UN-requiring external modules?

Solar2D Lua Language
#1

Hi all,
I’m curious about how to “unrequire” an external module that is built in the awesome localized method suggested by Jon Beebe a few months ago (detailed here: http://blog.anscamobile.com/2011/09/a-better-approach-to-external-modules/).

For example, the module is set up like so:

--file: testmodule.lua  
  
-- define a local table to store all references to functions/variables  
local M = {}  
  
local testFunction1 = function()  
end  
  
-- return the table to be used locally elsewhere  
return M

I’d like to both require this module and UN-require it when needed, to free up memory when none of the functions within it are needed. Is doing so as simple as this?

--file: main.lua  
  
local testmod --local upvalue reference variable  
--to require it:  
testmod = require("testmodule")  
--to UN-require it:  
testmod = nil

Basically I’m looking for a foolproof way to both require and un-require external modules as needed within my main.lua code body. Has anybody used this approach, or another similar approach entirely?

Thanks!
Brent Sorrentino
Ignis Design [import]uid: 9747 topic_id: 20240 reply_id: 320240[/import]

#2

When you call the require() function, lua automatically creates an entry in the package.loaded table, so to ensure a module is completely unloaded, refer to the following example:

local testmod = require "mymodule"testmod = nilpackage.loaded["mymodule"] = nil[/code] [import]uid: 52430 topic_id: 20240 reply_id: 79061[/import]

#3

Awesome, thanks Jonathan.This will certainly come in handy for future reference. [import]uid: 9747 topic_id: 20240 reply_id: 79067[/import]