serialize.lua, A simple serialization library

[meoiswa]

I tried using the libraries avaliable in the wiki but none seemed to work (For me, I probably screwed up somewhere).
So, I ended up making my own.
Do note, this isn't optimized in any way, and probably produces serialized strings far larger than what they need to be.

Serialize.love

Contains serialize.lua and a little main.lua showing how to use it :)

(2.22 KiB) Downloaded 373 times

This demo will print a table using simple print() statements. It will then serialize that table, unserialize the resulting string, and print the new table, using the same printing method.
It can serialize any of the following:
- Numbers

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n = 1000234123.324
serialize(n)

- Strings (duh)

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n = "Lalala I'm so pretty!"
serialize(n)

- Tables, with Numbers, Strings or other Tables, even if there is recursion (AKA infinite tables)

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n = {}
n.numbah = 123
n.string = "No, you're uggly!"
table.insert(n,321)
table.insert(n,"WHAT IS THIS I DON'T EVEN")
n.self = n
serialize(n)

It can't serialize any of the following:
- Metatables of tables (You could, theoretically, serialize the metatable apart and then re-join after unserializing)

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n = {}
meta = {}
meta.something = "that" -- I don't even know how to use metatables!
table.setMetatable(n,meta) -- Or whatever it is
serialize(n) -- The metatable will be lost!

- Functions

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gimmeAZero = function() return 0 end
serialize(gimmeAZero) -- Will return AN EMPTY STRING (Not nil)
n = {}
n.func = gimmeAZero
serialize(n) -- n.func will be lost!

Feel free to use it if it suits your needs