete_mod"] ~= nil then
 		retval.current_tab = "dialog_delete_mod"
 		retval.is_dialog = true
 		retval.show_buttons = false
 		return retval
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["mod_mgt_open_dlg_accepted"] ~= nil and
 		fields["mod_mgt_open_dlg_accepted"] ~= "" then
 		modmgr.installmod(fields["mod_mgt_open_dlg_accepted"],nil)
 	end
-	
+
 	return nil;
 end

@ -612,27 +612,27 @@ end
 function modmgr.installmod(modfilename,basename)
 	local modfile = modmgr.identify_filetype(modfilename)
 	local modpath = modmgr.extract(modfile)
-	
+
 	if modpath == nil then
 		gamedata.errormessage = fgettext("Install Mod: file: \"$1\"", modfile.name) ..
 			fgettext("\nInstall Mod: unsupported filetype \"$1\"", modfile.type)
 		return
 	end
-	
-	
+
+
 	local basefolder = modmgr.getbasefolder(modpath)
-	
+
 	if basefolder.type == "modpack" then
 		local clean_path = nil
-		
+
 		if basename ~= nil then
 			clean_path = "mp_" .. basename
 		end
-		
+
 		if clean_path == nil then
 			clean_path = get_last_folder(cleanup_path(basefolder.path))
 		end
-		
+
 		if clean_path ~= nil then
 			local targetpath = engine.get_modpath() .. DIR_DELIM .. clean_path
 			if not engine.copy_dir(basefolder.path,targetpath) then
@ -642,19 +642,19 @@ function modmgr.installmod(modfilename,basename)
 			gamedata.errormessage = fgettext("Install Mod: unable to find suitable foldername for modpack $1", modfilename)
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if basefolder.type == "mod" then
 		local targetfolder = basename
-		
+
 		if targetfolder == nil then
 			targetfolder = modmgr.identify_modname(basefolder.path,"init.lua")
 		end
-		
+
 		--if heuristic failed try to use current foldername
 		if targetfolder == nil then
 			targetfolder = get_last_folder(basefolder.path)
-		end	
-		
+		end
+
 		if targetfolder ~= nil and modmgr.isValidModname(targetfolder) then
 			local targetpath = engine.get_modpath() .. DIR_DELIM .. targetfolder
 			engine.copy_dir(basefolder.path,targetpath)
@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ function modmgr.installmod(modfilename,basename)
 			gamedata.errormessage = fgettext("Install Mod: unable to find real modname for: $1", modfilename)
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	engine.delete_dir(modpath)

 	modmgr.refresh_globals()
@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modmgr.handle_rename_modpack_buttons(fields)
-	
+
 	if fields["dlg_rename_modpack_confirm"] ~= nil then
 		local mod = filterlist.get_list(modmgr.global_mods)[modmgr.selected_mod]
 		local oldpath = engine.get_modpath() .. DIR_DELIM .. mod.name
@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ function modmgr.handle_rename_modpack_buttons(fields)
 		modmgr.selected_mod = filterlist.get_current_index(modmgr.global_mods,
 			filterlist.raw_index_by_uid(modmgr.global_mods, fields["te_modpack_name"]))
 	end
-	
+
 	return {
 		is_dialog = false,
 		show_buttons = true,
@ -698,25 +698,25 @@ function modmgr.handle_configure_world_buttons(fields)
 			modmgr.world_config_enable_mod(nil)
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["key_enter"] ~= nil then
 		modmgr.world_config_enable_mod(nil)
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["cb_mod_enable"] ~= nil then
 		local toset = engine.is_yes(fields["cb_mod_enable"])
 		modmgr.world_config_enable_mod(toset)
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_mp_enable"] ~= nil or
 		fields["btn_mp_disable"] then
 		local toset = (fields["btn_mp_enable"] ~= nil)
 		modmgr.world_config_enable_mod(toset)
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["cb_hide_gamemods"] ~= nil then
 		local current = filterlist.get_filtercriteria(modmgr.modlist)
-		
+
 		if current == nil then
 			current = {}
 		end
@ -728,13 +728,13 @@ function modmgr.handle_configure_world_buttons(fields)
 			current.hide_game = false
 			modmgr.hide_gamemods = false
 		end
-		
+
 		filterlist.set_filtercriteria(modmgr.modlist,current)
 	end
-	
+
 		if fields["cb_hide_mpcontent"] ~= nil then
 		local current = filterlist.get_filtercriteria(modmgr.modlist)
-		
+
 		if current == nil then
 			current = {}
 		end
@ -746,21 +746,21 @@ function modmgr.handle_configure_world_buttons(fields)
 			current.hide_modpackcontents = false
 			modmgr.hide_modpackcontents = false
 		end
-		
+
 		filterlist.set_filtercriteria(modmgr.modlist,current)
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_config_world_save"] then
 		local worldspec = engine.get_worlds()[modmgr.world_config_selected_world]
-		
+
 		local filename = worldspec.path ..
 				DIR_DELIM .. "world.mt"
-		
+
 		local worldfile = Settings(filename)
 		local mods = worldfile:to_table()
-		
+
 		local rawlist = filterlist.get_raw_list(modmgr.modlist)
-		
+
 		local i,mod
 		for i,mod in ipairs(rawlist) do
 			if not mod.is_modpack and
@ -773,42 +773,42 @@ function modmgr.handle_configure_world_buttons(fields)
 				mods["load_mod_"..mod.name] = nil
 			end
 		end
-		
+
 		-- Remove mods that are not present anymore
 		for key,value in pairs(mods) do
 			if key:sub(1,9) == "load_mod_" then
 				worldfile:remove(key)
 			end
 		end
-		
+
 		if not worldfile:write() then
 			engine.log("error", "Failed to write world config file")
 		end
-		
+
 		modmgr.modlist = nil
 		modmgr.worldconfig = nil
-	
+
 		return {
 			is_dialog = false,
 			show_buttons = true,
 			current_tab = engine.setting_get("main_menu_tab")
 		}
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_config_world_cancel"] then
-	
+
 		modmgr.worldconfig = nil
-		
+
 		return {
 			is_dialog = false,
 			show_buttons = true,
 			current_tab = engine.setting_get("main_menu_tab")
 		}
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_all_mods"] then
 		local list = filterlist.get_raw_list(modmgr.modlist)
-		
+
 		for i=1,#list,1 do
 			if list[i].typ ~= "game_mod" and
 				not list[i].is_modpack then
@ -816,9 +816,9 @@ function modmgr.handle_configure_world_buttons(fields)
 			end
 		end
 	end
-	

-	
+
+
 	return nil
 end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@ -849,9 +849,9 @@ end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modmgr.handle_delete_mod_buttons(fields)
 	local mod = filterlist.get_list(modmgr.global_mods)[modmgr.selected_mod]
-	
+
 	if fields["dlg_delete_mod_confirm"] ~= nil then
-		
+
 		if mod.path ~= nil and
 			mod.path ~= "" and
 			mod.path ~= engine.get_modpath() then
@ -863,7 +863,7 @@ function modmgr.handle_delete_mod_buttons(fields)
 			gamedata.errormessage = fgettext("Modmgr: invalid modpath \"$1\"", mod.path)
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	return {
 		is_dialog = false,
 		show_buttons = true,
@ -875,8 +875,8 @@ end
 function modmgr.dialog_delete_mod()

 	local mod = filterlist.get_list(modmgr.global_mods)[modmgr.selected_mod]
-	
-	local retval = 
+
+	local retval =
 		"field[1.75,1;10,3;;" .. fgettext("Are you sure you want to delete \"$1\"?", mod.name) ..  ";]"..
 		"button[4,4.2;1,0.5;dlg_delete_mod_confirm;" .. fgettext("Yes") .. "]" ..
 		"button[6.5,4.2;3,0.5;dlg_delete_mod_cancel;" .. fgettext("No of course not!") .. "]"
@ -887,10 +887,10 @@ end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modmgr.preparemodlist(data)
 	local retval = {}
-	
+
 	local global_mods = {}
 	local game_mods = {}
-	
+
 	--read global mods
 	local modpath = engine.get_modpath()

@ -898,31 +898,31 @@ function modmgr.preparemodlist(data)
 		modpath ~= "" then
 		get_mods(modpath,global_mods)
 	end
-	
+
 	for i=1,#global_mods,1 do
 		global_mods[i].typ = "global_mod"
 		table.insert(retval,global_mods[i])
 	end
-	
+
 	--read game mods
 	local gamespec = gamemgr.find_by_gameid(data.gameid)
 	gamemgr.get_game_mods(gamespec, game_mods)
-	
+
 	for i=1,#game_mods,1 do
 		game_mods[i].typ = "game_mod"
 		table.insert(retval,game_mods[i])
 	end
-	
+
 	if data.worldpath == nil then
 		return retval
 	end
-	
+
 	--read world mod configuration
 	local filename = data.worldpath ..
 				DIR_DELIM .. "world.mt"

 	local worldfile = Settings(filename)
-	
+
 	for key,value in pairs(worldfile:to_table()) do
 		if key:sub(1, 9) == "load_mod_" then
 			key = key:sub(10)
@ -948,17 +948,17 @@ end
 function modmgr.init_worldconfig()
 	modmgr.precheck()
 	local worldspec = engine.get_worlds()[modmgr.world_config_selected_world]
-	
+
 	if worldspec ~= nil then
 		--read worldconfig
 		modmgr.worldconfig = modmgr.get_worldconfig(worldspec.path)
-		
+
 		if modmgr.worldconfig.id == nil or
 			modmgr.worldconfig.id == "" then
 			modmgr.worldconfig = nil
 			return false
 		end
-		
+
 		modmgr.modlist = filterlist.create(
 						modmgr.preparemodlist, --refresh
 						modmgr.comparemod, --compare
@ -966,13 +966,13 @@ function modmgr.init_worldconfig()
 							if element.name == uid then
 								return true
 							end
-						end, 
+						end,
 						function(element,criteria)
 							if criteria.hide_game and
 								element.typ == "game_mod" then
 									return false
 							end
-							
+
 							if criteria.hide_modpackcontents and
 								element.modpack ~= nil then
 									return false
@ -982,15 +982,15 @@ function modmgr.init_worldconfig()
 						{ worldpath= worldspec.path,
 						  gameid = worldspec.gameid }
 					)
-					
+
 		filterlist.set_filtercriteria(modmgr.modlist, {
 									hide_game=modmgr.hide_gamemods,
 									hide_modpackcontents= modmgr.hide_modpackcontents
 									})
 		filterlist.add_sort_mechanism(modmgr.modlist, "alphabetic", sort_mod_list)
 		filterlist.set_sortmode(modmgr.modlist, "alphabetic")
-		
-		return true	
+
+		return true
 	end

 	return false
@ -1013,34 +1013,34 @@ function modmgr.comparemod(elem1,elem2)
 	if elem1.modpack ~= elem2.modpack then
 		return false
 	end
-	
+
 	if elem1.path ~= elem2.path then
 		return false
 	end
-	
+
 	return true
 end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modmgr.gettab(name)
 	local retval = ""
-	
+
 	if name == "mod_mgr" then
 		retval = retval .. modmgr.tab()
 	end
-	
+
 	if name == "dialog_rename_modpack" then
 		retval = retval .. modmgr.dialog_rename_modpack()
 	end
-	
+
 	if name == "dialog_delete_mod" then
 		retval = retval .. modmgr.dialog_delete_mod()
 	end
-	
+
 	if name == "dialog_configure_world" then
 		retval = retval .. modmgr.dialog_configure_world()
 	end
-	
+
 	return retval
 end

@ -1054,7 +1054,7 @@ function modmgr.mod_exists(basename)
 	if filterlist.raw_index_by_uid(modmgr.global_mods,basename) > 0 then
 		return true
 	end
-	
+
 	return false
 end

