modlib/Readme.md

Modding Library (modlib)

Multipurpose Minetest Modding Library

About

No dependencies. Licensed under the MIT License. Written by Lars Mueller aka LMD or appguru(eu).

API

Mostly self-documenting code. Mod namespace is modlib or _ml, containing all variables & functions.

Bluon

Binary Lua object notation. Experimental. Handling of subnormal numbers (very small floats) may be broken.

new(def)

def = {
    aux_is_valid = function(object)
        return is_valid
    end,
    aux_len = function(object)
        return length_in_bytes
    end,
    -- read type byte, stream providing :read(count), map of references -> id
    aux_read = function(type, stream, references)
        ... = stream:read(...)
        return object
    end,
    -- object to be written, stream providing :write(text), list of references
    aux_write = function(object, stream, references)
        stream:write(...)
    end
}

:is_valid(object)

Returns whether the given object can be represented by the instance as boolean.

:len(object)

Returns the expected length of the object if serialized by the current instance in bytes.

:write(object, stream)

Writes the object to a stream supporting :write(text). Throws an error if invalid.

:read(stream)

Reads a single bluon object from a stream supporting :read(count). Throws an error if invalid bluon.

Checking whether the stream has been fully consumed by doing assert(not stream:read(1)) is left up to the user.

Format

• nil: nothing ("")
• false: 0
• true: 1
• Numbers:
  • Constants: 0, nan, +inf, -inf
  • Integers: Little endian U8, U16, U32, U64, -U8, -U16, -U32, -U64
  • Floats: Little endian F32, F64
• Strings:
  • Constant: ""
  • Length as unsigned integer: T8, T16, T32, T64
• Tables:
  • List and map part count as unsigned integers
  • L0, L8, L16, L32, L64 times M0, M8, M16, M32, M64
• Reference:
  • Reference ID as unsigned integer: R8, R16, R32, R64
• Reserved types:
  • Everything <= 55 => 200 free types

Features

• Embeddable: Written in pure Lua
• Storage efficient: No duplication of strings or reference-equal tables
• Flexible: Can serialize circular references and strings containing null

Simple example

local object = ...
-- Write to file
local file = io.open(..., "w")
modlib.bluon:write(object, file)
file:close()
-- Write to text
local rope = modlib.table.rope{}
modlib.bluon:write(object, rope)
text = rope:to_text()
-- Read from text
local inputstream = modlib.text.inputstream"\1"
assert(modlib.bluon:read(object, rope) == true)

Advanced example

-- Serializes all userdata to a constant string:
local custom_bluon = bluon.new{
    aux_is_valid = function(object)
        return type(object) == "userdata"
    end,
    aux_len = function(object)
        return 1 + ("userdata"):len())
    end,
    aux_read = function(type, stream, references)
        assert(type == 100, "unsupported type")
        assert(stream:read(("userdata"):len()) == "userdata")
        return userdata()
    end,
    -- object to be written, stream providing :write(text), list of references
    aux_write = function(object, stream, references)
        assert(type(object) == "userdata")
        stream:write"\100userdata"
    end
}
-- Write to text
local rope = modlib.table.rope{}
custom_bluon:write(userdata(), rope)
assert(rope:to_text() == "\100userdata")

Configuration

Legacy

1. Configuration is loaded from <worldpath>/config/<modname>.<extension>, the following extensions are supported and loaded (in the given order), with loaded configurations overriding properties of previous ones:
   1. json
   2. lua
   3. luon, Lua but without the return
   4. conf
2. Settings are loaded from minetest.conf and override configuration values

Locations

0. Default configuration: <modfolder>/conf.lua
1. World configuration: config/<modname>.<format>
2. Mod configuration: <modfolder>/conf.<format>
3. Minetest configuration: minetest.conf

Formats

1. lua

• Lua, with the environment being the configuration object
• field = value works
• Return new configuration object to replace

2. luon

• Single Lua literal
• Booleans, numbers, strings and tables

3. conf

• Minetest-like configuration files

4. json

• Not recommended