sol2/docs/source/tutorial/all-the-things.rst

tutorial: quick 'n' dirty 
=========================

These are all the things. Use your browser's search to find something that might help.

Compile with -std=c++14 or better / VS 2015 or better.

opening a state
---------------

Do it.

.. code-block:: cpp
	
	sol::state lua;
	// open some common libraries
	lua.open_libraries(sol::lib::base, sol::lib::package);
	lua.script( "print('bark bark bark!')" );


sol::state on lua_State*
------------------------

For your system/game that already has lua, but you'd like something nice:

.. code-block:: cpp
	
	int pre_existing_system( lua_State* L ) {
		sol::state_view lua(L);
		lua.script( "print('bark bark bark!')" );
	}


running lua code
----------------

.. code-block:: cpp

	sol::state lua;
	// load and execute from string
	lua.script("a = 'test'");
	// load and execute from file
	lua.script_file("path/to/luascript.lua");

	// load file without execute
	sol::function script1 = state.load_script_file("path/to/luascript.lua");
	script1(); //execute
	// load string without execute
	sol::function script2 = state.load_script("a = 'test'");
	script2(); //execute


set and get stuff
-----------------

You can set/get everything.
	
.. code-block:: cpp
	
	sol::lua_state lua;

	// integer types
	lua.set("number", 24);
	// floating point numbers
	lua["number2"] = 24.5;
	// string types
	lua["important_string"] = "woof woof";
	// non-recognized types is stored as userdata
	lua["myuserdata"] = some_class();
	// is callable, therefore gets stored as a function
	lua["a_function"] = [](){ return 100; }; 

	// implicit conversion
	int number = lua["number"];
	// explicit get
	auto number2 = lua.get<double>("number2");
	// strings too
	std::string important_string = lua["important_string"];
	
	// returns a plain reference
	some_class& myuserdata = lua["myuserdata"];
	// myuserdata.some_variable = 20  WILL (!!) modify 
	// data inside of lua VM as well, if you get a pointer or a reference
	
	// get a function
	sol::function a_function = lua["a_function"];
	int value_is_100 = a_function();

	// get a std::function
	std::function<int()> a_std_function = lua["a_function"];
	int value_is_still_100 = a_std_function();


Some classes that have stuff to make it easier to look at lua semantics / be safe.

.. code-block:: cpp

	sol::state lua;

	// ... everything from before

	sol::object number_obj = lua.get<sol::object>( "number" );
	sol::type t1 = number_obj.get_type(); // sol::type::number

	sol::object function_obj = lua[ "a_function" ];
	sol::type t2 = function_obj.get_type(); // sol::type::function
	bool is_it_really = function_obj.is<std::function<int()>(); // true

	// will not contain data
	sol::optional<int> check_for_me = lua["a_function"];


functions
---------

They're great. Use them:

.. code-block:: cpp
	
	sol::state lua;

	lua.script("function f (a, b, c, d) return 1 end");
	std::function<int()> stdfx = lua["f"];
	sol::function fx = lua["f"];

	int is_one = stdfx(1, 34.5, 3, "bark");
	int is_also_one = fx();

You can bind member variables as functions too:

.. code-block:: cpp
	
	void some_function () {
		std::cout << "some function!" << std::endl;
	}

	struct some_class {
		int variable = 30;

		double member_function () {
			return 24.5;
		}
	};

	sol::state lua;
	lua.open_libraries(sol::lib::base);

	lua["f1"] = some_function;
	lua.set_function("f2", &some_other_function);

	lua.script(R"(
		 f1() -- some function!
		 f2() -- some function!
	)");

	lua.set("sc", some_class()); // put an instance of "some_class" into lua

	lua["m1"] = &some_class::member_function; // binds just the member function
	lua.set_function("m2", &some_class::member_function, some_class{}); // binds the class to the type

	lua.script(R"(
		-- need class instance if you don't bind it with the function
		print(m1(sc)) -- 24.5
		-- does not need class instance: was made with one 
		print(m2()) -- 24.5
	)");

	lua["v1"] = &some_class::variable; // binds just the membver variable as a function
	lua.set_function("v2", &some_class::variable, some_class{}); // binds class with member variable as function
	
	lua.script(R"(
		-- need class instance if you don't bind it with the function
		print(v1(sc)) -- 30
		-- does not need class instance: was bound with one 
		print(v2()) -- 30

