diff options
author | Kartik K. Agaram <vc@akkartik.com> | 2022-03-13 14:08:27 -0700 |
---|---|---|
committer | Kartik K. Agaram <vc@akkartik.com> | 2022-03-13 14:19:08 -0700 |
commit | 35a6794386d347baec5349fceeb419f940361b87 (patch) | |
tree | 0b49892a28b399ba4e8596a9c4f3c2c9a5f5f487 /doc | |
parent | 23e7cf9c5218c581f62529433bcc3c65a25b9086 (diff) | |
download | teliva-35a6794386d347baec5349fceeb419f940361b87.tar.gz |
rip out most references to C and userdata in docs
Diffstat (limited to 'doc')
-rw-r--r-- | doc/manual.html | 173 |
1 files changed, 30 insertions, 143 deletions
diff --git a/doc/manual.html b/doc/manual.html index a69c914..fe40d5d 100644 --- a/doc/manual.html +++ b/doc/manual.html @@ -269,24 +269,11 @@ including embedded zeros ('<code>\0</code>') (see <a href="#2.1">§2.1</a>). <p> -Lua can call (and manipulate) functions written in Lua and -functions written in C -(see <a href="#2.5.8">§2.5.8</a>). - - -<p> -The type <em>userdata</em> is provided to allow arbitrary C data to -be stored in Lua variables. -This type corresponds to a block of raw memory -and has no pre-defined operations in Lua, -except assignment and identity test. -However, by using <em>metatables</em>, -the programmer can define operations for userdata values -(see <a href="#2.8">§2.8</a>). -Userdata values cannot be created or modified in Lua, -only through the C API. -This guarantees the integrity of data owned by the host program. - +<div class='teliva'>The type <em>userdata</em> is opaque to Teliva, and +used by low-level code to manage details of C data stored in Lua +variables. Unlike Lua, Teliva doesn't support creating or managing userdata +since it doesn't permit extension by C libraries. This manual doesn't allude +to userdata further.</div> <p> The type <em>thread</em> represents independent threads of execution @@ -322,7 +309,7 @@ Thus tables can also carry <em>methods</em> (see <a href="#2.5.9">§2.5.9</a <p> -Tables, functions, threads, and (full) userdata values are <em>objects</em>: +Tables, functions and threads are <em>objects</em>: variables do not actually <em>contain</em> these values, only <em>references</em> to them. Assignment, parameter passing, and function returns @@ -424,8 +411,6 @@ To get the environment table of a Lua function, you call <a href="#pdf-getfenv"><code>getfenv</code></a>. To replace it, you call <a href="#pdf-setfenv"><code>setfenv</code></a>. -(You can only manipulate the environment of C functions -through the debug library; (see <a href="#5.9">§5.9</a>).) <p> @@ -973,17 +958,17 @@ Equality (<code>==</code>) first compares the type of its operands. If the types are different, then the result is <b>false</b>. Otherwise, the values of the operands are compared. Numbers and strings are compared in the usual way. -Objects (tables, userdata, threads, and functions) +Objects (tables, threads, and functions) are compared by <em>reference</em>: two objects are considered equal only if they are the <em>same</em> object. Every time you create a new object -(a table, userdata, thread, or function), +(a table, thread, or function), this new object is different from any previously existing object. <p> -You can change the way that Lua compares tables and userdata -by using the "eq" metamethod (see <a href="#2.8">§2.8</a>). +You can change the way that Lua compares tables by using the "eq" metamethod +(see <a href="#2.8">§2.8</a>). <p> @@ -1482,13 +1467,10 @@ while all of them share the same <code>x</code>. <h2>2.7 - <a name="2.7">Error Handling</a></h2> <p> -Because Lua is an embedded extension language, -all Lua actions start from C code in the host program -calling a function from the Lua library (see <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a>). -Whenever an error occurs during Lua compilation or execution, -control returns to C, -which can take appropriate measures -(such as printing an error message). +<div class='teliva'> +Errors returned by Teliva code should display on screen in red. Please report +crashes or other behavior. +</div> <p> @@ -1532,14 +1514,11 @@ through the <a href="#pdf-getmetatable"><code>getmetatable</code></a> function. You can replace the metatable of tables through the <a