book

Integrate Lua with C++

Name: Integrate Lua with C++
Author: Wenhuan Li
ISBN: 9781805128618

by Wenhuan Li

October 2023

Intermediate to advanced

216 pages

4h 14m

English

Packt Publishing

Read now

Unlock full access

Integrate Lua with C++
ContributorsAbout the authorAbout the reviewer
Preface
Who this book is forWhat this book coversTo get the most out of this bookDownload the example code filesConventions usedGet in touchShare Your ThoughtsDownload a free PDF copy of this book
Part 1 – Lua Basics
Chapter 1: Getting Your C++ Project Lua-Ready
Technical requirementsCompiling the Lua source codeIntroducing shellBuilding LuaBuilding a C++ project with the Lua libraryCreating a project to work with the Lua libraryWriting the C++ codeWriting the MakefileTesting the projectBuilding a C++ project with the Lua source codeCreating a project to work with the Lua source codeWriting the C++ codeWriting the MakefileTesting the projectTesting the clean targetExecuting a simple Lua scriptCreating a projectWriting the MakefileWriting the C++ codeTesting the projectWriting the Lua scriptOther toolchain optionsUsing Visual Studio or XcodeUsing CygwinSummary
Chapter 2: Lua Fundamentals
Technical requirementsVariables and typesNilBooleansNumbersStringsTablesFunctionsLocal variables and scopesControl structuresif then elsewhilerepeatfor, numericalfor, genericSummaryExercisesReferences
Part 2 – Calling Lua from C++
Chapter 3: How to Call Lua from C++
Technical requirementsImplementing a Lua executorHow to include the Lua library in C++ codeGetting a Lua instanceWhat is Lua state?Executing a Lua fileWhat is a chunk?What is a Lua stack?Testing the Lua executor so farExecuting a Lua scriptUnderstanding the Lua stackPushing elementsQuerying elementsPopping elementsOperating on global variablesGetting global variablesSetting global variablesTesting it outCalling Lua functionsImplementing function invocationTesting it outSummaryExercises
Chapter 4: Mapping Lua Types to C++
Technical requirementsMapping Lua typesExploring different mapping optionsIntroducing some new Makefile tricksDefining Lua types in C++Implementing Lua types in C++Implementing a union typeWorking with the union typeSupporting different argument typesPushing onto the stackPopping from the stackPutting it togetherTesting it outSupporting a variable number of argumentsImplementing the C++ functionTesting it outSome more words on our mechanismSupporting multiple return valuesImplementing the C++ functionTesting it outSummaryExercises
Chapter 5: Working with Lua Tables
Technical requirementsWorking with Lua table entriesGetting a table entry valueSetting a table entry valueTesting table operations with string keysWorking with Lua arraysUsing array index optimizationTesting the array index optimizationRevisiting string keysOOP in LuaUsing Lua metatables to achieve inheritanceImplementing Lua class member functionsTesting it outWorking with Lua table functionsImplementing table function supportTesting it outSummaryExercises
Part 3 – Calling C++ from Lua

Chapter 6: How to Call C++ from Lua
Technical requirementsHow to register C++ functionsHow to declare C++ functions for LuaImplementing your first C++ function for LuaHow to register C++ functions to LuaTesting it outHow to override Lua library functionsReimplementing the Lua print functionOverriding the Lua print functionTesting it outHow to register C++ modulesImplementing a C++ classWhat to export to LuaDesigning a reusable exporting mechanismTesting our mechanismAccessing the C++ class instanceCompleting our stubsTesting it outSummaryExercises
Chapter 7: Working with C++ Types
Technical requirementsHow to use the Lua registrySupporting the registryTesting the registryHow to use userdataPreparing the C++ typeWhat is userdata?Designing the userdataPreparing the Lua scriptExporting C++ types to LuaSetting a metatable for the userdataCreating a metatable for the userdataGetting the object in C++Making wrappers work againTesting it outProviding a finalizerSummaryExercise
Chapter 8: Abstracting a C++ Type Exporter
Technical requirementsReviewing the factory implementationDefining the factoryImplementing the factoryDesigning a type exporterChoosing a design patternStubbing the exporterPreparing the C++ test codePreparing the Lua test scriptDefining LuaModuleDefUsing LuaModuleDefRe-implementing luaNewAre you flexible enough?SummaryExercise
Part 4 – Advanced Topics
Chapter 9: Recapping Lua-C++ Communication Mechanisms
Technical requirementsThe stackPushing onto the stackQuerying the stackOther stack operationsCalling Lua from C++Calling C++ from LuaExporting C++ modulesImplementing standalone C++ modulesCompiling the standalone moduleTesting the standalone moduleStoring state in LuaUpvaluesThe registryUserdataLight userdataFull userdataSummary
Chapter 10: Managing Resources
Technical requirementsCustomizing Lua memory allocationWhat is the Lua memory allocation function?Implementing a memory allocation functionTesting it outDelegating C++ object memory allocation to LuaUsing C++ placement newExtending LuaModuleDefExtending LuaModuleExporterTesting with the Destinations.cc moduleWhat is RAII?Summary
Chapter 11: Multithreading with Lua
Technical requirementsMultithreading in C++How does C++ support multithreading?Using multiple Lua instancesTesting it outMultithreading in LuaHow does Lua support multithreading?Using coroutine with C++Summary
Index
Why subscribe?
Other Books You May EnjoyPackt is searching for authors like youShare Your ThoughtsDownload a free PDF copy of this book

Content preview from Integrate Lua with C++

8 Abstracting a C++ Type Exporter

In the previous chapter, we learned how to export a C++ class to Lua as a user-defined type. An instance of the class is exported to Lua to serve as the prototype for the type.

The exercise from the previous chapter required you to create a factory class for the type. However, with that requirement, each type needs its own factory class.

In this chapter, we will learn how to implement a general C++ type exporter so that you can use it as the factory class for any C++ type, without redoing the work.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

Reviewing the factory implementation
Designing a type exporter
Stubbing the type exporter
Defining LuaModuleDef
Re-implementing luaNew
Are you flexible enough? ...

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.

Read now

Unlock full access

More than 5,000 organizations count on O’Reilly

O’Reilly covers everything we've got, with content to help us build a world-class technology community, upgrade the capabilities and competencies of our teams, and improve overall team performance as well as their engagement.

Julian F.

Head of Cybersecurity

I wanted to learn C and C++, but it didn't click for me until I picked up an O'Reilly book. When I went on the O’Reilly platform, I was astonished to find all the books there, plus live events and sandboxes so you could play around with the technology.

Addison B.

Field Engineer

I’ve been on the O’Reilly platform for more than eight years. I use a couple of learning platforms, but I'm on O'Reilly more than anybody else. When you're there, you start learning. I'm never disappointed.

Amir M.

Data Platform Tech Lead

I'm always learning. So when I got on to O'Reilly, I was like a kid in a candy store. There are playlists. There are answers. There's on-demand training. It's worth its weight in gold, in terms of what it allows me to do.

Mark W.

Embedded Software Engineer

Foundations of Linux Debugging, Disassembling, and Reversing: Analyze Binary Code, Understand Stack Memory Usage, and Reconstruct C/C++ Code with Intel x64

Dmitry Vostokov

Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781805128618

Cloud Computing

Data Engineering

Data Science

AI & ML

Programming Languages

Software Architecture

IT/Ops

Security

Design

Business

Soft Skills

Integrate Lua with C++

by Wenhuan Li

8

Abstracting a C++ Type Exporter

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.