@ -1064,7 +1064,7 @@ function modmgr.get_global_mod(idx)
 	if modmgr.global_mods == nil then
 		return nil
 	end
-	
+
 	if idx < 1 or idx > filterlist.size(modmgr.global_mods) then
 		return nil
 	end
@ -1081,7 +1081,7 @@ function modmgr.refresh_globals()
 						if element.name == uid then
 							return true
 						end
-					end, 
+					end,
 					nil, --filter
 					{}
 					)
@ -1098,7 +1098,7 @@ function modmgr.identify_filetype(name)
 				type = "zip"
 				}
 	end
-	
+
 	if name:sub(-6):lower() == "tar.gz" or
 		name:sub(-3):lower() == "tgz"then
 		return {
@ -1106,14 +1106,14 @@ function modmgr.identify_filetype(name)
 				type = "tgz"
 				}
 	end
-	
+
 	if name:sub(-6):lower() == "tar.bz2" then
 		return {
 				name = name,
 				type = "tbz"
 				}
 	end
-	
+
 	if name:sub(-2):lower() == "7z" then
 		return {
 				name = name,
--- a/builtin/modstore.lua
+++ b/builtin/modstore.lua
@ -23,19 +23,20 @@ modstore = {}
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modstore.init()
 	modstore.tabnames = {}
-	
+
 	table.insert(modstore.tabnames,"dialog_modstore_unsorted")
 	table.insert(modstore.tabnames,"dialog_modstore_search")
-	
+
 	modstore.modsperpage = 5
-	
-	modstore.basetexturedir = engine.get_texturepath() .. DIR_DELIM .. "base" .. 
+
+	modstore.basetexturedir = engine.get_texturepath() .. DIR_DELIM .. "base" ..
 						DIR_DELIM .. "pack" .. DIR_DELIM
-	
+
+	modstore.lastmodtitle = ""
+
 	modstore.current_list = nil
-	
-	modstore.details_cache = {}
 end
+
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modstore.nametoindex(name)

@ -51,30 +52,34 @@ end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modstore.gettab(tabname)
 	local retval = ""
-	
+
 	local is_modstore_tab = false
-	
+
 	if tabname == "dialog_modstore_unsorted" then
 		retval = modstore.getmodlist(modstore.modlist_unsorted)
 		is_modstore_tab = true
 	end
-	
+
 	if tabname == "dialog_modstore_search" then
-	
-	
+		retval = modstore.getsearchpage()
 		is_modstore_tab = true
 	end
-	
+
 	if is_modstore_tab then
 		return modstore.tabheader(tabname) .. retval
 	end
-	
+
 	if tabname == "modstore_mod_installed" then
-		return "size[6,2]label[0.25,0.25;Mod: " .. modstore.lastmodtitle .. 
+		return "size[6,2]label[0.25,0.25;Mod(s): " .. modstore.lastmodtitle ..
 				" installed successfully]" ..
 				"button[2.5,1.5;1,0.5;btn_confirm_mod_successfull;ok]"
 	end
-	
+
+	if tabname == "modstore_downloading" then
+		return "size[6,2]label[0.25,0.25;Dowloading " .. modstore.lastmodtitle ..
+				" please wait]"
+	end
+
 	return ""
 end

@ -84,18 +89,16 @@ function modstore.tabheader(tabname)
 	retval = retval .. "tabheader[-0.3,-0.99;modstore_tab;" ..
 				"Unsorted,Search;" ..
 				modstore.nametoindex(tabname) .. ";true;false]"
-				
+
 	return retval
 end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modstore.handle_buttons(current_tab,fields)

-	modstore.lastmodtitle = ""
-	
 	if fields["modstore_tab"] then
 		local index = tonumber(fields["modstore_tab"])
-		
+
 		if index > 0 and
 			index <= #modstore.tabnames then
 			return {
@ -104,59 +107,102 @@ function modstore.handle_buttons(current_tab,fields)
 					show_buttons = false
 			}
 		end
-		
+
 		modstore.modlist_page = 0
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_modstore_page_up"] then
 		if modstore.current_list ~= nil and modstore.current_list.page > 0 then
 			modstore.current_list.page = modstore.current_list.page - 1
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	if fields["btn_modstore_page_down"] then
-		if modstore.current_list ~= nil and 
+		if modstore.current_list ~= nil and
 			modstore.current_list.page <modstore.current_list.pagecount-1 then
 			modstore.current_list.page = modstore.current_list.page +1
 		end
 	end
-	
+
+	if fields["btn_hidden_close_download"] then
+		return {
+					current_tab = "modstore_mod_installed",
+					is_dialog = true,
+					show_buttons = false
+			}
+	end
+
 	if fields["btn_confirm_mod_successfull"] then
+		modstore.lastmodtitle = ""
 		return {
 					current_tab = modstore.tabnames[1],
 					is_dialog = true,
 					show_buttons = false
 			}
 	end
-	
+
 	for i=1, modstore.modsperpage, 1 do
 		local installbtn = "btn_install_mod_" .. i
-		
+
 		if fields[installbtn] then
-			local modlistentry = 
+			local modlistentry =
 				modstore.current_list.page * modstore.modsperpage + i
-			
-			local moddetails = modstore.get_details(modstore.current_list.data[modlistentry].id)
-			
-			local fullurl = engine.setting_get("modstore_download_url") ..
-								moddetails.download_url
-			local modfilename = os.tempfolder() .. ".zip"
-			
-			if engine.download_file(fullurl,modfilename) then
-			
-				modmgr.installmod(modfilename,moddetails.basename)
-				
-				os.remove(modfilename)
-				modstore.lastmodtitle = modstore.current_list.data[modlistentry].title
-				
+
+			if modstore.modlist_unsorted.data[modlistentry] ~= nil and
+				modstore.modlist_unsorted.data[modlistentry].details ~= nil then
+
+				local moddetails = modstore.modlist_unsorted.data[modlistentry].details
+
+				if modstore.lastmodtitle ~= "" then
+					modstore.lastmodtitle = modstore.lastmodtitle .. ", "
+				end
+
+				modstore.lastmodtitle = modstore.lastmodtitle .. moddetails.title
+
+				engine.handle_async(
+					function(param)
+						local fullurl = engine.setting_get("modstore_download_url") ..
+										param.moddetails.download_url
+
+						if engine.download_file(fullurl,param.filename) then
+							return {
+								moddetails = param.moddetails,
+								filename = param.filename,
+								successfull = true
+							}
+						else
+							return {
+								modtitle = param.title,
+								successfull = false
+							}
+						end
+					end,
+					{
+						moddetails = moddetails,
+						filename = os.tempfolder() .. ".zip"
+					},
+					function(result)
+						if result.successfull then
+							modmgr.installmod(result.filename,result.moddetails.basename)
+							os.remove(result.filename)
+						else
+							gamedata.errormessage = "Failed to download " .. result.moddetails.title
+						end
+
+						engine.button_handler({btn_hidden_close_download=true})
+					end
+				)
+
 				return {
-					current_tab = "modstore_mod_installed",
+					current_tab = "modstore_downloading",
 					is_dialog = true,
-					show_buttons = false
+					show_buttons = false,
+					ignore_menu_quit = true
 				}
+
 			else
-				gamedata.errormessage = "Unable to download " .. 
-					moddetails.download_url .. " (internet connection?)"
+				gamedata.errormessage =
+					"Internal modstore error please leave modstore and reopen! (Sorry)"
 			end
 		end
 	end
@ -165,110 +211,195 @@ end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modstore.update_modlist()
 	modstore.modlist_unsorted = {}
-	modstore.modlist_unsorted.data = engine.get_modstore_list()
-		
-	if modstore.modlist_unsorted.data ~= nil then
-		modstore.modlist_unsorted.pagecount = 
-			math.ceil((#modstore.modlist_unsorted.data / modstore.modsperpage))
-	else
-		modstore.modlist_unsorted.data = {}
-		modstore.modlist_unsorted.pagecount = 1
-	end
+	modstore.modlist_unsorted.data = {}
+	modstore.modlist_unsorted.pagecount = 1
 	modstore.modlist_unsorted.page = 0
+
+	engine.handle_async(
+		function(param)
+			return engine.get_modstore_list()
+		end,
+		nil,
+		function(result)
+			if result ~= nil then
+				modstore.modlist_unsorted = {}
+				modstore.modlist_unsorted.data = result
+
+				if modstore.modlist_unsorted.data ~= nil then
+					modstore.modlist_unsorted.pagecount =
+						math.ceil((#modstore.modlist_unsorted.data / modstore.modsperpage))
+				else
+					modstore.modlist_unsorted.data = {}
+					modstore.modlist_unsorted.pagecount = 1
+				end
+				modstore.modlist_unsorted.page = 0
+				modstore.fetchdetails()
+				engine.event_handler("Refresh")
+			end
+		end
+	)
 end

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+function modstore.fetchdetails()
+
+	for i=1,#modstore.modlist_unsorted.data,1 do
+		engine.handle_async(
+		function(param)
+			param.details = engine.get_modstore_details(tostring(param.modid))
+			return param
+		end,
+		{
+			modid=modstore.modlist_unsorted.data[i].id,
+			listindex=i
+		},
+		function(result)
+			if result ~= nil and
+				modstore.modlist_unsorted ~= nil
+				and modstore.modlist_unsorted.data ~= nil and
+				modstore.modlist_unsorted.data[result.listindex] ~= nil and
+				modstore.modlist_unsorted.data[result.listindex].id ~= nil then
+
+				modstore.modlist_unsorted.data[result.listindex].details = result.details
+				engine.event_handler("Refresh")
+			end
+		end
+		)
+	end
+end
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function modstore.getmodlist(list)
 	local retval = ""
 	retval = retval .. "label[10,-0.4;" .. fgettext("Page $1 of $2", list.page+1, list.pagecount) .. "]"
-	
+
 	retval = retval .. "button[11.6,-0.1;0.5,0.5;btn_modstore_page_up;^]"
 	retval = retval .. "box[11.6,0.35;0.28,8.6;#000000]"
 	local scrollbarpos = 0.35 + (8.1/(list.pagecount-1)) * list.page
 	retval = retval .. "box[11.6," ..scrollbarpos .. ";0.28,0.5;#32CD32]"
 	retval = retval .. "button[11.6,9.0;0.5,0.5;btn_modstore_page_down;v]"
-	
-	
+
+
 	if #list.data < (list.page * modstore.modsperpage) then
 		return retval
 	end
-	
+
 	local endmod = (list.page * modstore.modsperpage) + modstore.modsperpage
-	
+
 	if (endmod > #list.data) then
 		endmod = #list.data
 	end

 	for i=(list.page * modstore.modsperpage) +1, endmod, 1 do
 		--getmoddetails
-		local details = modstore.get_details(list.data[i].id)
-	
+		local details = list.data[i].details
+
+--		if details == nil then
+--			details = modstore.get_details(list.data[i].id)
+--		end
+
+		if details == nil then
+			details = {}
+			details.title = list.data[i].title
+			details.author = ""
+			details.rating = -1
+			details.description = ""
+		end
+
 		if details ~= nil then
 			local screenshot_ypos = (i-1 - (list.page * modstore.modsperpage))*1.9 +0.2
-			
+
 			retval = retval .. "box[0," .. screenshot_ypos .. ";11.4,1.75;#FFFFFF]"
-			
-			--screenshot
-			if details.screenshot_url ~= nil and
-				details.screenshot_url ~= "" then
-				if list.data[i].texturename == nil then
-					local fullurl = engine.setting_get("modstore_download_url") ..
-								details.screenshot_url
-					local filename = os.tempfolder()
-					
-					if engine.download_file(fullurl,filename) then
-						list.data[i].texturename = filename
+
+			if details.basename then
+				--screenshot
+				if details.screenshot_url ~= nil and
+					details.screenshot_url ~= "" then
+					if list.data[i].texturename == nil then
+						local fullurl = engine.setting_get("modstore_download_url") ..
+									details.screenshot_url
+						local filename = os.tempfolder() .. "_MID_" .. list.data[i].id
+						list.data[i].texturename = "in progress"
+						engine.handle_async(
+							function(param)
+								param.successfull = engine.download_file(param.fullurl,param.filename)
+								return param
+							end,
+							{
+								fullurl = fullurl,
+								filename = filename,
+								listindex = i,
+								modid = list.data[i].id
+							},
+							function(result)
+								if modstore.modlist_unsorted and
+									modstore.modlist_unsorted.data and
+									#modstore.modlist_unsorted.data >= result.listindex and
+									modstore.modlist_unsorted.data[result.listindex].id == result.modid then
+									if result.successfull then
+										modstore.modlist_unsorted.data[result.listindex].texturename = result.filename
+									else
+										modstore.modlist_unsorted.data[result.listindex].texturename = modstore.basetexturedir .. "no_screenshot.png"
+									end
+									engine.event_handler("Refresh")
+								end
+							end
+						)
+					end
+				else
+					if list.data[i].texturename == nil then
+						list.data[i].texturename = modstore.basetexturedir .. "no_screenshot.png"
 					end
 				end
+
+				if list.data[i].texturename ~= nil and
+					list.data[i].texturename ~= "in progress" then
+					retval = retval .. "image[0,".. screenshot_ypos .. ";3,2;" ..
+						engine.formspec_escape(list.data[i].texturename) .. "]"
+				end
 			end
-			
-			if list.data[i].texturename == nil then
-				list.data[i].texturename = modstore.basetexturedir .. "no_screenshot.png"
-			end
-			
-			retval = retval .. "image[0,".. screenshot_ypos .. ";3,2;" .. 
-					engine.formspec_escape(list.data[i].texturename) .. "]"
-			
+
 			--title + author
-			retval = retval .."label[2.75," .. screenshot_ypos .. ";" .. 
+			retval = retval .."label[2.75," .. screenshot_ypos .. ";" ..
 				engine.formspec_escape(details.title) .. " (" .. details.author .. ")]"
-			
+
 			--description
 			local descriptiony = screenshot_ypos + 0.5
-			retval = retval .. "textarea[3," .. descriptiony .. ";6.5,1.55;;" .. 
+			retval = retval .. "textarea[3," .. descriptiony .. ";6.5,1.55;;" ..
 				engine.formspec_escape(details.description) .. ";]"
 			--rating
 			local ratingy = screenshot_ypos + 0.6
-			retval = retval .."label[10.1," .. ratingy .. ";" .. 
-							fgettext("Rating") .. ": " .. details.rating .."]"
-			
-			--install button
-			local buttony = screenshot_ypos + 1.2
-			local buttonnumber = (i - (list.page * modstore.modsperpage))
-			retval = retval .."button[9.6," .. buttony .. ";2,0.5;btn_install_mod_" .. buttonnumber .. ";"
-			
-			if modmgr.mod_exists(details.basename) then
-				retval = retval .. fgettext("re-Install") .."]"
-			else
-				retval = retval .. fgettext("Install") .."]"
+			retval = retval .."label[9.1," .. ratingy .. ";" ..
+							fgettext("Rating") .. ":]"
+			retval = retval .. "label[11.1," .. ratingy .. ";" .. details.rating .."]"
+
+			if details.basename then
+				--install button
+				local buttony = screenshot_ypos + 1.2
+				local buttonnumber = (i - (list.page * modstore.modsperpage))
+				retval = retval .."button[9.1," .. buttony .. ";2.5,0.5;btn_install_mod_" .. buttonnumber .. ";"
+
+				if modmgr.mod_exists(details.basename) then
+					retval = retval .. fgettext("re-Install") .."]"
+				else
+					retval = retval .. fgettext("Install") .."]"
+				end
 			end
 		end
 	end
-	
+
 	modstore.current_list = list
-	
+
 	return retval
 end

