User:SuzannaLinn Resident/LuaMovingTo

Moving from LSL to SLua

In this section, we will learn how to rewrite our LSL scripts in SLua through a two-step process:

• First, we will translate them into SLua while maintaining a structure as close as possible to the original LSL format (SLua in LSL style).
• Next, we will refine and improve them to take full advantage of Lua’s capabilities (SLua in Lua style).

To follow this section effectively, a basic understanding of Lua is required, as covered in the previous two sections.

Using SLua in the beta grid

These are the steps to follow before starting to script in SLua:

• Install the "Second Life Project Lua Editor" viewer, from: https://releasenotes.secondlife.com/viewer.html. This is a different viewer, with a different icon, than the "Second Life Viewer". We can keep our usual viewer for the main grid and use this one for the beta grid.

• Access the Beta Grid (Aditi), explained in: https://lindenlab.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/31000156725-accessing-aditi

• Teleport to one of the four regions that have SLua activated. It doesn't work in the other regions. Sometimes one or two of these regions are offline, try another one if you can't tp or login:
  • SLua Yardang
  • SLua Tombolo
  • SLua Mesa
  • SLua Tideland

• Rez an object and add a new script as usual. The script editor has a "compiler" drop-down list, at bottom center. Choose "SLua":
  • LSL Legacy (LSO2) : LSL, with "Mono" unchecked.
  • LSL Mono : LSL, with "Mono" checked (the usual one).
  • LSL 2025 VM : LSL, but compiled into VM Luau instead of VM Mono.
  • SLua

Global namespace

The global namespace is a table with the name "_G".

It contains the global functions and libraries. Each library is a table with its functions.

SLua has added all the LL constants (1002 constants, currently).

The global variables and functions created by the script will also be in this table.

-- list of global functions (SLua)

for key, value in pairs(_G) do
    if type(value) == "function" then
        ll.OwnerSay(key)
    end
end

There are 22 functions that come from Luau, they are documented in https://luau.org/library:

• type, typeof, tonumber, tostring
• ipairs, pairs, next, select
• getmetatable, setmetatable
• rawget, rawset, rawequal, rawlen
• assert, error, pcall, xpcall, gcinfo
• print, unpack, newproxy

And 7 functions added by Slua:

• integer, uuid, rotation, quaternion
• tovector, torotation, toquaternion

We will see them in the Datatypes section below

Libraries

-- list of global tables (SLua)
for key, value in pairs(_G) do
    if type(value) == "table" then
        ll.OwnerSay(key)
    end
end

The "New Script"

// the "New Script" (LSL) default { state_entry() { llSay(0, "Hello, Avatar!"); } touch_start(integer total_number) { llSay(0, "Touched."); } } //

-- the "New Script" (SLua - LSL style) function state_entry() ll.Say(0, "Hello, Avatar!") end function touch_start(total_number) ll.Say(0, "Touched.") end state_entry()

-- the "New Script" (SLua - Lua style) function touch_start(total_number) ll.Say(0, "Touched.") end ll.Say(0, "Hello, Avatar!")