href="#pdf-setmetatable"><code>setmetatable</code></a> function. -You cannot change the metatable of other types from Lua -(except by using the debug library); -you must use the C API for that. <p> -Tables and full userdata have individual metatables -(although multiple tables and userdata can share their metatables). +Tables have individual metatables +(although multiple tables can share their metatables). Values of all other types share one single metatable per type; that is, there is one single metatable for all numbers, one for all strings, etc. @@ -1548,8 +1527,6 @@ one for all strings, etc. <p> A metatable controls how an object behaves in arithmetic operations, order comparisons, concatenation, length operation, and indexing. -A metatable also can define a function to be called when a userdata -is garbage collected. For each of these operations Lua associates a specific key called an <em>event</em>. When Lua performs one of these operations over a value, @@ -1909,44 +1886,23 @@ called when Lua calls a value. <h2>2.9 - <a name="2.9">Environments</a></h2> <p> -Besides metatables, -objects of types thread, function, and userdata -have another table associated with them, -called their <em>environment</em>. +Besides metatables, objects of types thread and function +have another table associated with them, called their +<em>environment</em>. Like metatables, environments are regular tables and multiple objects can share the same environment. <p> Threads are created sharing the environment of the creating thread. -Userdata and C functions are created sharing the environment -of the creating C function. -Non-nested Lua functions -(created by <a href="#pdf-loadfile"><code>loadfile</code></a>, <a href="#pdf-loadstring"><code>loadstring</code></a> or <a href="#pdf-load"><code>load</code></a>) -are created sharing the environment of the creating thread. Nested Lua functions are created sharing the environment of the creating Lua function. <p> -Environments associated with userdata have no meaning for Lua. -It is only a convenience feature for programmers to associate a table to -a userdata. - - -<p> Environments associated with threads are called <em>global environments</em>. -They are used as the default environment for threads and -non-nested Lua functions created by the thread -and can be directly accessed by C code (see <a href="#3.3">§3.3</a>). - - -<p> -The environment associated with a C function can be directly -accessed by C code (see <a href="#3.3">§3.3</a>). -It is used as the default environment for other C functions -and userdata created by the function. +They are used as the default environment for threads. <p> @@ -1961,9 +1917,6 @@ You can change the environment of a Lua function or the running thread by calling <a href="#pdf-setfenv"><code>setfenv</code></a>. You can get the environment of a Lua function or the running thread by calling <a href="#pdf-getfenv"><code>getfenv</code></a>. -To manipulate the environment of other objects -(userdata, C functions, other threads) you must -use the C API. @@ -1981,7 +1934,7 @@ a <em>garbage collector</em> from time to time to collect all <em>dead objects</em> (that is, objects that are no longer accessible from Lua). All memory used by Lua is subject to automatic management: -tables, userdata, functions, threads, strings, etc. +tables, functions, threads, strings, etc. <p> @@ -2016,52 +1969,8 @@ the speed of memory allocation. <p> -You can change these numbers by calling <a href="#lua_gc"><code>lua_gc</code></a> in C -or <a href="#pdf-collectgarbage"><code>collectgarbage</code></a> in Lua. -With these functions you can also control -the collector directly (e.g., stop and restart it). - - - -<h3>2.10.1 - <a name="2.10.1">Garbage-Collection Metamethods</a></h3> - -<p> -Using the C API, -you can set garbage-collector metamethods for userdata (see <a href="#2.8">§2.8</a>). -These metamethods are also called <em>finalizers</em>. -Finalizers allow you to coordinate Lua's garbage collection -with external resource management -(such as closing files, network or database connections, -or freeing your own memory). - - -<p> -Garbage userdata with a field <code>__gc</code> in their metatables are not -collected immediately by the garbage collector. -Instead, Lua puts them in a list. -After the collection, -Lua does the equivalent of the following function -for each userdata in that list: - -<pre> - function gc_event (udata) - local h = metatable(udata).