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-function modstore.get_details(modid) 
+function modstore.getsearchpage()
+	local retval = ""

-	if modstore.details_cache[modid] ~= nil then
-		return modstore.details_cache[modid]
-	end
-	
-	local retval = engine.get_modstore_details(tostring(modid))
-	modstore.details_cache[modid] = retval
-	return retval
+	--TODO implement search!
+
+	return retval;
 end

--- a/doc/menu_lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/menu_lua_api.txt
@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ engine.close()
 Filesystem:
 engine.get_scriptdir()
 ^ returns directory of script
-engine.get_modpath()
+engine.get_modpath() (possible in async calls)
 ^ returns path to global modpath
-engine.get_modstore_details(modid)
+engine.get_modstore_details(modid) (possible in async calls)
 ^ modid numeric id of mod in modstore
 ^ returns {
 	id			= <numeric id of mod in modstore>,
@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ engine.get_modstore_details(modid)
 	license		= <short description of license>,
 	rating		= <float value of current rating>
 }
-engine.get_modstore_list()
+engine.get_modstore_list() (possible in async calls)
 ^ returns {
 	[1] = {
 		id		 = <numeric id of mod in modstore>,
@ -55,19 +55,21 @@ engine.get_modstore_list()
 		basename = <basename for mod>
 	}
 }
-engine.get_gamepath()
+engine.get_gamepath() (possible in async calls)
 ^ returns path to global gamepath
-engine.get_dirlist(path,onlydirs)
+engine.get_texturepath() (possible in async calls)
+^ returns path to default textures
+engine.get_dirlist(path,onlydirs) (possible in async calls)
 ^ path to get subdirs from
 ^ onlydirs should result contain only dirs?
 ^ returns list of folders within path
-engine.create_dir(absolute_path)
+engine.create_dir(absolute_path) (possible in async calls)
 ^ absolute_path to directory to create (needs to be absolute)
 ^ returns true/false
-engine.delete_dir(absolute_path)
+engine.delete_dir(absolute_path) (possible in async calls)
 ^ absolute_path to directory to delete (needs to be absolute)
 ^ returns true/false
-engine.copy_dir(source,destination,keep_soure)
+engine.copy_dir(source,destination,keep_soure) (possible in async calls)
 ^ source folder
 ^ destination folder
 ^ keep_source DEFAULT true --> if set to false source is deleted after copying
@ -76,11 +78,11 @@ engine.extract_zip(zipfile,destination) [unzip within path required]
 ^ zipfile to extract
 ^ destination folder to extract to
 ^ returns true/false
-engine.download_file(url,target)
+engine.download_file(url,target) (possible in async calls)
 ^ url to download
 ^ target to store to
 ^ returns true/false
-engine.get_version()
+engine.get_version() (possible in async calls)
 ^ returns current minetest version
 engine.sound_play(spec, looped) -> handle
 ^ spec = SimpleSoundSpec (see lua-api.txt)
@ -105,10 +107,10 @@ engine.get_game(index)
 	DEPRECATED:
 	addon_mods_paths = {[1] = <path>,},
 }
-engine.get_games() -> table of all games in upper format
+engine.get_games() -> table of all games in upper format (possible in async calls)

 Favorites:
-engine.get_favorites(location) -> list of favorites
+engine.get_favorites(location) -> list of favorites (possible in async calls)
 ^ location: "local" or "online"
 ^ returns {
 	[1] = {
@ -128,21 +130,21 @@ engine.get_favorites(location) -> list of favorites
 engine.delete_favorite(id, location) -> success

 Logging:
-engine.debug(line)
+engine.debug(line) (possible in async calls)
 ^ Always printed to stderr and logfile (print() is redirected here)
-engine.log(line)
-engine.log(loglevel, line)
+engine.log(line) (possible in async calls)
+engine.log(loglevel, line) (possible in async calls)
 ^ loglevel one of "error", "action", "info", "verbose"

 Settings:
 engine.setting_set(name, value)
-engine.setting_get(name) -> string or nil
+engine.setting_get(name) -> string or nil (possible in async calls)
 engine.setting_setbool(name, value)
-engine.setting_getbool(name) -> bool or nil
+engine.setting_getbool(name) -> bool or nil (possible in async calls)
 engine.setting_save() -> nil, save all settings to config file

 Worlds:
-engine.get_worlds() -> list of worlds
+engine.get_worlds() -> list of worlds (possible in async calls)
 ^ returns {
 	[1] = {
 	path   = <full path to world>,
@ -174,7 +176,7 @@ engine.gettext(string) -> string
 fgettext(string, ...) -> string
 ^ call engine.gettext(string), replace "$1"..."$9" with the given
 ^ extra arguments, call engine.formspec_escape and return the result
-engine.parse_json(string[, nullvalue]) -> something
+engine.parse_json(string[, nullvalue]) -> something (possible in async calls)
 ^ see minetest.parse_json (lua_api.txt)
 dump(obj, dumped={})
 ^ Return object serialized as a string
@ -182,9 +184,24 @@ string:split(separator)
 ^ eg. string:split("a,b", ",") == {"a","b"}
 string:trim()
 ^ eg. string.trim("\n \t\tfoo bar\t ") == "foo bar"
-minetest.is_yes(arg)
+minetest.is_yes(arg) (possible in async calls)
 ^ returns whether arg can be interpreted as yes

+Async:
+engine.handle_async(async_job,parameters,finished)
+^ execute a function asynchronously
+^ async_job is a function receiving one parameter and returning one parameter
+^ parameters parameter table passed to async_job
+^ finished function to be called once async_job has finished 
+^    the result of async_job is passed to this function
+
+Limitations of Async operations
+ -No access to global lua variables, don't even try
+ -Limited set of available functions
+	e.g. No access to functions modifying menu like engine.start,engine.close,
+	engine.file_open_dialog
+			
+
 Class reference
 ----------------
 Settings: see lua_api.txt
--- a/src/guiEngine.cpp
+++ b/src/guiEngine.cpp
@ -286,6 +286,8 @@ void GUIEngine::run()
 			cloudPostProcess();
 		else
 			sleep_ms(25);
+
+		m_script->Step();
 	}
 }

@ -576,3 +578,9 @@ void GUIEngine::stopSound(s32 handle)
 {
 	m_sound_manager->stopSound(handle);
 }
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+unsigned int GUIEngine::DoAsync(std::string serialized_fct,
+		std::string serialized_params) {
+	return m_script->DoAsync(serialized_fct,serialized_params);
+}
--- a/src/guiEngine.h
+++ b/src/guiEngine.h
@ -166,6 +166,9 @@ public:
 		return m_scriptdir;
 	}

+	/** pass async callback to scriptengine **/
+	unsigned int DoAsync(std::string serialized_fct,std::string serialized_params);
+
 private:

 	/** find and run the main menu script */
@ -244,7 +247,7 @@ private:
 	 * @param url url to download
 	 * @param target file to store to
 	 */
-	bool downloadFile(std::string url,std::string target);
+	static bool downloadFile(std::string url,std::string target);

 	/** array containing pointers to current specified texture layers */
 	video::ITexture*		m_textures[TEX_LAYER_MAX];
--- a/src/jthread/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/jthread/CMakeLists.txt
@ -2,10 +2,12 @@ if( UNIX )
 	set(JTHREAD_SRCS
 		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/pthread/jmutex.cpp
 		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/pthread/jthread.cpp
+		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/pthread/jsemaphore.cpp
 		PARENT_SCOPE)
 else( UNIX )
 	set(JTHREAD_SRCS
 		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/win32/jmutex.cpp
 		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/win32/jthread.cpp
+		${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/win32/jsemaphore.cpp
 		PARENT_SCOPE)
 endif( UNIX )
--- a/src/jthread/jsemaphore.h
+++ b/src/jthread/jsemaphore.h
@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+Minetest
+Copyright (C) 2013 sapier, < sapier AT gmx DOT net >
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along
+with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+*/
+
+#ifndef JSEMAPHORE_H_
+#define JSEMAPHORE_H_
+
+#if defined(WIN32)
+#include <windows.h>
+#define MAX_SEMAPHORE_COUNT 1024
+#else
+#include <pthread.h>
+#include <semaphore.h>
+#endif
+
+class JSemaphore {
+public:
+	JSemaphore();
+	~JSemaphore();
+	JSemaphore(int initval);
+
+	void Post();
+	void Wait();
+
+	int GetValue();
+
+private:
+#if defined(WIN32)
+	HANDLE m_hSemaphore;
+#else
+	sem_t m_semaphore;
+#endif
+};
+
+#endif /* JSEMAPHORE_H_ */
--- a/src/jthread/jthread.h
+++ b/src/jthread/jthread.h
@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ public:
 	JThread();
 	virtual ~JThread();
 	int Start();
+	void Stop();
 	int Kill();
 	virtual void *Thread() = 0;
 	bool IsRunning();
@ -63,12 +64,12 @@ private:
 	HANDLE threadhandle;
 #else // pthread type threads
 	static void *TheThread(void *param);
-	
+
 	pthread_t threadid;
 #endif // WIN32
 	void *retval;
 	bool running;
-	
+
 	JMutex runningmutex;
 	JMutex continuemutex,continuemutex2;
 	bool mutexinit;
--- a/src/jthread/pthread/jsemaphore.cpp
+++ b/src/jthread/pthread/jsemaphore.cpp
@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*
+Minetest
+Copyright (C) 2013 sapier, < sapier AT gmx DOT net >
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along
+with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+*/
+#include "jthread/jsemaphore.h"
+
+JSemaphore::JSemaphore() {
+	sem_init(&m_semaphore,0,0);
+}
+
+JSemaphore::~JSemaphore() {
+	sem_destroy(&m_semaphore);
+}
+
+JSemaphore::JSemaphore(int initval) {
+	sem_init(&m_semaphore,0,initval);
+}
+
+void JSemaphore::Post() {
+	sem_post(&m_semaphore);
+}
+
+void JSemaphore::Wait() {
+	sem_wait(&m_semaphore);
+}
+
+int JSemaphore::GetValue() {
+
+	int retval = 0;
+	sem_getvalue(&m_semaphore,&retval);
+
+	return retval;
+}
+
--- a/src/jthread/pthread/jthread.cpp
+++ b/src/jthread/pthread/jthread.cpp
@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ JThread::~JThread()
 	Kill();
 }

