JNLua (Java Native Lua) is a free and open-source tool that integrates the Lua Scripting Language into Java.
The integration is based on the original implementation of Lua which is written in ANSI C. The Lua C code is integrated into Java using the Java Native API (JNI).
Detailed instructions on how to install and use the JNLua utility on your Mac are available HERE.
JNLua is a cross-platform utility capable of running on any operating system that comes with Java support (e.g. Mac OS X, Windows, Linux).
Here are some key features of "JNLua":
· Full Lua support with full Java type-safety. JNLua provides the full functionality of Lua C API including large parts of the Lua Auxiliary Library. All Lua Standard Libraries are supported, including the coroutine functions. At the same time, JNLua maintains the type-safety of the Java VM by performing rigorous checks in its native library.
· Two-way integration. With JNLua, you can access Java from Lua and Lua from Java. From Lua, JNLua provides full Java object access with intuitive syntax and the abilitiy to implement Java interfaces in Lua. From Java, JNLua provides full Lua access including the ability to implement Lua functions in Java. The integration works transparently in both directions and on each end conforms to the common principles of the respective platform.
· Dual bootstrapping. JNLua can be started from both the Java and the Lua side. If started from the Java side, a Lua state is attached to the calling Java virtual machine; if started from the Lua side, a Java virtual machine is attached to the calling Lua process.
· Extensive language bindings. The bindings between Lua and Java are abstracted into the domains of Java reflection and conversion. The default Java reflector supports field, method and property access on Java classes and objects. For overloaded methods, it provides a dispatch logic that mimics the behavior described in Java Language Specification. The default converter handles the bidirectional conversion of primitive types, such as numbers and strings. For complex types, it supports the bidirectional mapping of Lua tables to Java maps, lists and arrays. These mappings are generally implemented with proxy objects, that is, they work by reference. Both the Java reflector and converter can be specialized to fit custom needs.
· Java module. The JNLua Java module provides a small but comprehensive set of Lua functions providing Java language support for Lua.
· Java VM module. The Java VM module is a Lua module written in C that allows a Lua process to create a Java Virtual Machine and run Java code in that machine.
· Transparent error handling. Java does error handling by exceptions; Lua uses mechanics such as error() and pcall(). JNLua ensures a seamless translation of error conditions between the two domains. Lua errors are reported as exceptions to Java. Java exceptions generate errors on the Lua side.
· JSR 223: Scripting for the Java Platform provider. JNLua includes a provider that conforms to the JSR 223: Scripting for the Java Platform specification. This allows the use of Lua as a scripting language for Java in a standardized way. The JSR 223 provider also supports the optional Compilable and Invocable interfaces.
· JNLua Console. A simple console implemented in Java for experimenting with JNLua.
Requirements:
· Java 6
· Lua 5.2
What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]
· Added transparent conversion between Lua strings and Java byte arrays. This may break existing code that passes byte arrays between Java and Lua.
· A compatibility property, com.naef.jnlua.rawByteArray=true, has been provided.
· Fixed an issue where method dispatch would incorrectly fail on public methods found on non-public classes with public superclasses.
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