Re: LuaJIT output COFF obj files

[Mike Pall <mikelu-1104@...>]

Adam Strzelecki wrote:
> 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.

Nope.

> 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.

AFAIK, even with 4.3 there's no official statement from Apple,
whether they simply forgot to disable it or whether it's there to
stay and can be used by any app. I wouldn't count on it.

> I know we can fallback to regular bytecode interpreter there,
> but this will significantly degrade performance.

You'd be surprised how much faster the LuaJIT interpreter is than
the Lua interpreter, especially on ARM soft-float targets:

http://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/ghpq1/state_machines_for_video_games/c1nqcxr

> 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.

http://lua-users.org/lists/lua-l/2011-03/msg00801.html

> 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.

Ditto.

--Mike