Corona SDK vs Lua

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

This is just a question for my own curiosity.

I’m curious about the difference between Corona and raw Lua. I’m expecting that Corona basically adds “libraries” just like a normal library, i.e. math, display, string, etc… So that’s what I’m using when I call things like math.cos, display.newImage or string.len? And I’m also expecting that if your text editor changes the color of the function (getmetatable or type, for example) that’s built into Lua? So to clarify, an “SDK” is what Corona is, and it uses Lua to code in?

If this sounds like a stupid question, sorry. I never did computer programming before a few months ago. [import]uid: 147322 topic_id: 30384 reply_id: 330384[/import]

#2

Corona embeds a LUA interpreter within it.

It provides a native host application that exposes to the imbedded LUA interpreter a certain set of API functions.
You as a programmer use raw LUA with some very minor restrictions imposed by the Corona host app, and you can use almost all of the LUA commands + the exposed API functions made available by Corona SDK.

not sure what you mean by “raw” LUA as any lua code must be hosted within some framework in order for it to work on a mobile phone (or any other device for that matter…)

[import]uid: 80469 topic_id: 30384 reply_id: 121742[/import]

#3

@quinc congrats on learning about programming.

Corona does a whole lot more than just use lua as its coding language. Apart from the various libraries that make the developers life easier, it makes the whole process of packaging your app into andriod and IOS packages a snap. Part of that process is that corona compiles your lua code into something that runs blindingly fast on the device.

an SDK (Software Development Kit ) is simply a kit of stuff that allows software to be made . So yep corona fits the bill as an SDK. Yes some SDKs come with an editor, those are known as IDE s (Integrated Development Environment) Corona is not one of those yet, but who knows what could happen. The syntax colouring you mention has nothing to do with lua, thats done by rules in certain editors that recognise lua or other languages to display certain parts of it in different colours. The code doesnt actually change colour. If it did it would bring a whole new meaning to “red code”.
[import]uid: 74338 topic_id: 30384 reply_id: 121757[/import]

#4

Corona embeds a LUA interpreter within it.

It provides a native host application that exposes to the imbedded LUA interpreter a certain set of API functions.
You as a programmer use raw LUA with some very minor restrictions imposed by the Corona host app, and you can use almost all of the LUA commands + the exposed API functions made available by Corona SDK.

not sure what you mean by “raw” LUA as any lua code must be hosted within some framework in order for it to work on a mobile phone (or any other device for that matter…)

[import]uid: 80469 topic_id: 30384 reply_id: 121742[/import]

#5

@quinc congrats on learning about programming.

Corona does a whole lot more than just use lua as its coding language. Apart from the various libraries that make the developers life easier, it makes the whole process of packaging your app into andriod and IOS packages a snap. Part of that process is that corona compiles your lua code into something that runs blindingly fast on the device.

an SDK (Software Development Kit ) is simply a kit of stuff that allows software to be made . So yep corona fits the bill as an SDK. Yes some SDKs come with an editor, those are known as IDE s (Integrated Development Environment) Corona is not one of those yet, but who knows what could happen. The syntax colouring you mention has nothing to do with lua, thats done by rules in certain editors that recognise lua or other languages to display certain parts of it in different colours. The code doesnt actually change colour. If it did it would bring a whole new meaning to “red code”.
[import]uid: 74338 topic_id: 30384 reply_id: 121757[/import]