[Solved] Splitting a LUA file into smaller pieces

[shatterblast]

I want to split my "main.lua" file into smaller bits, one for each HUMP gamestate. "Require" loads a library, but unless I'm wrong, it doesn't append to a LUA file so that it could act in unison like a bigger file. How can I split a file into smaller pieces? Thank you.

[Kingdaro]

Well, it doesn't need to "act in unison", you're over thinking this.

The require function treats separate files as function, as in, defining a function in code and calling it is the same as creating a file and requiring it. All require does is "call" the file, and return whatever result the file gives at the end. There are some other extra bits the require function does, but for now, this is all you need to know.

For example, if you had a gamestate for the menu and for the game, you could organize your files like this:

Code: Select all

-- game.lua
local Game = {}

-- Game gamestate functions

return Game

Code: Select all

-- menu.lua
local Menu = {}

-- Menu gamestate functions

return Menu

Code: Select all

-- main.lua
gamestate = require 'hump.gamestate'

Menu = require 'menu'
Game = require 'game'

function love.load()
   gamestate.switch(Menu)
end

[shatterblast]

Beautiful! It works just like you put it. Many thanks.