Re: Programming beginners' documentation

["Andrew Wilson" <agrwagrw@...>]

Ryan

I agree now is a good time to make a Single Install Package for Windows oriented around Lua as a general scripting language versus embedded language or web programming language (Kepler). All the basics for lua as a scripting language now exist. 

Coming up with a minimum requirement is tough. I've been looking into an install with the following attributes, 

- single binary runnable install (Inno Setup) for Lua 5.1.3 Binaries & useful libraries (modules) with as much documentation as possible.
- set path environment variable to lua binaries
- set LUA_PATH environment variable to lua modules
- set LUA_CPATH environment variable to lua .dll modules
- set PATHEXT with .lua & .wlua extensions to call lua5.1.exe , wlua5.1.exe
- have a docs, clibs, lualibs, examples directories
- include modules for lfs, iup, cd, im, luasockets,  luainterface, luasql, luajava, win32 api wrapper, luaexpat, lua windows service, loop, lua quick reference
- include docs for modules in docs directory
- example scripts for modules
- set Start/Programs/Lua 5.1/Lua (Command Line) --> lua5.1.exe
- set Start/Programs/Lua 5.1/Lua 5.1 Reference Manual --> url to reference manual
- set Start/Programs/Lua 5.1/Lua on the Web --> url to www.lua.org
- set Start/Programs/Lua 5.1/Programming in Lua -> url to LUA Pil
- set Start/Programs/Lua 5.1/Programming in Lua -> url to LUA Pil
- have uninstall
- including ReadME, and some starting tutorial.

Seems like a fair bit of work but once install script is setup it's mainly selecting libraries, writing docs and testing installation. 

Is this the kind of install you were thinking about?

Andrew Wilson

On Sat, May 10, 2008 at 2:33 PM, RJP Computing <rjpcomputing@gmail.com> wrote:

> Does anyone have any suggestions for a beginner-friendly Lua install,
> something better than a command-line executable? Hmmm... any candidates?

Hi guys,

I have not given much back to the community, so I thought this would be a good time to start. I would be willing to put together a Lua DevSuite. It would be a Windows 2000+ installer that easily installs Lua binaries, Lua documentation, add the Lua install directory into the PATH environment variable, Give the Lua files a cool looking icon, and make .lua files run when double clicked (also when right-clicked 'Edit'). I would use Programmers Notepad as the "IDE" because I have it completely setup for my work and home use.

It could include whatever Lua modules this group though were important. (e.g. LuaSocket, LuaFileSystem, LuaEx, wxLua as a Lua module, ect...)

It would be a starting place. I would gladly put all the source for the installer on LuaForge or share with the LuaBinary project. What do you think? Please give feedback. I have wanted to do this for a while.
--
Regards,
Ryan
RJP Computing