PMFJI here, but I just wanted to add one small issue I have with the lua language - The fact that it does not use POSIX extended regular expression syntax for string patterns. As a long-time [g]awk user, I am very experienced and comfortable with POSIX RE syntax, but I am totally unfamiliar with the RE syntax that lua uses for character classes. When you want to do some Q&D (or at least Q) text pattern processing, you go with what you are most comfortable using. Learning lua's RE character class syntax is going to be a at least a minor PITA, though I'll admit that lua's syntax is more concise.
The lua RE syntax and implementation also lacks the POSIX "counted" repetition factor (paired curly braces enclosing one or two numbers following a pattern element), which can be annoying to work around when you really need it. Even z/OS Unix awk supports that RE syntax and semantics. But I agree wholeheartedly with John G. that David Crayford is to be commended highly for bringing lua to z/OS. Thank you very much David! Eileen, I noticed that there are a number of books listed on the web page http://www.lua.org/docs.html which are for sale, and some of them seem to be available as ebooks as well. According to that page, the first edition of the book "Programming in lua" is freely available online. Although slightly out of sync with the current lua version, the statement is made that the online version "remains largely relevant". That may help lua novices like us. I agree that a freely available set of "beginner" examples for the current version would be very useful as well. Although TANSTAAFL - apparently sales of the various lua books supports the ongoing efforts of the lua project. Peter -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of Barkow, Eileen Sent: Friday, October 24, 2014 11:04 AM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: [ANN] Lua4z: the Lua programming language on z/OS, with batteries LUA could use some good tutorials or at least some more samples of code. The reference manual is no help for someone trying to learn the language. -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of John Gilmore Sent: Friday, October 24, 2014 10:40 AM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: [ANN] Lua4z: the Lua programming language on z/OS, with batteries Like landing at Thanet, having Lua usable under z/OS UNIX is "a good thing". It may make its way against REXX, or again it may not. The matrix-algebra test case is not, however, an appropriate one for the comparative evaluation of these two implementations of Lua and REXX. It is not indeed a good test case for the evaluation of any scripting language. (The notion that either REXX or Lua is a general-purpose programming language reflects a very specialized point of view. It may be a splendid vehicle for what and all that one is personally interested in, but that is a very different matter.) David Crayford deserves our thanks for making Lua available, and his enthusiasm is entirely understandable. Assuming that this implementation is used, as I hope it will be, we shall know better a year or so hence just how much better it is than the REXX implementation he deplores. -- This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the message and any attachments from your system. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
