LuaJIT output COFF obj files

[Adam Strzelecki <ono@...>]

Since it is my first post onto this group, I wish to introduce myself. I am iOS freelance developer and PhD student focused on mobile computer games technology.

I wish to ask whether it is possible with LuaJIT to completely compile Lua scripts into COFF obj or ASM file that can be linked later on during app build stage rather than relaying on JIT.

I know AOT can be triggered in the memory, but I wish to support platforms where JIT is not possible like iOS older than 4.3, due non-executable user pages. I know we can fallback to regular bytecode interpreter there, but this will significantly degrade performance.

Also I wish to be able to distribute application without Lua source code, so if AOT is not possible, maybe at least it is possible to export some IR? Like Java does with .class files.

I did ask for this on V8 JavaScript engine group, but the maintainers said it was impossible due dynamic nature of the language and interpreter.

Currently on MacRuby is capable of producing native binary objects with AOT mode instead of JIT, however MacRuby is strictly coupled with OSX and cannot be used on any other platforms.

Regards,
-- 
Adam Strzelecki | nanoant.com