Author Topic: Lua Classes (Read 14773 times)

pianoman · « **on:** July 29, 2011, 12:03:10 pm »

I tried reading the thing on inspired-lua.org, but google translate sucks, so I couldn't understand much.
Basically, what I'm asking boils down to three things: what are classes, how do you use them, and is there anything special you can do with them?
Thanks!

Jim Bauwens · « **Reply #1 on:** July 29, 2011, 12:55:58 pm »

Well, I'll try my best to explain them.

Imagine you have a game were you can have many different cars. All the cars have different things like engine power, but still share much stuff. This is were classes come in.
With classes you can make a basic structure of an object, and create new objects based on the first one. Nspire Lua has the class() function that saves us lots of work.

Example:

Code: [Select]

car = class()

function car: init(power, type, lights, etc)
    self.power = power
    self.type = type
    self.lights = lights*2
    self.options = etc
end

function car: drive(speed)
   return self.power * speed -- this doesn't make much sense, but its just an example
end

Now, once we made our basic car class, we can define cars using this class:

Code: [Select]

volvo = car(10, "2x2", 4, {air-conditioning = True})
jeep = car(60, "4x4", 12, {air-conditioning = False, trailer-hook = True})

jeep:drive(10)       -- returns 600
volvo:drive(20)      -- returns 200

if jeep.options.trailer-hook then
   print("The jeep can have a trailer")
else
   print("No trailer for you :(")
end

This is just a basic example, and it written here without testing, so it can have some bugs.

pianoman · « **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2011, 12:59:42 pm »

Oh, I think I get it. Thanks!

pianoman · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2011, 12:18:00 pm »

Sorry, I'm still just a bit confused.
Let's say you created a class for a button. How would you initialize it so that you could actually draw it and do stuff with it?
Or let's say that you want to be able to create something on a keypress. How could you set it up so that, theoretically, you could continue generating objects infinitely?
I kinda tried to read the inspired-lua.org explanation, but Google Translate still sucks

Thank you very much!

Jim Bauwens · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2011, 03:18:57 pm »

Well, it really depends how you want to do it

First create the class and its init script. The init script for a button would set for example it label and size. Then you need to add an paint function to it, were you draw it.
Also, you should keep a table with references to all the buttons, so that you can link event to it.
Something like this:

Code: [Select]

--The table we keep all references to created buttons in
ButtonTable = {}

--Create the class
button = class()

--Create and init the button
function button:init(label, x, y, action)
    self.label = label
    self.x = x
    self.y = y
    self.action = action
    self.labelWidth = 0
    self.width = 0
    self.height = 20
    
    table.insert(ButtonTable, self)
end

--Draw the button
function button:paint(gc)
	self.labelWidth = gc:getStringWidth(self.label)
	self.width = self.labelWidth + 4
	gc:setColorRGB(0,0,0)
	gc:setFont("serif", "b", 12)
	
	gc:drawRect(self.x, self.y, self.width, self.height)
	gc:drawString(self.label, self.x+1, self.y+2, "top")
end

Well, but now you will wonder how to make it clickable and all.
Look at this full code:

Code: [Select]

--The table we keep all references to created buttons in
ButtonTable = {}

--Create the class
button = class()

--Create and init the button
function button:init(label, x, y, action)
    self.label = label
    self.x = x
    self.y = y
    self.action = action
    self.labelWidth = 0
    self.width = 0
    self.height = 20
    
    table.insert(ButtonTable, self)
end

--Draw the button
function button:paint(gc)
	self.labelWidth = gc:getStringWidth(self.label)
	self.width = self.labelWidth + 4
	gc:setColorRGB(0,0,0)
	gc:setFont("serif", "b", 12)
	
	gc:drawRect(self.x, self.y, self.width, self.height)
	gc:drawString(self.label, self.x+1, self.y+2, "top")
end

--What happens if you click the button
function button:click()
	self.action()
end