__gc - if h then - h(udata) - end - end -</pre> - -<p> -At the end of each garbage-collection cycle, -the finalizers for userdata are called in <em>reverse</em> -order of their creation, -among those collected in that cycle. -That is, the first finalizer to be called is the one associated -with the userdata created last in the program. -The userdata itself is freed only in the next garbage-collection cycle. - - +<div class='teliva'>Modifying these parameters requires changes to Teliva's C +souces.</div> @@ -2219,15 +2128,15 @@ When you run it, it produces the following output: <h1>3 - <a name="3">C API</a></h1> -Unlike Lua, Teliva isn't intended to be modified at the C level. However, -forks of Teliva are encouraged. +<div class='teliva'>Unlike Lua, Teliva isn't intended to be modified at the C +level. However, forks of Teliva are encouraged.</div> <h1>5 - <a name="5">Standard Libraries</a></h1> <p> The standard Lua libraries provide useful functions -that are implemented directly through the C API. +that are implemented directly in C. Some of these functions provide essential services to the language (e.g., <a href="#pdf-type"><code>type</code></a> and <a href="#pdf-getmetatable"><code>getmetatable</code></a>); others provide access to "outside" services (e.g., I/O); @@ -2237,8 +2146,6 @@ deserve an implementation in C (e.g., <a href="#pdf-table.sort"><code>table.sort <p> -All libraries are implemented through the official C API -and are provided as separate C modules. Currently, Lua has the following standard libraries: <ul> @@ -2265,27 +2172,6 @@ each library provides all its functions as fields of a global table or as methods of its objects. -<p> -To have access to these libraries, -the C host program should call the <a href="#luaL_openlibs"><code>luaL_openlibs</code></a> function, -which opens all standard libraries. -Alternatively, -it can open them individually by calling -<a name="pdf-luaopen_base"><code>luaopen_base</code></a> (for the basic library), -<a name="pdf-luaopen_package"><code>luaopen_package</code></a> (for the package library), -<a name="pdf-luaopen_string"><code>luaopen_string</code></a> (for the string library), -<a name="pdf-luaopen_table"><code>luaopen_table</code></a> (for the table library), -<a name="pdf-luaopen_math"><code>luaopen_math</code></a> (for the mathematical library), -<a name="pdf-luaopen_io"><code>luaopen_io</code></a> (for the I/O library), -<a name="pdf-luaopen_os"><code>luaopen_os</code></a> (for the Operating System library), -and <a name="pdf-luaopen_debug"><code>luaopen_debug</code></a> (for the debug library). -These functions are declared in <a name="pdf-lualib.h"><code>lualib.h</code></a> -and should not be called directly: -you must call them like any other Lua C function, -e.g., by using <a href="#lua_call"><code>lua_call</code></a>. - - - <h2>5.1 - <a name="5.1">Basic Functions</a></h2> <p> @@ -2580,7 +2466,7 @@ In this case, <code>setfenv</code> returns no values. <p> Sets the metatable for the given table. -(You cannot change the metatable of other types from Lua, only from C.) +(You cannot change the metatable of other types.) If <code>metatable</code> is <b>nil</b>, removes the metatable of the given table. If the original metatable has a <code>"__metatable"</code> field, @@ -2772,8 +2658,8 @@ In case of error, propagates the error. <p> Suspends the execution of the calling coroutine. -The coroutine cannot be running a C function, -a metamethod, or an iterator. +The coroutine cannot be running a primitive implemented in +C, a metamethod, or an iterator. Any arguments to <code>yield</code> are passed as extra results to <code>resume</code>. @@ -4213,6 +4099,7 @@ violate some assumptions about Lua code cannot be accessed from outside or that userdata metatables cannot be changed by Lua code) and therefore can compromise otherwise secure code. +<div class='teliva'>TODO: what do we need to secure here?</div> <p> |