+void JThread::Stop() {
+	runningmutex.Lock();
+	running = false;
+	runningmutex.Unlock();
+}
+
 int JThread::Start()
 {
 	int status;
@ -65,7 +71,7 @@ int JThread::Start()
 		}
 		mutexinit = true;
 	}
-	
+
 	runningmutex.Lock();
 	if (running)
 	{
@ -73,27 +79,27 @@ int JThread::Start()
 		return ERR_JTHREAD_ALREADYRUNNING;
 	}
 	runningmutex.Unlock();
-	
+
 	pthread_attr_t attr;
 	pthread_attr_init(&attr);
 	pthread_attr_setdetachstate(&attr,PTHREAD_CREATE_DETACHED);
-	
+
 	continuemutex.Lock();
-	status = pthread_create(&threadid,&attr,TheThread,this);	
+	status = pthread_create(&threadid,&attr,TheThread,this);
 	pthread_attr_destroy(&attr);
 	if (status != 0)
 	{
 		continuemutex.Unlock();
 		return ERR_JTHREAD_CANTSTARTTHREAD;
 	}
-	
+
 	/* Wait until 'running' is set */
-	
-	runningmutex.Lock();			
+
+	runningmutex.Lock();
 	while (!running)
 	{
 		runningmutex.Unlock();
-		
+
 		struct timespec req,rem;

 		req.tv_sec = 0;
@ -103,9 +109,9 @@ int JThread::Start()
 		runningmutex.Lock();
 	}
 	runningmutex.Unlock();
-	
+
 	continuemutex.Unlock();
-	
+
 	continuemutex2.Lock();
 	continuemutex2.Unlock();
 	return 0;
@ -113,7 +119,7 @@ int JThread::Start()

 int JThread::Kill()
 {
-	runningmutex.Lock();			
+	runningmutex.Lock();
 	if (!running)
 	{
 		runningmutex.Unlock();
@ -128,8 +134,8 @@ int JThread::Kill()
 bool JThread::IsRunning()
 {
 	bool r;
-	
-	runningmutex.Lock();			
+
+	runningmutex.Lock();
 	r = running;
 	runningmutex.Unlock();
 	return r;
@ -138,7 +144,7 @@ bool JThread::IsRunning()
 void *JThread::GetReturnValue()
 {
 	void *val;
-	
+
 	runningmutex.Lock();
 	if (running)
 		val = NULL;
@ -157,17 +163,17 @@ void *JThread::TheThread(void *param)
 {
 	JThread *jthread;
 	void *ret;
-	
+
 	jthread = (JThread *)param;
-	
+
 	jthread->continuemutex2.Lock();
 	jthread->runningmutex.Lock();
 	jthread->running = true;
 	jthread->runningmutex.Unlock();
-	
+
 	jthread->continuemutex.Lock();
 	jthread->continuemutex.Unlock();
-	
+
 	ret = jthread->Thread();

 	jthread->runningmutex.Lock();
--- a/src/jthread/win32/jsemaphore.cpp
+++ b/src/jthread/win32/jsemaphore.cpp
@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+/*
+Minetest
+Copyright (C) 2013 sapier, < sapier AT gmx DOT net >
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along
+with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+*/
+#include "jthread/jsemaphore.h"
+
+JSemaphore::JSemaphore() {
+	m_hSemaphore = CreateSemaphore(
+			0,
+			0,
+			MAX_SEMAPHORE_COUNT,
+			0);
+}
+
+JSemaphore::~JSemaphore() {
+	CloseHandle(&m_hSemaphore);
+}
+
+JSemaphore::JSemaphore(int initval) {
+	m_hSemaphore = CreateSemaphore(
+			0,
+			initval,
+			MAX_SEMAPHORE_COUNT,
+			0);
+}
+
+void JSemaphore::Post() {
+	ReleaseSemaphore(
+			m_hSemaphore,
+			1,
+			0);
+}
+
+void JSemaphore::Wait() {
+	WaitForSingleObject(
+			m_hSemaphore,
+			INFINITE);
+}
+
+int JSemaphore::GetValue() {
+
+	long int retval = 0;
+	ReleaseSemaphore(
+			m_hSemaphore,
+			0,
+			&retval);
+
+	return retval;
+}
+
--- a/src/jthread/win32/jthread.cpp
+++ b/src/jthread/win32/jthread.cpp
@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ JThread::~JThread()
 	Kill();
 }

+void JThread::Stop() {
+	runningmutex.Lock();
+	running = false;
+	runningmutex.Unlock();
+}
+
 int JThread::Start()
 {
 	if (!mutexinit)
@ -63,7 +69,7 @@ int JThread::Start()
 				return ERR_JTHREAD_CANTINITMUTEX;
 		}		mutexinit = true;
 	}
-	
+
 	runningmutex.Lock();
 	if (running)
 	{
@ -71,7 +77,7 @@ int JThread::Start()
 		return ERR_JTHREAD_ALREADYRUNNING;
 	}
 	runningmutex.Unlock();
-	
+
 	continuemutex.Lock();
 #ifndef _WIN32_WCE
 	threadhandle = (HANDLE)_beginthreadex(NULL,0,TheThread,this,0,&threadid);
@ -83,10 +89,10 @@ int JThread::Start()
 		continuemutex.Unlock();
 		return ERR_JTHREAD_CANTSTARTTHREAD;
 	}
-	
+
 	/* Wait until 'running' is set */

-	runningmutex.Lock();			
+	runningmutex.Lock();
 	while (!running)
 	{
 		runningmutex.Unlock();
@ -94,18 +100,18 @@ int JThread::Start()
 		runningmutex.Lock();
 	}
 	runningmutex.Unlock();
-	
+
 	continuemutex.Unlock();
-	
+
 	continuemutex2.Lock();
 	continuemutex2.Unlock();
-		
+
 	return 0;
 }

 int JThread::Kill()
 {
-	runningmutex.Lock();			
+	runningmutex.Lock();
 	if (!running)
 	{
 		runningmutex.Unlock();
@ -121,8 +127,8 @@ int JThread::Kill()
 bool JThread::IsRunning()
 {
 	bool r;
-	
-	runningmutex.Lock();			
+
+	runningmutex.Lock();
 	r = running;
 	runningmutex.Unlock();
 	return r;
@ -131,7 +137,7 @@ bool JThread::IsRunning()
 void *JThread::GetReturnValue()
 {
 	void *val;
-	
+
 	runningmutex.Lock();
 	if (running)
 		val = NULL;
@ -156,23 +162,23 @@ DWORD WINAPI JThread::TheThread(void *param)
 	void *ret;

 	jthread = (JThread *)param;
-	
+
 	jthread->continuemutex2.Lock();
 	jthread->runningmutex.Lock();
 	jthread->running = true;
 	jthread->runningmutex.Unlock();
-	
+
 	jthread->continuemutex.Lock();
 	jthread->continuemutex.Unlock();
-	
+
 	ret = jthread->Thread();
-	
+
 	jthread->runningmutex.Lock();
 	jthread->running = false;
 	jthread->retval = ret;
 	CloseHandle(jthread->threadhandle);
 	jthread->runningmutex.Unlock();
-	return 0;		
+	return 0;
 }

 void JThread::ThreadStarted()
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "database-leveldb.h"
 #endif

+#if USE_CURL
+#include "curl.h"
+#endif
+
 /*
 	Settings.
 	These are loaded from the config file.
@ -309,7 +313,7 @@ public:
 	{
 		return keyIsDown[keyCode];
 	}
-	
+
 	// Checks whether a key was down and resets the state
 	bool WasKeyDown(const KeyPress &keyCode)
 	{
@ -361,7 +365,7 @@ public:

 private:
 	IrrlichtDevice *m_device;
-	
+
 	// The current state of keys
 	KeyList keyIsDown;
 	// Whether a key has been pressed or not
@ -405,7 +409,7 @@ public:
 	{
 		return m_receiver->right_active;
 	}
-	
+
 	virtual bool getLeftClicked()
 	{
 		return m_receiver->leftclicked;
@ -656,7 +660,7 @@ void SpeedTests()
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	
+
 	infostream<<"All of the following tests should take around 100ms each."
 			<<std::endl;

@ -668,7 +672,7 @@ void SpeedTests()
 			tempf += 0.001;
 		}
 	}
-	
+
 	{
 		TimeTaker timer("Testing floating-point vector speed");

@ -682,7 +686,7 @@ void SpeedTests()

 	{
 		TimeTaker timer("Testing std::map speed");
-		
+
 		std::map<v2s16, f32> map1;
 		tempf = -324;
 		const s16 ii=300;
@ -702,7 +706,7 @@ void SpeedTests()
 	{
 		infostream<<"Around 5000/ms should do well here."<<std::endl;
 		TimeTaker timer("Testing mutex speed");
-		
+
 		JMutex m;
 		m.Init();
 		u32 n = 0;
@ -753,7 +757,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	/*
 		Parse command line
 	*/
-	
+
 	// List all allowed options
 	std::map<std::string, ValueSpec> allowed_options;
 	allowed_options.insert(std::make_pair("help", ValueSpec(VALUETYPE_FLAG,
@ -806,7 +810,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 #endif

 	Settings cmd_args;
-	
+
 	bool ret = cmd_args.parseCommandLine(argc, argv, allowed_options);

 	if(ret == false || cmd_args.getFlag("help") || cmd_args.exists("nonopt1"))
@ -843,11 +847,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		dstream<<"Build info: "<<minetest_build_info<<std::endl;
 		return 0;
 	}
-	
+
 	/*
 		Low-level initialization
 	*/
-	
+
 	// If trace is enabled, enable logging of certain things
 	if(cmd_args.getFlag("trace")){
 		dstream<<_("Enabling trace level debug output")<<std::endl;
@ -865,7 +869,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])

 	porting::signal_handler_init();
 	bool &kill = *porting::signal_handler_killstatus();
-	
+
 	porting::initializePaths();

 	// Create user data directory
@ -880,7 +884,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])

 	// Debug handler
 	BEGIN_DEBUG_EXCEPTION_HANDLER
-	
+
 	// List gameids if requested
 	if(cmd_args.exists("gameid") && cmd_args.get("gameid") == "list")
 	{
@ -890,7 +894,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			dstream<<(*i)<<std::endl;
 		return 0;
 	}
-	
+
 	// List worlds if requested
 	if(cmd_args.exists("world") && cmd_args.get("world") == "list"){
 		dstream<<_("Available worlds:")<<std::endl;
@ -904,25 +908,25 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			" "<<_("with")<<" SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_READ="<<(int)SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_READ
 			<<", "<<minetest_build_info
 			<<std::endl;
-	
+
 	/*
 		Basic initialization
 	*/

 	// Initialize default settings
 	set_default_settings(g_settings);
-	
+
 	// Initialize sockets
 	sockets_init();
 	atexit(sockets_cleanup);
-	
+
 	/*
 		Read config file
 	*/
-	
+
 	// Path of configuration file in use
 	g_settings_path = "";
-	
+
 	if(cmd_args.exists("config"))
 	{
 		bool r = g_settings->readConfigFile(cmd_args.get("config").c_str());
@ -958,12 +962,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 				break;
 			}
 		}
-		
+
 		// If no path found, use the first one (menu creates the file)
 		if(g_settings_path == "")
 			g_settings_path = filenames[0];
 	}
-	
+
 	// Initialize debug streams
 #define DEBUGFILE "debug.txt"
 #if RUN_IN_PLACE
@ -973,7 +977,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 #endif
 	if(cmd_args.exists("logfile"))
 		logfile = cmd_args.get("logfile");
-	
+
 	log_remove_output(&main_dstream_no_stderr_log_out);
 	int loglevel = g_settings->getS32("debug_log_level");

@ -986,13 +990,18 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		debugstreams_init(false, logfile.c_str());
 	else
 		debugstreams_init(false, NULL);
-		
+
 	infostream<<"logfile    = "<<logfile<<std::endl;

 	// Initialize random seed
 	srand(time(0));
 	mysrand(time(0));

+#if USE_CURL
+	CURLcode res = curl_global_init(CURL_GLOBAL_DEFAULT);
+	assert(res == CURLE_OK);
+#endif
+
 	/*
 		Run unit tests
 	*/
@ -1020,7 +1029,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		port = g_settings->getU16("port");
 	if(port == 0)
 		port = 30000;
-	
+
 	// World directory
 	std::string commanded_world = "";
 	if(cmd_args.exists("world"))
@ -1031,12 +1040,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		commanded_world = cmd_args.get("nonopt0");
 	else if(g_settings->exists("map-dir"))
 		commanded_world = g_settings->get("map-dir");
-	
+
 	// World name
 	std::string commanded_worldname = "";
 	if(cmd_args.exists("worldname"))
 		commanded_worldname = cmd_args.get("worldname");
-	
+
 	// Strip world.mt from commanded_world
 	{
 		std::string worldmt = "world.mt";
@ -1048,7 +1057,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 					0, commanded_world.size()-worldmt.size());
 		}
 	}
-	
+
 	// If a world name was specified, convert it to a path
 	if(commanded_worldname != ""){
 		// Get information about available worlds
@ -1268,7 +1277,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		}

 		server.start(port);
-		
+
 		// Run server
 		dedicated_server_loop(server, kill);

