Lua and C++

[Benton]

Hey guys,

 

I am making my project and I got a few questions,

 

The way it will work is a main script/c++ file that handles the game. So all the scenes, menus etc. Then objects and stuff have lua files. But should I use LUA or C++ for the main game script?

[AggrorJorn]

C++ (or C#) is my recomendation. When it comes to managing it is just so much easier to have a good IDE at your side.

[Benton]

Yeah I guess, but then can I run lua functions through C++? Or the other way around? So if I need C++ to do something I can write up a function in C++ and call it through lua?

[DigitalHax]

http://www.leadwerks.com/files/Tutorials/Lua/Getting_Started_With_Lua.pdf

 

I do not think you can run commands that are lua commands directly, but overall C++ is much more documented for use. It has many libaries and ways to refine the programming to your need. I use C++ for main things, and I find that knowing C++ can help you use lua. It doesn't work the other way around. Both are equally important for making anything decent, with lua for making entities in the editor.

[Pixel Perfect]

Lua will run C functions easily but not C++ as it doesn't know anything about the this pointer in order to reference the class objects. There are some libs out there that will wrap C++ for use with Lua so that's always an option but if your prepared to just provide a C interface between the two then that works pretty seamlessly. Lua is written in C after all.

 

As Aggror stated previously, having a good IDE at your disposal makes all the difference in any sizable development. The tools available for C++/C# are just so much better.

[Daimour]

Since I love Lua in Leadwerks I would advice to start making your main loop with Lua.

 

Because of (I wrote it before here):

 

- It's simpler than C++;

- You don't need to compile anything or run any external IDE (you don't need any IDE at all);

- It works inside Leadwerks Editor (you can play around with it, you can play your game directly in Editor);

- You can edit LUA-script on fly and see result immediately;

- You can easily include or exclude any features (on fly).

 

 

And when you will see that Lua is not enough for you can rewrite your code to C++ or BlitzMax or whatever you want.