Native API Access and Custom Module Support

Solar2D Daily Builds and Public Releases
#1

I’m working on a game using Corona Game Edition and would really like to see support for calling Native API’s on iPhone/iPad in case there are some features we need that are not yet available in Corona. This is essentially a way to unblock developers as Corona’s userbase grows and Apple releases new features in the future.

Here are some related feature requests that this one encompasses:

http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2010/06/16/ability-call-arbitrarty-objective-c-code-iphone-wax

http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2010/07/22/support-iphone-native-code-lua-iphonewax-maybe

http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2010/04/05/xtras-3rd-party-developers-create

The second part of the request is to be able to build modules in Objective-C or C that can be loaded by Corona in Lua such that we can build our own libraries that may access Native API’s as well. This would serve to unblock developers as described above but also allow the community to contribute back to Corona by wrapping existing C libraries and making them accessible to Corona by loading a Lua module.

I understand we are taking on a dependency on Corona when we use it as our game engine, but we’d like to have a way to mitigate any risks that might block us from completing our game by having low level access to write our own solutions if they are not available within our required timeframe.

[import]uid: 8692 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 302014[/import]

#2

It would be nice to able to add our own libraries in objective-c/c. [import]uid: 8545 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 5898[/import]

#3

We are aware of the need and it’s on our list of requested features.

Thanks,
-Tom [import]uid: 7559 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 6103[/import]

#4

Would you like to have a market place to share or sell your “modules”?

The only caveat to this, is that, the resulting code, is not going to be cross compatible.

Carlos? [import]uid: 24 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 6109[/import]

#5

The marketplace sounds like a good idea as it will encourage others to build both free and commercial modules for use with Corona. My interest is to make sure we don’t get stuck unable to implement a feature in our game because it’s a low priority item on Ansca’s list when you guys get super busy. I think this is the #1 feature on my list because it’s a bit of insurance as we start building on the engine. [import]uid: 8692 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 6145[/import]

#6

[deleted]

I posted it to the wrong thread–how’d I do that??? [import]uid: 7849 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 9448[/import]

#7

Carlos,
The marketplace might not be what most developers might be after, what most of the developers need (i hope I can speak on behalf of all, don’t flame me, but correct me if I am wrong) is access to the native UI and functions of a device.

Cross platform is nice, but most are coming over to look at Corona as an alternative to using objective-C. Soon, Android might become the focus of attention, but till then I guess the focal point is using the iOS devices to the fullest possible through LUA using Corona.

cheers,

Jayant C Varma [import]uid: 3826 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 9537[/import]

#8

Carlos,

I may not speak for everyone, but if there are options that are only available for iOS, I’d rather have them for iOS than not at all. As much as we like to talk about cross platform, I’m sure that most of the devs here have to tweak some things quite a bit to get their apps running on both(all) platforms.

This particle generator is a good example modules, right? Anyone know if it is written completely in lua? [import]uid: 10248 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 9544[/import]

#9

I agre with BarkBarkCo – for example, I want access to all of the iOS native UI components, like the slot-machine-like time and date setting controller used in Apple’s Clock app (and for most alarm clock apps). If I have to use conditional code for Android, or maintain two separate builds, I’d prefer that to having a non-standard iPhone UI. For many users, it’s critical that the UI stays consistent across apps. [import]uid: 9905 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 9565[/import]

#10

I have made a few feature requests for things like particle effects and more opengl primitives, and comments about wanting more speed and whatnot. I take it all back. I just want access to external modules :slight_smile: [import]uid: 5652 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 10926[/import]

#11

@ansca: Any news on when this might be implemented? I probably wouldn’t have paid for the iOS subscription had I known native api access wasn’t available. [import]uid: 41357 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 25681[/import]

#12

Another +1 for external modules being our #1 feature request. Having this as a ‘get out of jail free’ card is really important. Marketplaces etc can wait - calling extern native libraries (C on iOS or Jar on Andriod) would derisk many things on choosing Corona or not. [import]uid: 30488 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 25713[/import]

#13

Yes, being able to bridge Corona with Java libraries for Android, and Obj-C libraries for iOS would be great and open Corona up quite a lot.

+1 [import]uid: 4596 topic_id: 2014 reply_id: 25723[/import]