@ -1280,17 +1289,17 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	/*
 		More parameters
 	*/
-	
+
 	std::string address = g_settings->get("address");
 	if(commanded_world != "")
 		address = "";
 	else if(cmd_args.exists("address"))
 		address = cmd_args.get("address");
-	
+
 	std::string playername = g_settings->get("name");
 	if(cmd_args.exists("name"))
 		playername = cmd_args.get("name");
-	
+
 	bool skip_main_menu = cmd_args.getFlag("go");

 	/*
@ -1298,7 +1307,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	*/

 	// Resolution selection
-	
+
 	bool fullscreen = g_settings->getBool("fullscreen");
 	u16 screenW = g_settings->getU16("screenW");
 	u16 screenH = g_settings->getU16("screenH");
@ -1312,7 +1321,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	// Determine driver

 	video::E_DRIVER_TYPE driverType;
-	
+
 	std::string driverstring = g_settings->get("video_driver");

 	if(driverstring == "null")
@ -1419,7 +1428,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])

 	if (device == 0)
 		return 1; // could not create selected driver.
-	
+
 	/*
 		Continue initialization
 	*/
@ -1434,10 +1443,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])

 	// Create time getter
 	g_timegetter = new IrrlichtTimeGetter(device);
-	
+
 	// Create game callback for menus
 	g_gamecallback = new MainGameCallback(device);
-	
+
 	/*
 		Speed tests (done after irrlicht is loaded to get timer)
 	*/
@ -1448,7 +1457,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		device->drop();
 		return 0;
 	}
-	
+
 	device->setResizable(true);

 	bool random_input = g_settings->getBool("random_input")
@ -1458,7 +1467,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		input = new RandomInputHandler();
 	else
 		input = new RealInputHandler(device, &receiver);
-	
+
 	scene::ISceneManager* smgr = device->getSceneManager();

 	guienv = device->getGUIEnvironment();
@ -1488,7 +1497,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	// If font was not found, this will get us one
 	font = skin->getFont();
 	assert(font);
-	
+
 	u32 text_height = font->getDimension(L"Hello, world!").Height;
 	infostream<<"text_height="<<text_height<<std::endl;

@ -1556,7 +1565,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 				Clear everything from the GUIEnvironment
 			*/
 			guienv->clear();
-			
+
 			/*
 				We need some kind of a root node to be able to add
 				custom gui elements directly on the screen.
@ -1564,7 +1573,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			*/
 			guiroot = guienv->addStaticText(L"",
 					core::rect<s32>(0, 0, 10000, 10000));
-			
+
 			SubgameSpec gamespec;
 			WorldSpec worldspec;
 			bool simple_singleplayer_mode = false;
@ -1588,13 +1597,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 					break;
 				}
 				first_loop = false;
-				
+
 				// Cursor can be non-visible when coming from the game
 				device->getCursorControl()->setVisible(true);
 				// Some stuff are left to scene manager when coming from the game
 				// (map at least?)
 				smgr->clear();
-				
+
 				// Initialize menu data
 				MainMenuData menudata;
 				menudata.address = address;
@ -1643,7 +1652,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 					infostream<<"Waited for other menus"<<std::endl;

 					GUIEngine* temp = new GUIEngine(device, guiroot, &g_menumgr,smgr,&menudata,kill);
-					
+
 					delete temp;
 					//once finished you'll never end up here
 					smgr->clear();
@ -1683,7 +1692,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 				// Break out of menu-game loop to shut down cleanly
 				if(device->run() == false || kill == true)
 					break;
-				
+
 				current_playername = playername;
 				current_password = password;
 				current_address = address;
@ -1705,7 +1714,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 					server["description"] = menudata.serverdescription;
 					ServerList::insert(server);
 				}
-				
+
 				// Set world path to selected one
 				if ((menudata.selected_world >= 0) &&
 					(menudata.selected_world < (int)worldspecs.size())) {
@ -1713,7 +1722,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 					infostream<<"Selected world: "<<worldspec.name
 							<<" ["<<worldspec.path<<"]"<<std::endl;
 				}
-				
+
 				// If local game
 				if(current_address == "")
 				{
@ -1828,11 +1837,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 #endif

 #endif // !SERVER
-	
+
 	// Update configuration file
 	if(g_settings_path != "")
 		g_settings->updateConfigFile(g_settings_path.c_str());
-	
+
 	// Print modified quicktune values
 	{
 		bool header_printed = false;
@ -1850,9 +1859,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	}

 	END_DEBUG_EXCEPTION_HANDLER(errorstream)
-	
+
 	debugstreams_deinit();
-	
+
 	return retval;
 }

--- a/src/script/lua_api/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/CMakeLists.txt
@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ set(common_SCRIPT_LUA_API_SRCS
 	${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/l_util.cpp
 	${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/l_vmanip.cpp
 	${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/l_settings.cpp
+	${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/l_async_events.cpp
+	${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/marshall.c
 	PARENT_SCOPE)