--Check if clicked, and if clicked call its click method
function button:checkClick(x, y)
	if y >= self.y and y <= self.y + self.height and x >= self.x and x <= self.x + self.width then
		self:click()
	end
end

--Check ButtonTable, and draw all the button in it
function drawButtons(gc)
	for _, selectedButton in pairs(ButtonTable) do
		selectedButton:paint(gc)
	end
end


----------------------


--The on.create even. Here we create a sample button, and make that it will call testFunction when clicked
function on.create()
	button1 = button("Test!", 100, 50, testFunction)
end


--TestFunction
function testFunction()
	bclicked = true
	platform.window:invalidate()
end

--The paint event
function on.paint(gc)
	if bclicked then
		gc:drawString("The button was clicked", 10, 10, "top")
	end
	
	drawButtons(gc)
end

--Link the click event to the buttons
function on.mouseDown(x, y)
	for _, selectedButton in pairs(ButtonTable) do
		selectedButton:checkClick(x, y)
	end
end

This should explain most of it

Note that I didn't try this, so there might be some errors.

I strongly recommend you too look at the source of Adriweb's contest entry here: https://github.com/adriweb/Nspire-BreakOut .
Its a very good example of what you want to do, and should be easy to understand

EDIT:
Ok, tested it and fixed some bugs

(Thanks Adriweb!)

pianoman · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2011, 11:20:17 pm »

I actually understood you

Thank you once again, jim and adriweb!

Jim Bauwens · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2011, 05:33:07 am »

I'm glad I could be of help

Levak · « **Reply #7 on:** August 18, 2011, 05:51:41 am »

Jim, we really have to translate this tutorial for inspired-lua

Jim Bauwens · « **Reply #8 on:** August 18, 2011, 05:53:08 am »

Adriweb was planning to do it when he had some time.
I could do it, but I don't have much time either :p

flyingfisch · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2012, 02:21:16 pm »

Sorry to necro-post, but cant you do this instead of using classes?

Code: [Select]

car = {car1 = {TopSpeed=50,Weight=10},car2 = {TopSpeed=60,Weight=11}...}

function PrintTopSpeed
graydraw.print(car.car1.TopSpeed)
end

Nick · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2012, 02:24:18 pm »

euh, why would you do that? you have the ease of use to play with classes..
they're really easy to handle, what's the reason you want to do it this way?

Jim Bauwens · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2012, 03:02:34 pm »

Quote from: flyingfisch on January 04, 2012, 02:21:16 pm

Sorry to necro-post, but cant you do this instead of using classes?

Code: [Select]
car = {car1 = {TopSpeed=50,Weight=10},car2 = {TopSpeed=60,Weight=11}...} function PrintTopSpeed graydraw.print(car.car1.TopSpeed) end

You can, but for certain stuff classes is much better.
It allows you to do very nice stuff which are not possible (like, each car has its own subroutines).

flyingfisch · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2012, 03:36:11 pm »

How do you do this with LuaForWindows? (I dont think they have a class function)

Jim Bauwens · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2012, 03:41:22 pm »

No, TI added the class() function.
However, its very easy to add that function on the pc since its a simple function

Nick · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2012, 03:42:39 pm »

i had some questions about that lua for windows

can you create a full program with it, with windows (real ones, not the OS) and stuff?

Author Topic: Lua Classes (Read 14773 times)

pianoman

Lua Classes

Jim Bauwens

Re: Lua Classes

pianoman

Re: Lua Classes

pianoman

Re: Lua Classes

Jim Bauwens

Re: Lua Classes

pianoman

Re: Lua Classes

Jim Bauwens

Re: Lua Classes

Levak

Re: Lua Classes

Jim Bauwens

Re: Lua Classes

flyingfisch

Re: Lua Classes

Nick

Re: Lua Classes

Jim Bauwens

Re: Lua Classes

flyingfisch

Re: Lua Classes

Jim Bauwens

Re: Lua Classes

Nick

Re: Lua Classes