Re: Possible language extension: colon-notation in an expression as shorthand for instance-specific method

["Cimarron Taylor" <cimarron@...>]

Mark,

Metalua (http://metalua.luaforge.net) allows you to write anonymous functions like

    function(arg1, arg2, argn) return some_expr end

in this way

    |arg1,arg2,argn| some_exp

If can use it then your example becomes

    CallbackManager.postMyCallback(| | myInstance:instanceMethod())

Have you considered that?

Regards,


Cimarron Taylor


 | We're considering a modification to the version of Lua embedded in our
 | game engine that would allow for this construct (which is currently a
 | syntax error in Lua):
 | 
 | CallbackManager.postMyCallback(myInstance:instanceMethod)
 | 
 | Under the present language rules, myInstance:instanceMethod is an
 | error (as I understand it) because the colon notation is only valid in
 | the context of function calls and function declarations, but is not
 | valid in the context of specifying a function value. Currently, we can
 | accomplish this goal by instead making the statement
 | "CallbackManager.postMyCallback(function () myInstance:instanceMethod() end)", 
 | but that seems to be a great deal more typing than should be necessary.