 # Used by client only
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_async_events.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_async_events.cpp
@ -0,0 +1,396 @@
+/*
+Minetest
+Copyright (C) 2013 sapier, <sapier AT gmx DOT net>
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along
+with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+*/
+
+extern "C" {
+#include "lua.h"
+#include "lauxlib.h"
+#include "lualib.h"
+int luaopen_marshal(lua_State *L);
+}
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#include "l_async_events.h"
+#include "log.h"
+#include "filesys.h"
+#include "porting.h"
+
+//TODO replace by ShadowNinja version not yet merged to master
+static int script_error_handler(lua_State *L) {
+  lua_getfield(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX, "debug");
+  if (!lua_istable(L, -1)) {
+    lua_pop(L, 1);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  lua_getfield(L, -1, "traceback");
+  if (!lua_isfunction(L, -1)) {
+    lua_pop(L, 2);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  lua_pushvalue(L, 1);
+  lua_pushinteger(L, 2);
+  lua_call(L, 2, 1);
+  return 1;
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+static void scriptError(const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+	va_list argp;
+	va_start(argp, fmt);
+	char buf[10000];
+	vsnprintf(buf, 10000, fmt, argp);
+	va_end(argp);
+	errorstream<<"ERROR: "<<buf;
+	fprintf(stderr,"ERROR: %s\n",buf);
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+AsyncEngine::AsyncEngine() :
+	m_initDone(false),
+	m_JobIdCounter(0)
+{
+	assert(m_JobQueueMutex.Init() == 0);
+	assert(m_ResultQueueMutex.Init() == 0);
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+AsyncEngine::~AsyncEngine()
+{
+	/** request all threads to stop **/
+	for (std::vector<AsyncWorkerThread*>::iterator i= m_WorkerThreads.begin();
+			i != m_WorkerThreads.end();i++) {
+		(*i)->Stop();
+	}
+
+
+	/** wakeup all threads **/
+	for (std::vector<AsyncWorkerThread*>::iterator i= m_WorkerThreads.begin();
+				i != m_WorkerThreads.end();i++) {
+		m_JobQueueCounter.Post();
+	}
+
+	/** wait for threads to finish **/
+	for (std::vector<AsyncWorkerThread*>::iterator i= m_WorkerThreads.begin();
+			i != m_WorkerThreads.end();i++) {
+		(*i)->Wait();
+	}
+
+	/** force kill all threads **/
+	for (std::vector<AsyncWorkerThread*>::iterator i= m_WorkerThreads.begin();
+			i != m_WorkerThreads.end();i++) {
+		(*i)->Kill();
+		delete *i;
+	}
+
+	m_JobQueueMutex.Lock();
+	m_JobQueue.clear();
+	m_JobQueueMutex.Unlock();
+	m_WorkerThreads.clear();
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+bool AsyncEngine::registerFunction(const char* name, lua_CFunction fct) {
+
+	if (m_initDone) return false;
+	m_FunctionList[name] = fct;
+	return true;
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+void AsyncEngine::Initialize(unsigned int numengines) {
+	m_initDone = true;
+
+	for (unsigned int i=0; i < numengines; i ++) {
+
+		AsyncWorkerThread* toadd = new AsyncWorkerThread(this,i);
+		m_WorkerThreads.push_back(toadd);
+		toadd->Start();
+	}
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+unsigned int AsyncEngine::doAsyncJob(std::string fct, std::string params) {
+
+	m_JobQueueMutex.Lock();
+	LuaJobInfo toadd;
+	toadd.JobId = m_JobIdCounter++;
+	toadd.serializedFunction = fct;
+	toadd.serializedParams = params;
+
+	m_JobQueue.push_back(toadd);
+
+	m_JobQueueCounter.Post();
+
+	m_JobQueueMutex.Unlock();
+
+	return toadd.JobId;
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+LuaJobInfo AsyncEngine::getJob() {
+
+	m_JobQueueCounter.Wait();
+	m_JobQueueMutex.Lock();
+
+	LuaJobInfo retval;
+
+	if (m_JobQueue.size() != 0) {
+		retval = m_JobQueue.front();
+		m_JobQueue.erase((m_JobQueue.begin()));
+	}
+	m_JobQueueMutex.Unlock();
+
+	return retval;
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+void AsyncEngine::putJobResult(LuaJobInfo result) {
+	m_ResultQueueMutex.Lock();
+	m_ResultQueue.push_back(result);
+	m_ResultQueueMutex.Unlock();
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+void AsyncEngine::Step(lua_State *L) {
+	m_ResultQueueMutex.Lock();
+	while(!m_ResultQueue.empty()) {
+
+		LuaJobInfo jobdone = m_ResultQueue.front();
+		m_ResultQueue.erase(m_ResultQueue.begin());
+		lua_getglobal(L, "engine");
+
+		lua_getfield(L, -1, "async_event_handler");
+
+		if(lua_isnil(L, -1))
+			assert("Someone managed to destroy a async callback in engine!" == 0);
+
+		luaL_checktype(L, -1, LUA_TFUNCTION);
+
+		lua_pushinteger(L, jobdone.JobId);
+		lua_pushlstring(L, jobdone.serializedResult.c_str(),
+							jobdone.serializedResult.length());
+
+		if(lua_pcall(L, 2, 0, 0)) {
+			scriptError("Async ENGINE step: %s", lua_tostring(L, -1));
+		}
+
+		lua_pop(L,1);
+	}
+	m_ResultQueueMutex.Unlock();
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+void AsyncEngine::PushFinishedJobs(lua_State* L) {
+	//Result Table
+	m_ResultQueueMutex.Lock();
+
+	unsigned int index=1;
+	lua_newtable(L);
+	int top = lua_gettop(L);
+
+	while(!m_ResultQueue.empty()) {
+
+		LuaJobInfo jobdone = m_ResultQueue.front();
+		m_ResultQueue.erase(m_ResultQueue.begin());
+
+		lua_pushnumber(L,index);
+
+		lua_newtable(L);
+		int top_lvl2 = lua_gettop(L);
+
+		lua_pushstring(L,"jobid");
+		lua_pushnumber(L,jobdone.JobId);
+		lua_settable(L, top_lvl2);
+
+		lua_pushstring(L,"retval");
+		lua_pushstring(L, jobdone.serializedResult.c_str());
+		lua_settable(L, top_lvl2);
+
+		lua_settable(L, top);
+		index++;
+	}
+
+	m_ResultQueueMutex.Unlock();
+
+}
+/******************************************************************************/
+void AsyncEngine::PrepareEnvironment(lua_State* L, int top) {
+	for(std::map<std::string,lua_CFunction>::iterator i = m_FunctionList.begin();
+			i != m_FunctionList.end(); i++) {
+
+		lua_pushstring(L,i->first.c_str());
+		lua_pushcfunction(L,i->second);
+		lua_settable(L, top);
+
+	}
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+int async_worker_ErrorHandler(lua_State *L) {
+	lua_getfield(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX, "debug");
+	if (!lua_istable(L, -1)) {
+	lua_pop(L, 1);
+	return 1;
+	}
+	lua_getfield(L, -1, "traceback");
+	if (!lua_isfunction(L, -1)) {
+	lua_pop(L, 2);
+	return 1;
+	}
+	lua_pushvalue(L, 1);
+	lua_pushinteger(L, 2);
+	lua_call(L, 2, 1);
+	return 1;
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+AsyncWorkerThread::AsyncWorkerThread(AsyncEngine* jobdispatcher,
+									unsigned int numthreadnumber) :
+	m_JobDispatcher(jobdispatcher),
+	m_luaerrorhandler(-1),
+	m_threadnum(numthreadnumber)
+{
+	// create luastack
+	m_LuaStack = luaL_newstate();
+
+	// load basic lua modules
+	luaL_openlibs(m_LuaStack);
+
+	// load serialization functions
+	luaopen_marshal(m_LuaStack);
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+AsyncWorkerThread::~AsyncWorkerThread() {
+
+	assert(IsRunning() == false);
+	lua_close(m_LuaStack);
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+void* AsyncWorkerThread::worker_thread_main() {
+
+	//register thread for error logging
+	char number[21];
+	snprintf(number,sizeof(number),"%d",m_threadnum);
+	log_register_thread(std::string("AsyncWorkerThread_") + number);
+
+	/** prepare job lua environment **/
+	lua_newtable(m_LuaStack);
+	lua_setglobal(m_LuaStack, "engine");
+
+	lua_getglobal(m_LuaStack, "engine");
+	int top = lua_gettop(m_LuaStack);
+
+	lua_pushstring(m_LuaStack, DIR_DELIM);
+	lua_setglobal(m_LuaStack, "DIR_DELIM");
+
+	lua_pushstring(m_LuaStack,
+			std::string(porting::path_share + DIR_DELIM + "builtin").c_str());
+	lua_setglobal(m_LuaStack, "SCRIPTDIR");
+
+
+	m_JobDispatcher->PrepareEnvironment(m_LuaStack,top);
+
+	std::string asyncscript =
+	porting::path_share + DIR_DELIM + "builtin"
+			+ DIR_DELIM + "async_env.lua";
+
+	lua_pushcfunction(m_LuaStack, async_worker_ErrorHandler);
+	m_luaerrorhandler = lua_gettop(m_LuaStack);
+
+	if(!runScript(asyncscript)) {
+		infostream
+			<< "AsyncWorkderThread::worker_thread_main execution of async base environment failed!"
+			<< std::endl;
+			assert("no future with broken builtin async environment scripts" == 0);
+	}
+	/** main loop **/
+	while(IsRunning()) {
+		//wait for job
+		LuaJobInfo toprocess = m_JobDispatcher->getJob();
+
+		if (!IsRunning()) { continue; }
+
+		//first push error handler
+		lua_pushcfunction(m_LuaStack, script_error_handler);
+		int errorhandler = lua_gettop(m_LuaStack);
+
+		lua_getglobal(m_LuaStack, "engine");
+		if(lua_isnil(m_LuaStack, -1))
+			assert("unable to find engine within async environment" == 0);
+
+		lua_getfield(m_LuaStack, -1, "job_processor");
+		if(lua_isnil(m_LuaStack, -1))
+			assert("Someone managed to destroy a async worker engine!" == 0);
+
+		luaL_checktype(m_LuaStack, -1, LUA_TFUNCTION);
+
+		//call it
+		lua_pushlstring(m_LuaStack,
+						toprocess.serializedFunction.c_str(),
+						toprocess.serializedFunction.length());
+		lua_pushlstring(m_LuaStack,
+						toprocess.serializedParams.c_str(),
+						toprocess.serializedParams.length());
+
+		if (!IsRunning()) { continue; }
+		if(lua_pcall(m_LuaStack, 2, 2, errorhandler)) {
+			scriptError("Async WORKER thread: %s\n", lua_tostring(m_LuaStack, -1));
+			toprocess.serializedResult="ERROR";
+		}
+		else {
+			//fetch result
+			const char *retval = lua_tostring(m_LuaStack, -2);
+			unsigned int lenght = lua_tointeger(m_LuaStack,-1);
+			toprocess.serializedResult = std::string(retval,lenght);
+		}
+
+		if (!IsRunning()) { continue; }
+		//put job result
+		m_JobDispatcher->putJobResult(toprocess);
+	}
+	log_deregister_thread();
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+bool AsyncWorkerThread::runScript(std::string script) {
+
+	int ret = 	luaL_loadfile(m_LuaStack, script.c_str()) ||
+				lua_pcall(m_LuaStack, 0, 0, m_luaerrorhandler);
+	if(ret){
+		errorstream<<"==== ERROR FROM LUA WHILE INITIALIZING ASYNC ENVIRONMENT ====="<<std::endl;
+		errorstream<<"Failed to load and run script from "<<std::endl;
+		errorstream<<script<<":"<<std::endl;
+		errorstream<<std::endl;
+		errorstream<<lua_tostring(m_LuaStack, -1)<<std::endl;
+		errorstream<<std::endl;
+		errorstream<<"=================== END OF ERROR FROM LUA ===================="<<std::endl;
+		lua_pop(m_LuaStack, 1); // Pop error message from stack
+		lua_pop(m_LuaStack, 1); // Pop the error handler from stack
+		return false;
+	}
+	return true;
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+void* AsyncWorkerThread::worker_thread_wrapper(void* thread) {
+	return ((AsyncWorkerThread*) thread)->worker_thread_main();
+}
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_async_events.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_async_events.h
@ -0,0 +1,228 @@
+/*
+Minetest
+Copyright (C) 2013 sapier, <sapier AT gmx DOT net>
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along
+with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+*/
+
+#ifndef C_ASYNC_EVENTS_H_
+#define C_ASYNC_EVENTS_H_
+
+#include <vector>
+#include <map>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+/* Includes                                                                   */
+/******************************************************************************/
+#include "jthread/jthread.h"
+#include "jthread/jmutex.h"
+#include "jthread/jsemaphore.h"
+#include "debug.h"
+#include "lua.h"
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+/* Typedefs and macros                                                        */
+/******************************************************************************/
+#define MAINMENU_NUMBER_OF_ASYNC_THREADS                   4
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+/* forward declarations                                                       */
+/******************************************************************************/
+class AsyncEngine;
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+/* declarations                                                               */
+/******************************************************************************/
+
+/** a struct to encapsulate data required to queue a job **/
+struct LuaJobInfo {
+	/** function to be called in async environment **/
+	std::string serializedFunction;
+	/** parameter table to be passed to function **/
+	std::string serializedParams;
+	/** result of function call **/
+	std::string serializedResult;
+	/** jobid used to identify a job and match it to callback **/
+	unsigned int JobId;
+};
+
+/** class encapsulating a asynchronous working environment **/
+class AsyncWorkerThread : public JThread {
+public:
+	/**
+	 * default constructor
+	 * @param pointer to job dispatcher
+	 */
+	AsyncWorkerThread(AsyncEngine* jobdispatcher, unsigned int threadnumber);
+
+	/**
+	 * default destructor
+	 */
+	virtual ~AsyncWorkerThread();
+
+	/**
+	 * thread function
+	 */
+	void* Thread() {
+			ThreadStarted();
+			return worker_thread_wrapper(this);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * wait for thread to stop
+	 */
+	void Wait() {
+		while(IsRunning()) {
+			sleep(1);
+		}
+	}
+
+private:
+	/**
+	 * helper function to run a lua script
+	 * @param path of script
+	 */
+	bool runScript(std::string script);
+
+	/**
+	 * main function of thread
+	 */
+	void* worker_thread_main();
+
+	/**
+	 * static wrapper for thread creation
+	 * @param this pointer to the thread to be created
+	 */
+	static void* worker_thread_wrapper(void* thread);
+
+	/**
+	 * pointer to job dispatcher
+	 */
+	AsyncEngine* m_JobDispatcher;
+
+	/**
+	 * the lua stack to run at
+	 */
+	lua_State*   m_LuaStack;
+
+	/**
+	 * lua internal stack number of error handler
+	 */
+	int m_luaerrorhandler;
+
+	/**
+	 * thread number used for debug output
+	 */
+	unsigned int m_threadnum;
+
+};
+
+/** asynchornous thread and job management **/
+class AsyncEngine {
+	friend AsyncWorkerThread;
+public:
+	/**
+	 * default constructor
+	 */
+	AsyncEngine();
+	/**
+	 * default destructor
+	 */
+	~AsyncEngine();
+
+	/**
+	 * register function to be used within engines
+	 * @param name function name to be used within lua environment
+	 * @param fct c-function to be called
+	 */
+	bool registerFunction(const char* name, lua_CFunction fct);
+
+	/**
+	 * create async engine tasks and lock function registration
+	 * @param numengines number of async threads to be started
+	 */
+	void Initialize(unsigned int numengines);
+
+	/**
+	 * queue/run a async job
+	 * @param fct serialized lua function
+	 * @param params serialized parameters
+	 * @return jobid the job is queued
+	 */
+	unsigned int doAsyncJob(std::string fct, std::string params);
+
+	/**
+	 * engine step to process finished jobs
+	 *   the engine step is one way to pass events back, PushFinishedJobs another
+	 * @param L the lua environment to do the step in
+	 */
+	void Step(lua_State *L);
+
+
+	void PushFinishedJobs(lua_State* L);
+
+protected:
+	/**
+	 * Get a Job from queue to be processed
+	 *  this function blocks until a job is ready
+	 * @return a job to be processed
+	 */
+	LuaJobInfo getJob();
+
+	/**
+	 * put a Job result back to result queue
+	 * @param result result of completed job
+	 */
+	void putJobResult(LuaJobInfo result);
+
+	/**
+	 * initialize environment with current registred functions
+	 *  this function adds all functions registred by registerFunction to the
+	 *  passed lua stack
+	 * @param L lua stack to initialize
+	 * @param top stack position
+	 */
+	void PrepareEnvironment(lua_State* L, int top);
+
+private:
+
+	/** variable locking the engine against further modification **/
+	bool m_initDone;
+
+	/** internal store for registred functions **/
+	std::map<std::string,lua_CFunction> m_FunctionList;
+
+	/** internal counter to create job id's **/
+	unsigned int m_JobIdCounter;
+
+	/** mutex to protect job queue **/
+	JMutex m_JobQueueMutex;
+	/** job queue **/
+	std::vector<LuaJobInfo> m_JobQueue;
+
+	/** mutext to protect result queue **/
+	JMutex m_ResultQueueMutex;
+	/** result queue **/
+	std::vector<LuaJobInfo> m_ResultQueue;
+
+	/** list of current worker threads **/
+	std::vector<AsyncWorkerThread*> m_WorkerThreads;
+
+	/** counter semaphore for job dispatching **/
+	JSemaphore m_JobQueueCounter;
+};
+
+#endif /* C_ASYNC_EVENTS_H_ */
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_internal.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_internal.h
@ -30,14 +30,16 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "common/c_internal.h"

 #define luamethod(class, name) {#name, class::l_##name}
-#define API_FCT(name) registerFunction(L,#name,l_##name,top)
+#define API_FCT(name) registerFunction(L, #name, l_##name,top)
+#define ASYNC_API_FCT(name) engine.registerFunction(#name, l_##name)

 #if (defined(WIN32) || defined(_WIN32_WCE))
 #define NO_MAP_LOCK_REQUIRED
 #else
 #include "main.h"
 #include "profiler.h"
-#define NO_MAP_LOCK_REQUIRED ScopeProfiler nolocktime(g_profiler,"Scriptapi: unlockable time",SPT_ADD)
+#define NO_MAP_LOCK_REQUIRED \
+	ScopeProfiler nolocktime(g_profiler,"Scriptapi: unlockable time",SPT_ADD)
 #endif

 #endif /* L_INTERNAL_H_ */
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_mainmenu.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_mainmenu.cpp
@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "lua_api/l_mainmenu.h"
 #include "lua_api/l_internal.h"
 #include "common/c_content.h"
+#include "lua_api/l_async_events.h"
 #include "guiEngine.h"
 #include "guiMainMenu.h"
 #include "guiKeyChangeMenu.h"
@ -200,9 +201,6 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_get_textlist_index(lua_State *L)
 /******************************************************************************/
 int ModApiMainMenu::l_get_worlds(lua_State *L)
 {
-	GUIEngine* engine = getGuiEngine(L);
-	assert(engine != 0);
-
 	std::vector<WorldSpec> worlds = getAvailableWorlds();

 	lua_newtable(L);
@ -237,9 +235,6 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_get_worlds(lua_State *L)
 /******************************************************************************/
 int ModApiMainMenu::l_get_games(lua_State *L)
 {
-	GUIEngine* engine = getGuiEngine(L);
-	assert(engine != 0);
-
 	std::vector<SubgameSpec> games = getAvailableGames();

 	lua_newtable(L);
@ -365,9 +360,6 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_get_modstore_details(lua_State *L)
 /******************************************************************************/
 int ModApiMainMenu::l_get_modstore_list(lua_State *L)
 {
-	GUIEngine* engine = getGuiEngine(L);
-	assert(engine != 0);
-
 	std::string listtype = "local";

 	if (!lua_isnone(L,1)) {
@ -421,9 +413,6 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_get_modstore_list(lua_State *L)
 /******************************************************************************/
 int ModApiMainMenu::l_get_favorites(lua_State *L)
 {
-	GUIEngine* engine = getGuiEngine(L);
-	assert(engine != 0);
-
 	std::string listtype = "local";

 	if (!lua_isnone(L,1)) {
@ -545,9 +534,6 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_get_favorites(lua_State *L)
 /******************************************************************************/
 int ModApiMainMenu::l_delete_favorite(lua_State *L)
 {
-	GUIEngine* engine = getGuiEngine(L);
-	assert(engine != 0);
-
 	std::vector<ServerListSpec> servers;

 	std::string listtype = "local";
@ -599,9 +585,6 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_show_keys_menu(lua_State *L)
 /******************************************************************************/
 int ModApiMainMenu::l_create_world(lua_State *L)
 {
-	GUIEngine* engine = getGuiEngine(L);
-	assert(engine != 0);
-
 	const char *name	= luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
 	int gameidx			= luaL_checkinteger(L,2) -1;