		-- can set: still requires instance
		v1(sc, 212)
		-- can set: does not need class instance: was bound with one 
		v2(254)

		print(v1(sc)) -- 212
		print(v2()) -- 254
	)");

Can use ``sol::readonly( &some_class::variable )`` to make a variable readonly and error if someone tries to write to it.


multiple returns
----------------

.. code-block:: cpp
	
	sol::state lua;

	lua.script("function f (a, b, c) return a, b, c end");
	
	std::tuple<int, int, int> result = lua["f"](100, 200, 300); 
	// result == { 100, 200, 300 }
	int a, int b;
	std::string c;
	sol::bond( a, b, c ) = lua["f"](100, 200, "bark");
	// a == 100
	// b == 200
	// c == "bark"


tables
------

:doc:`state<../api/state>` is a table too.

.. code-block:: cpp

	sol::state lua;

	// Raw string literal for easy multiline
	lua.script( R"(
		abc = { [0] = 24 }
		def = { 
			ghi = { 
				bark = 50, 
				woof = abc 
			} 
		}
	)"
	);

	sol::table abc = lua["abc"];
	sol::table ghi = lua["def"]["ghi"];

	int bark1 = def["y"]["bark"]; // 24
	int bark2 = lua["def"]["ghi"]["bark"]; // 24
	bool bark_equal = bark1 == bark2; // true

	int abcval1 = abc[0]; // 24
	int abcval2 = ghi["woof"][0]; // 24
	bool abcval_equal = abcval1 == abcval2; // true

If you're going deep, be safe:

.. code-block:: cpp

	sol::optional<int> will_not_error = lua["abc"]["DOESNOTEXIST"]["ghi"]; // sol::nullopt
	int will_not_error2 = lua["abc"]["def"]["ghi"]["jklm"].get_or<int>(25); // is 25
	// will throw (or do at_panic if no exceptions)
	int aaaahhh = lua["abc"]["hope_u_liek_crash"];


make tables
-----------

Make some:

.. code-block:: cpp

	lua["abc"] = lua.create_table_with(
		0, 24
	);

	lua.create_named_table("def",
		"ghi", lua.create_table_with(
			"bark", 50,
			"woof", lua["abc"] // can reference other existing stuff too
		)
	);

Equivalent Lua code:

.. code-block:: lua
	
	abc = { [0] = 24 }
	def = { 
		ghi = { 
			bark = 50, 
			woof = abc 
		} 
	}	
	

userdata + usertypes (metatables)
---------------------------------

Everything that is not a:

	* primitive type: ``bool``, ``char/short/int/long/long long``, ``float/double``
	* string type: ``std::string``, ``const char*``
	* function type: function pointers, ``lua_CFunction``, ``std::function``, :doc:`sol::function/sol::protected_function<../api/function>`, :doc:`sol::coroutine<../api/coroutine>`
	* designated sol type: :doc:`sol::table<../api/table>`, :doc:`sol::thread<../api/thread>`, :doc:`sol::error<../api/error>`, :doc:`sol::object<../api/object>`
	* transparent argument type: :doc:`sol::variadic_arg<../api/variadic_args>`, :doc:`sol::this_state<../api/this_state>`
	* usertype<T> class: :doc:`sol::usertype<../api/usertype>`

Is set as a userdata.

