Idea: Reference Libraries

[Andrew Starks <andrew.starks@...>]

It's been suggested that Lua might sprout a separate library component, perhaps as a different tarball (or not). This was in the context of the mathlib discussion. Now there is a discussion about UTF8 that has the same issues (where to draw the line). Also, the idea of "blessed" libraries had come up in the past.

Conceptually, "reference" libraries might contain an implementation of a library (math, text, etc) and a specification that describes it and provides a template for reimplementing or extending.

One can still have Lua compiled to include these libraries, but their version and revving *could* be handled independently. Also, making backports *might* be done more simply as well (by motivated individuals).

Even though this change isn't really a change at all (specs for libraries are there as a part of Lua's reference material), providing a way to (optionally) compile these reference libraries as separate *.a/dll files and providing separate reference documents, I think that it could clarify their role. It may also provide an even cleaner way to manage/extend/abuse them. 

A thought. This doesn't actually require PUC Rio to do anything[1]. It could be done as an independent Lua distribution. 

-Andrew

[1] I imagine wading through all of these proposals, including this one, is taxing. :)