@ -632,9 +615,6 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_create_world(lua_State *L)
 /******************************************************************************/
 int ModApiMainMenu::l_delete_world(lua_State *L)
 {
-	GUIEngine* engine = getGuiEngine(L);
-	assert(engine != 0);
-
 	int worldidx	= luaL_checkinteger(L,1) -1;

 	std::vector<WorldSpec> worlds = getAvailableWorlds();
@ -962,9 +942,6 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_sound_stop(lua_State *L)
 /******************************************************************************/
 int ModApiMainMenu::l_download_file(lua_State *L)
 {
-	GUIEngine* engine = getGuiEngine(L);
-	assert(engine != 0);
-
 	const char *url    = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
 	const char *target = luaL_checkstring(L, 2);

@ -972,7 +949,7 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_download_file(lua_State *L)
 	std::string absolute_destination = fs::RemoveRelativePathComponents(target);

 	if (ModApiMainMenu::isMinetestPath(absolute_destination)) {
-		if (engine->downloadFile(url,absolute_destination)) {
+		if (GUIEngine::downloadFile(url,absolute_destination)) {
 			lua_pushboolean(L,true);
 			return 1;
 		}
@ -990,6 +967,28 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_gettext(lua_State *L)
 	return 1;
 }

+/******************************************************************************/
+int ModApiMainMenu::l_do_async_callback(lua_State *L)
+{
+	GUIEngine* engine = getGuiEngine(L);
+
+	const char* serialized_fct_raw = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
+	unsigned int lenght_fct = luaL_checkint(L, 2);
+
+	const char* serialized_params_raw = luaL_checkstring(L, 3);
+	unsigned int lenght_params = luaL_checkint(L, 4);
+
+	assert(serialized_fct_raw != 0);
+	assert(serialized_params_raw != 0);
+
+	std::string serialized_fct = std::string(serialized_fct_raw,lenght_fct);
+	std::string serialized_params = std::string(serialized_params_raw,lenght_params);
+
+	lua_pushinteger(L,engine->DoAsync(serialized_fct,serialized_params));
+
+	return 1;
+}
+
 /******************************************************************************/
 void ModApiMainMenu::Initialize(lua_State *L, int top)
 {
@ -1024,4 +1023,27 @@ void ModApiMainMenu::Initialize(lua_State *L, int top)
 	API_FCT(sound_play);
 	API_FCT(sound_stop);
 	API_FCT(gettext);
+	API_FCT(do_async_callback);
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+void ModApiMainMenu::InitializeAsync(AsyncEngine& engine)
+{
+
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(get_worlds);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(get_games);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(get_favorites);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(get_modpath);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(get_gamepath);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(get_texturepath);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(get_dirlist);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(create_dir);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(delete_dir);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(copy_dir);
+	//ASYNC_API_FCT(extract_zip); //TODO remove dependency to GuiEngine
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(get_version);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(download_file);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(get_modstore_details);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(get_modstore_list);
+	//ASYNC_API_FCT(gettext); (gettext lib isn't threadsafe)
 }
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_mainmenu.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_mainmenu.h
@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,

 #include "lua_api/l_base.h"

+class AsyncEngine;
+
 /** Implementation of lua api support for mainmenu */
 class ModApiMainMenu : public ModApiBase {

@ -125,6 +127,8 @@ private:

 	static int l_download_file(lua_State *L);

+	// async
+	static int l_do_async_callback(lua_State *L);

 public:
 	/**
@ -134,6 +138,8 @@ public:
 	 */
 	static void Initialize(lua_State *L, int top);

+	static void InitializeAsync(AsyncEngine& engine);
+
 };

 #endif /* L_MAINMENU_H_ */
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_util.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_util.cpp
@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "lua_api/l_internal.h"
 #include "common/c_converter.h"
 #include "common/c_content.h"
+#include "lua_api/l_async_events.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "log.h"
 #include "tool.h"
@ -257,3 +258,18 @@ void ModApiUtil::Initialize(lua_State *L, int top)
 	API_FCT(is_yes);
 }

+void ModApiUtil::InitializeAsync(AsyncEngine& engine)
+{
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(debug);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(log);
+
+	//ASYNC_API_FCT(setting_set);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(setting_get);
+	//ASYNC_API_FCT(setting_setbool);
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(setting_getbool);
+	//ASYNC_API_FCT(setting_save);
+
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(parse_json);
+
+	ASYNC_API_FCT(is_yes);
+}
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_util.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_util.h
@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,

 #include "lua_api/l_base.h"

+class AsyncEngine;
+
 class ModApiUtil : public ModApiBase {
 private:
 	/*
@ -77,6 +79,8 @@ private:
 public:
 	static void Initialize(lua_State *L, int top);

+	static void InitializeAsync(AsyncEngine& engine);
+
 };