.. code-block:: cpp

	struct Doge { int tailwag = 50; }

	Doge dog{};
	
	// Copy into lua: destroyed when lua VM garbage collects
	lua["dog"] = dog;
	// OR: move semantics - will call move constructor if present instead
	lua["dog"] = std::move( dog );
	lua["dog"] = Doge{};
	lua["dog"] = std::make_unique<Doge>();
	lua["dog"] = std::make_shared<Doge>();
	// Identical to above
	lua.set("dog", dog);
	lua.set("dog", std::move(dog));
	lua.set("dog", Doge{});
	lua.set("dog", std::unique_ptr<Doge>(new Doge()));
	lua.set("dog", std::shared_ptr<Doge>(new Doge()));

``std::unique_ptr``/``std::shared_ptr``'s reference counts / deleters will be respected. If you want it to refer to something, whose memory you know won't die in C++, do the following:

.. code-block:: cpp

	Doge dog{}; // Kept alive somehow

	// Later...
	// The following stores a reference, and does not copy/move
	// lifetime is same as dog in C++ (access after it is destroyed is bad)
	lua["dog"] = &dog;
	// Same as above: respects std::reference_wrapper
	lua["dog"] = std::ref(dog);
	// These two are identical to above
	lua.set( "dog", &dog );
	lua.set( "dog", std::ref( dog ) );

Get userdata in the same way as everything else:

.. code-block:: cpp

	Doge& dog = lua["dog"]; // References Lua memory
	Doge* dog_pointer = lua["dog"]; // References Lua memory
	Doge dog_copy = lua["dog"]; // Copies, will not affect lua

	dog_copy.tailwag = 525;
	// Still 50
	lua.script("assert(dog.tailwag == 50)");

	dog.tailwag = 100;
	// Now 100
	lua.script("assert(dog.tailwag == 100)");


more userdata + usertypes
-------------------------

Because there's a LOT you can do with Sol:

.. code-block:: cpp
	:caption: test_player.hpp

	struct player {
	public:
		int bullets;
		int speed;

		player() : player(500, 100) {

		}

		player(int ammo) : player(ammo, 100) {

		}

		player(int ammo, int hitpoints) : bullets(ammo), hp(hitpoints) {

		}

		void boost () {
			speed += 10;
		}

		bool shoot () {
			if (bullets < 1)
				return false;
			--bullets;
			return true;
		}

		int set_hp(int value) {
			hp = value;
		}

		int get_hp() const {
			return hp;
		}

	private:
		int hp;
	}

Bind all the things:

.. code-block:: cpp
	:caption: player_script.cpp

	sol::state lua;

	// just stuff a userdata in there
	lua.new_usertype<player>( "player",
		sol::constructors<sol::types<>, sol::types<int>, sol::types<int, int>>(), // 3 constructors
		"shoot", &player::shoot, // typical member function that returns a variable
		"boost", &player::boost, // typical member function
		"hp", sol::property(&player::get_hp, &player::set_hp), // gets or set the value
		"speed", &player::speed, // read and write variable
		"bullets", sol::readonly( &player::bullets ) // can only read from, not write to
	);

	lua.script_file("player_script.lua");

And the script:

.. code-block:: lua
	:caption: player_script.lua
	
	p1 = player.new(2) -- call single argument integer constructor
	
	p1.hp = 545; -- call property setter
	print(p1.hp); -- call property through getter

	local did_shoot_1 = p1:shoot()
	print(did_shoot_1)
	print(p1.bullets)
	local did_shoot_2 = p1:shoot()
	print(did_shoot_2)
	print(p1.bullets)
	local did_shoot_3 = p1:shoot()
	print(did_shoot_3)
	
	-- can read
	print(p1.bullets)
	-- would error: is a readonly variable, cannot write
	-- p1.bullets = 20

	p1:boost()

Even more stuff :doc:`you can do<../api/usertype>` described elsewhere, like initializer functions (private constructors / destructors support), "static" functions callable with ``name.my_function( ... )``, and overloaded member functions.


Advanced
--------

Some more advanced things you can do:
	
	* :doc:`stack manipulation<../api/stack>` to safely play with the stack. You can also define customization points for ``stack::get``/``stack::check``/``stack::push`` for your type.
	* :doc:`variadic arguments<../api/variadic_args>` in functions with ``sol::variadic_args``.
	* :doc:`this_state<../api/this_state>` to get the current ``lua_State*``.
	* :doc:`resolve<../api/resolve>` overloads in case you have overloaded functions; a cleaner casting utility.