Re: modules, require, magic

[Sam Roberts <vieuxtech@...>]

On Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 3:59 PM, Philipp Janda <siffiejoe@gmx.net> wrote:
> On 21.10.2011 20:49, Sam Roberts wrote:
>>
>> [...]
>>
>> I'd say the single biggest problem with losing module is that we have
>> to port everything to 5.2, and do it in a way that also works for 5.1
>> (which will be here a long time).
>
> Just use the proposed module-less module system -- it will work for Lua 5.1
> and 5.2 (no matter what is decided for the future of "module")!

You say "just use", but you mean is "rewrite everything".

You seem to be making the point that it is possible to write modules
in 5.2, but I don't dispute that, not does anyone else.

I just don't want to rewrite everything for dubious advantage.

> The proposed common idiom for 5.2 is:
> local M = {}
> function M.f() end

Like prepending M. to the start of every function defined in my modules.

> You could also write:
> local protocol = { tcp = require"protocol.tcp" }

> The point is: The user of the module has the choice!

A module has one definition, and many users, your proposal means
modifying every use of the module to construct the namespace implicit
in the module name. Of course, instead, I'd rewrite require to do
this.

Sam