 #endif /* L_UTIL_H_ */
--- a/src/script/lua_api/marshall.c
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/marshall.c
@ -0,0 +1,551 @@
+/*
+* lmarshal.c
+* A Lua library for serializing and deserializing Lua values
+* Richard Hundt <richardhundt@gmail.com>
+*
+* License: MIT
+*
+* Copyright (c) 2010 Richard Hundt
+*
+* Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
+* obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
+* files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
+* restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
+* copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+* copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+* Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
+* conditions:
+*
+* The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
+* included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+*
+* THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+* EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
+* OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
+* NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
+* HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
+* WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+* FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
+* OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+*/
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+#include "lua.h"
+#include "lualib.h"
+#include "lauxlib.h"
+
+
+#define MAR_TREF 1
+#define MAR_TVAL 2
+#define MAR_TUSR 3
+
+#define MAR_CHR 1
+#define MAR_I32 4
+#define MAR_I64 8
+
+#define MAR_MAGIC 0x8e
+#define SEEN_IDX  3
+
+typedef struct mar_Buffer {
+    size_t size;
+    size_t seek;
+    size_t head;
+    char*  data;
+} mar_Buffer;
+
+static int mar_encode_table(lua_State *L, mar_Buffer *buf, size_t *idx);
+static int mar_decode_table(lua_State *L, const char* buf, size_t len, size_t *idx);
+
+static void buf_init(lua_State *L, mar_Buffer *buf)
+{
+    buf->size = 128;
+    buf->seek = 0;
+    buf->head = 0;
+    if (!(buf->data = malloc(buf->size))) luaL_error(L, "Out of memory!");
+}
+
+static void buf_done(lua_State* L, mar_Buffer *buf)
+{
+    free(buf->data);
+}
+
+static int buf_write(lua_State* L, const char* str, size_t len, mar_Buffer *buf)
+{
+    if (len > UINT32_MAX) luaL_error(L, "buffer too long");
+    if (buf->size - buf->head < len) {
+        size_t new_size = buf->size << 1;
+        size_t cur_head = buf->head;
+        while (new_size - cur_head <= len) {
+            new_size = new_size << 1;
+        }
+        if (!(buf->data = realloc(buf->data, new_size))) {
+            luaL_error(L, "Out of memory!");
+        }
+        buf->size = new_size;
+    }
+    memcpy(&buf->data[buf->head], str, len);
+    buf->head += len;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static const char* buf_read(lua_State *L, mar_Buffer *buf, size_t *len)
+{
+    if (buf->seek < buf->head) {
+        buf->seek = buf->head;
+        *len = buf->seek;
+        return buf->data;
+    }
+    *len = 0;
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+static void mar_encode_value(lua_State *L, mar_Buffer *buf, int val, size_t *idx)
+{
+    size_t l;
+    int val_type = lua_type(L, val);
+    lua_pushvalue(L, val);
+
+    buf_write(L, (void*)&val_type, MAR_CHR, buf);
+    switch (val_type) {
+    case LUA_TBOOLEAN: {
+        int int_val = lua_toboolean(L, -1);
+        buf_write(L, (void*)&int_val, MAR_CHR, buf);
+        break;
+    }
+    case LUA_TSTRING: {
+        const char *str_val = lua_tolstring(L, -1, &l);
+        buf_write(L, (void*)&l, MAR_I32, buf);
+        buf_write(L, str_val, l, buf);
+        break;
+    }
+    case LUA_TNUMBER: {
+        lua_Number num_val = lua_tonumber(L, -1);
+        buf_write(L, (void*)&num_val, MAR_I64, buf);
+        break;
+    }
+    case LUA_TTABLE: {
+        int tag, ref;
+        lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+        lua_rawget(L, SEEN_IDX);
+        if (!lua_isnil(L, -1)) {
+            ref = lua_tointeger(L, -1);
+            tag = MAR_TREF;
+            buf_write(L, (void*)&tag, MAR_CHR, buf);
+            buf_write(L, (void*)&ref, MAR_I32, buf);
+            lua_pop(L, 1);
+        }
+        else {
+            mar_Buffer rec_buf;
+            lua_pop(L, 1); /* pop nil */
+            if (luaL_getmetafield(L, -1, "__persist")) {
+                tag = MAR_TUSR;
+
+                lua_pushvalue(L, -2); /* self */
+                lua_call(L, 1, 1);
+                if (!lua_isfunction(L, -1)) {
+                    luaL_error(L, "__persist must return a function");
+                }
+
+                lua_remove(L, -2); /* __persist */
+
+                lua_newtable(L);
+                lua_pushvalue(L, -2); /* callback */
+                lua_rawseti(L, -2, 1);
+
+                buf_init(L, &rec_buf);
+                mar_encode_table(L, &rec_buf, idx);
+
+                buf_write(L, (void*)&tag, MAR_CHR, buf);
+                buf_write(L, (void*)&rec_buf.head, MAR_I32, buf);
+                buf_write(L, rec_buf.data, rec_buf.head, buf);
+                buf_done(L, &rec_buf);
+                lua_pop(L, 1);
+            }
+            else {
+                tag = MAR_TVAL;
+
+                lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+                lua_pushinteger(L, (*idx)++);
+                lua_rawset(L, SEEN_IDX);
+
+                lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+                buf_init(L, &rec_buf);
+                mar_encode_table(L, &rec_buf, idx);
+                lua_pop(L, 1);
+
+                buf_write(L, (void*)&tag, MAR_CHR, buf);
+                buf_write(L, (void*)&rec_buf.head, MAR_I32, buf);
+                buf_write(L, rec_buf.data,rec_buf.head, buf);
+                buf_done(L, &rec_buf);
+            }
+        }
+        break;
+    }
+    case LUA_TFUNCTION: {
+        int tag, ref;
+        lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+        lua_rawget(L, SEEN_IDX);
+        if (!lua_isnil(L, -1)) {
+            ref = lua_tointeger(L, -1);
+            tag = MAR_TREF;
+            buf_write(L, (void*)&tag, MAR_CHR, buf);
+            buf_write(L, (void*)&ref, MAR_I32, buf);
+            lua_pop(L, 1);
+        }
+        else {
+            mar_Buffer rec_buf;
+            int i;
+            lua_Debug ar;
+            lua_pop(L, 1); /* pop nil */
+
+            lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+            lua_getinfo(L, ">nuS", &ar);
+            if (ar.what[0] != 'L') {
+                luaL_error(L, "attempt to persist a C function '%s'", ar.name);
+            }
+            tag = MAR_TVAL;
+            lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+            lua_pushinteger(L, (*idx)++);
+            lua_rawset(L, SEEN_IDX);
+
+            lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+            buf_init(L, &rec_buf);
+            lua_dump(L, (lua_Writer)buf_write, &rec_buf);
+
+            buf_write(L, (void*)&tag, MAR_CHR, buf);
+            buf_write(L, (void*)&rec_buf.head, MAR_I32, buf);
+            buf_write(L, rec_buf.data, rec_buf.head, buf);
+            buf_done(L, &rec_buf);
+            lua_pop(L, 1);
+
+            lua_newtable(L);
+            for (i=1; i <= ar.nups; i++) {
+                lua_getupvalue(L, -2, i);
+                lua_rawseti(L, -2, i);
+            }
+
+            buf_init(L, &rec_buf);
+            mar_encode_table(L, &rec_buf, idx);
+
+            buf_write(L, (void*)&rec_buf.head, MAR_I32, buf);
+            buf_write(L, rec_buf.data, rec_buf.head, buf);
+            buf_done(L, &rec_buf);
+            lua_pop(L, 1);
+        }
+
+        break;
+    }
+    case LUA_TUSERDATA: {
+        int tag, ref;
+        lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+        lua_rawget(L, SEEN_IDX);
+        if (!lua_isnil(L, -1)) {
+            ref = lua_tointeger(L, -1);
+            tag = MAR_TREF;
+            buf_write(L, (void*)&tag, MAR_CHR, buf);
+            buf_write(L, (void*)&ref, MAR_I32, buf);
+            lua_pop(L, 1);
+        }
+        else {
+            mar_Buffer rec_buf;
+            lua_pop(L, 1); /* pop nil */
+            if (luaL_getmetafield(L, -1, "__persist")) {
+                tag = MAR_TUSR;
+
+                lua_pushvalue(L, -2);
+                lua_pushinteger(L, (*idx)++);
+                lua_rawset(L, SEEN_IDX);
+
+                lua_pushvalue(L, -2);
+                lua_call(L, 1, 1);
+                if (!lua_isfunction(L, -1)) {
+                    luaL_error(L, "__persist must return a function");
+                }
+                lua_newtable(L);
+                lua_pushvalue(L, -2);
+                lua_rawseti(L, -2, 1);
+                lua_remove(L, -2);
+
+                buf_init(L, &rec_buf);
+                mar_encode_table(L, &rec_buf, idx);
+
+                buf_write(L, (void*)&tag, MAR_CHR, buf);
+                buf_write(L, (void*)&rec_buf.head, MAR_I32, buf);
+		buf_write(L, rec_buf.data, rec_buf.head, buf);
+		buf_done(L, &rec_buf);
+            }
+            else {
+                luaL_error(L, "attempt to encode userdata (no __persist hook)");
+            }
+            lua_pop(L, 1);
+        }
+        break;
+    }
+    case LUA_TNIL: break;
+    default:
+        luaL_error(L, "invalid value type (%s)", lua_typename(L, val_type));
+    }
+    lua_pop(L, 1);
+}
+
+static int mar_encode_table(lua_State *L, mar_Buffer *buf, size_t *idx)
+{
+    lua_pushnil(L);
+    while (lua_next(L, -2) != 0) {
+        mar_encode_value(L, buf, -2, idx);
+        mar_encode_value(L, buf, -1, idx);
+        lua_pop(L, 1);
+    }
+    return 1;
+}
+
+#define mar_incr_ptr(l) \
+    if (((*p)-buf)+(l) > len) luaL_error(L, "bad code"); (*p) += (l);
+
+#define mar_next_len(l,T) \
+    if (((*p)-buf)+sizeof(T) > len) luaL_error(L, "bad code"); \
+    l = *(T*)*p; (*p) += sizeof(T);
+
+static void mar_decode_value
+    (lua_State *L, const char *buf, size_t len, const char **p, size_t *idx)
+{
+    size_t l;
+    char val_type = **p;
+    mar_incr_ptr(MAR_CHR);
+    switch (val_type) {
+    case LUA_TBOOLEAN:
+        lua_pushboolean(L, *(char*)*p);
+        mar_incr_ptr(MAR_CHR);
+        break;
+    case LUA_TNUMBER:
+        lua_pushnumber(L, *(lua_Number*)*p);
+        mar_incr_ptr(MAR_I64);
+        break;
+    case LUA_TSTRING:
+        mar_next_len(l, uint32_t);
+        lua_pushlstring(L, *p, l);
+        mar_incr_ptr(l);
+        break;
+    case LUA_TTABLE: {
+        char tag = *(char*)*p;
+        mar_incr_ptr(MAR_CHR);
+        if (tag == MAR_TREF) {
+            int ref;
+            mar_next_len(ref, int);
+            lua_rawgeti(L, SEEN_IDX, ref);
+        }
+        else if (tag == MAR_TVAL) {
+            mar_next_len(l, uint32_t);
+            lua_newtable(L);
+            lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+            lua_rawseti(L, SEEN_IDX, (*idx)++);
+            mar_decode_table(L, *p, l, idx);
+            mar_incr_ptr(l);
+        }
+        else if (tag == MAR_TUSR) {
+            mar_next_len(l, uint32_t);
+            lua_newtable(L);
+            mar_decode_table(L, *p, l, idx);
+            lua_rawgeti(L, -1, 1);
+            lua_call(L, 0, 1);
+            lua_remove(L, -2);
+            lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+            lua_rawseti(L, SEEN_IDX, (*idx)++);
+            mar_incr_ptr(l);
+        }
+        else {
+            luaL_error(L, "bad encoded data");
+        }
+        break;
+    }
+    case LUA_TFUNCTION: {
+        size_t nups;
+        int i;
+        mar_Buffer dec_buf;
+        char tag = *(char*)*p;
+        mar_incr_ptr(1);
+        if (tag == MAR_TREF) {
+            int ref;
+            mar_next_len(ref, int);
+            lua_rawgeti(L, SEEN_IDX, ref);
+        }
+        else {
+            mar_next_len(l, uint32_t);
+            dec_buf.data = (char*)*p;
+            dec_buf.size = l;
+            dec_buf.head = l;
+            dec_buf.seek = 0;
+            lua_load(L, (lua_Reader)buf_read, &dec_buf, "=marshal");
+            mar_incr_ptr(l);
+
+            lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+            lua_rawseti(L, SEEN_IDX, (*idx)++);
+
+            mar_next_len(l, uint32_t);
+            lua_newtable(L);
+            mar_decode_table(L, *p, l, idx);
+            nups = lua_objlen(L, -1);
+            for (i=1; i <= nups; i++) {
+                lua_rawgeti(L, -1, i);
+                lua_setupvalue(L, -3, i);
+            }
+            lua_pop(L, 1);
+            mar_incr_ptr(l);
+        }
+        break;
+    }
+    case LUA_TUSERDATA: {
+        char tag = *(char*)*p;
+        mar_incr_ptr(MAR_CHR);
+        if (tag == MAR_TREF) {
+            int ref;
+            mar_next_len(ref, int);
+            lua_rawgeti(L, SEEN_IDX, ref);
+        }
+        else if (tag == MAR_TUSR) {
+            mar_next_len(l, uint32_t);
+            lua_newtable(L);
+            mar_decode_table(L, *p, l, idx);
+            lua_rawgeti(L, -1, 1);
+            lua_call(L, 0, 1);
+            lua_remove(L, -2);
+            lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+            lua_rawseti(L, SEEN_IDX, (*idx)++);
+            mar_incr_ptr(l);
+        }
+        else { /* tag == MAR_TVAL */
+            lua_pushnil(L);
+        }
+        break;
+    }
+    case LUA_TNIL:
+    case LUA_TTHREAD:
+        lua_pushnil(L);
+        break;
+    default:
+        luaL_error(L, "bad code");
+    }
+}
+
+static int mar_decode_table(lua_State *L, const char* buf, size_t len, size_t *idx)
+{
+    const char* p;
+    p = buf;
+    while (p - buf < len) {
+        mar_decode_value(L, buf, len, &p, idx);
+        mar_decode_value(L, buf, len, &p, idx);
+        lua_settable(L, -3);
+    }
+    return 1;
+}
+
+static int mar_encode(lua_State* L)
+{
+    const unsigned char m = MAR_MAGIC;
+    size_t idx, len;
+    mar_Buffer buf;
+
+    if (lua_isnone(L, 1)) {
+        lua_pushnil(L);
+    }
+    if (lua_isnoneornil(L, 2)) {
+        lua_newtable(L);
+    }
+    else if (!lua_istable(L, 2)) {
+        luaL_error(L, "bad argument #2 to encode (expected table)");
+    }
+    lua_settop(L, 2);
+
+    len = lua_objlen(L, 2);
+    lua_newtable(L);
+    for (idx = 1; idx <= len; idx++) {
+        lua_rawgeti(L, 2, idx);
+        if (lua_isnil(L, -1)) {
+            lua_pop(L, 1);
+            continue;
+        }
+        lua_pushinteger(L, idx);
+        lua_rawset(L, SEEN_IDX);
+    }
+    lua_pushvalue(L, 1);
+
+    buf_init(L, &buf);
+    buf_write(L, (void*)&m, 1, &buf);
+
+    mar_encode_value(L, &buf, -1, &idx);
+
+    lua_pop(L, 1);
+
+    lua_pushlstring(L, buf.data, buf.head);
+
+    buf_done(L, &buf);
+
+    lua_remove(L, SEEN_IDX);
+
+    return 1;
+}
+
+static int mar_decode(lua_State* L)
+{
+    size_t l, idx, len;
+    const char *p;
+    const char *s = luaL_checklstring(L, 1, &l);
+
+    if (l < 1) luaL_error(L, "bad header");
+    if (*(unsigned char *)s++ != MAR_MAGIC) luaL_error(L, "bad magic");
+    l -= 1;
+
+    if (lua_isnoneornil(L, 2)) {
+        lua_newtable(L);
+    }
+    else if (!lua_istable(L, 2)) {
+        luaL_error(L, "bad argument #2 to decode (expected table)");
+    }
+    lua_settop(L, 2);
+
+    len = lua_objlen(L, 2);
+    lua_newtable(L);
+    for (idx = 1; idx <= len; idx++) {
+        lua_rawgeti(L, 2, idx);
+        lua_rawseti(L, SEEN_IDX, idx);
+    }
+
+    p = s;
+    mar_decode_value(L, s, l, &p, &idx);
+
+    lua_remove(L, SEEN_IDX);
+    lua_remove(L, 2);
+
+    return 1;
+}
+
+static int mar_clone(lua_State* L)
+{
+    mar_encode(L);
+    lua_replace(L, 1);
+    mar_decode(L);
+    return 1;
+}
+
+static const luaL_reg R[] =
+{
+    {"encode",      mar_encode},
+    {"decode",      mar_decode},
+    {"clone",       mar_clone},
+    {NULL,	    NULL}
+};
+
+int luaopen_marshal(lua_State *L)
+{
+    lua_newtable(L);
+    luaL_register(L, "marshal", R);
+    return 1;
+}
+
+
+
+
+
--- a/src/script/scripting_mainmenu.cpp
+++ b/src/script/scripting_mainmenu.cpp
@ -28,8 +28,9 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,

 extern "C" {
 #include "lualib.h"
+	int luaopen_marshal(lua_State *L);
 }
-
+/******************************************************************************/
 MainMenuScripting::MainMenuScripting(GUIEngine* guiengine)
 {
 	setGuiEngine(guiengine);
@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ MainMenuScripting::MainMenuScripting(GUIEngine* guiengine)
 	//TODO add security

 	luaL_openlibs(getStack());
+	luaopen_marshal(getStack());

 	SCRIPTAPI_PRECHECKHEADER

@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ MainMenuScripting::MainMenuScripting(GUIEngine* guiengine)
 	infostream << "SCRIPTAPI: initialized mainmenu modules" << std::endl;
 }

+/******************************************************************************/
 void MainMenuScripting::InitializeModApi(lua_State *L, int top)
 {
 	// Initialize mod api modules
@ -66,4 +69,23 @@ void MainMenuScripting::InitializeModApi(lua_State *L, int top)

 	// Register reference classes (userdata)
 	LuaSettings::Register(L);
+
+	// Register functions to async environment
+	ModApiMainMenu::InitializeAsync(m_AsyncEngine);
+	ModApiUtil::InitializeAsync(m_AsyncEngine);
+
+	// Initialize async environment
+	//TODO possibly make number of async threads configurable
+	m_AsyncEngine.Initialize(MAINMENU_NUMBER_OF_ASYNC_THREADS);
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+void MainMenuScripting::Step() {
+	m_AsyncEngine.Step(getStack());
+}
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+unsigned int MainMenuScripting::DoAsync(std::string serialized_fct,
+		std::string serialized_params) {
+	return m_AsyncEngine.doAsyncJob(serialized_fct,serialized_params);
 }
--- a/src/script/scripting_mainmenu.h
+++ b/src/script/scripting_mainmenu.h
@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,

 #include "cpp_api/s_base.h"
 #include "cpp_api/s_mainmenu.h"
+#include "lua_api/l_async_events.h"

 /*****************************************************************************/
 /* Scripting <-> Main Menu Interface                                         */
@ -37,8 +38,16 @@ public:
 	// use ScriptApiBase::loadMod() or ScriptApiBase::loadScript()
 	// to load scripts

+	/* global step handler to pass back async events */
+	void Step();
+
+	/* pass async events from engine to async threads */
+	unsigned int DoAsync(std::string serialized_fct,
+			std::string serialized_params);
 private:
 	void InitializeModApi(lua_State *L, int top);
+
+	AsyncEngine m_AsyncEngine;
 };