# actix-lua
[](https://travis-ci.org/poga/actix-lua)
[](https://crates.io/crates/actix-lua)
[](https://docs.rs/actix-lua)
A safe scripting environment for [actix](https://github.com/actix/actix) with the [Lua Programming Language](https://www.lua.org):
* Each `LuaActor` is an isolated Lua VM.
* Communicate between actors with predefined message types: `String`, `Integer`, `Number`, `Boolean`, `Nil`, and `Table`.
* Asynchronous `send` between actors with Lua coroutine.
For more info about the "safety", check [rlua's README](https://github.com/kyren/rlua).
## Synopsis
A basic Lua actor
```rust
extern crate actix_lua;
use actix_lua::{LuaActorBuilder, LuaMessage};
fn main () {
let addr = LuaActorBuilder::new()
.on_handle_with_lua(r#"return ctx.msg + 42"#)
.build()
.unwrap()
.start();
let res = addr.send(LuaMessage:from(100));
// return: 142
}
```
You can send messages to other actor asynchronously with `ctx.send`
```rust
struct Callback;
impl Actor for Callback {
type Context = Context<Self>;
}
impl Handler<LuaMessage> for Callback {
type Result = LuaMessage;
fn handle(&mut self, msg: LuaMessage, _ctx: &mut Context<Self>) -> Self::Result {
LuaMessage::String("hello".to_string())
}
}
let mut actor = LuaActorBuilder::new()
// create a new LuaActor from a lua script when the actor is started.
// send message to the newly created actor with `ctx.send`, block and wait for its response.
.on_started_with_lua(
r#"
local result = ctx.send("callback, "Hello")
print(result) -- print "hello"
"#).build()
.unwrap();
actor.add_recipients("callback", Callback.start().recipient());
actor.start();
```
## Install
Add `actix-lua` to your `Cargo.toml`:
```toml
[dependencies]
actix-lua = "0.5"
```
## Example
Check [examples](https://github.com/poga/actix-lua/tree/master/examples) directory.
There's also a write-up about analyzing streaming data with actix-lua. [link](https://devpoga.org/post/parsing-streaming-data-actix-lua/)
## Lua Actor
Use [`LuaActor`](https://docs.rs/actix-lua/latest/actix_lua/struct.LuaActor.html) to integrate Lua scripts to your system with actor model.
### Message
In actor model, actors communicate with messages. `LuaMessage` is the only message type accepted by `LuaActor`:
* `LuaMessage` can be converted to/from primitive types with `LuaMessage::from()`.
* Lua types(e.g. number, table) will be convert to `LuaMessage` automatically.
### Lua API
**Note**: Avoid declaring global variables in your Lua script. It might conflict with future `actix-lua` update and break your program.
#### `ctx.msg`
The message sent to Lua actor.
#### `ctx.notify(msg)`
Send message `msg` to self.
#### `ctx.notify_later(msg, seconds)`
Send message `msg` to self after specified period of time.
#### `local result = ctx.send(recipient, msg)`
Send message `msg` to `recipient asynchronously and wait for response.
Equivalent to `actix::Recipient.send`.
#### `ctx.do_send(recipient, msg)`
Send message `msg` to `recipient`.
Equivalent to `actix::Recipient.do_send`.
#### `ctx.terminate()`
Terminate actor execution.
## License
The MIT License