Re: [PATCH] Jump Tables for Switch/Case and Computed Goto

[Dirk Laurie <dirk.laurie@...>]

2014-05-06 3:26 GMT+02:00 Paige DePol <lual@serfnet.org>:

> This patch is exciting as it adds a new feature to Lua; Jump Tables,
> this addition then allows for two new features; Switch/Case and Computed
> Goto. This patch does add a new opcode, OP_JMPTBL, so it will not be
> bytecode compatible with unpatched versions of Lua.
>
> Additionally the patch adds two additional features, which are related to
> Jump Tables in that they all use the new `continue` keyword. The first
> additional feature is a new shortcut if statement, the second is the
> addition of `continue` as a loop flow control keyword.
>
> The patch is available via GitHub at the following address:
>
> https://github.com/FizzyPop/lua-patches/tree/master/joint-patches/jump-table%2Bif-shct%2Bcont-loop/

Thanks for the good documentation.

There is no patch to `lua.h`. When the executable is invoked,
it still welcomes you with the same message that the unpatched
Lua 5.3 does.

The Wiki entry on patches [1] says: «If you apply a patch that changes
the syntax or semantics of Lua, the resulting language should not be
called "Lua".»

This patch introduces six new keywords, two new composite symbols
and a new VM instruction.

That seems enough to justify a pretty dramatic name change, not
merely something like Lua++. Maybe one of the larger moons of
Jupiter or Saturn. Maybe even an asteroid.

[1] <http://lua-users.org/wiki/LuaPowerPatches>