Lua modules based on the Scribunto/Lua extension are stored in resource pages using the Module: namespace. Each module uses a table to hold functions and variables, and that containing table is returned at the end of the module code.[1] This lesson will show you how to use the Lua OS library in your scripts.

Prerequisites

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This lesson assumes you have already completed the Tables lesson.

Create a Lua Script that Uses the OS Library

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To create a Lua script that uses the OS library:

  1. Navigate to Module:Sandbox.
  2. Clear all existing code.
    It's a sandbox. Everyone is free to play in the sandbox. But if you find another user is actively editing the sandbox at the same time, you may also use Module:Sandbox/Username, where Username is your Wikiversity username.
  3. Add the following code and save the page:
local p = {}
 
function p.osclock()
    return ';clock\n:' .. os.clock() .. '\n'
end
 
function p.osdate()
    return ';date\n:' .. os.date() .. '\n'
end
 
function p.osdifftime()
    local t1 = {year = 2014, month = 1, day = 1, hour = 0, min = 0, sec = 0, isdst = false}
    local t2 = {year = 2014, month = 12, day = 31, hour = 23, min = 59, sec = 59, isdst = false}
    return ';difftime\n:' .. os.difftime(os.time(t2), os.time(t1)) .. '\n'
end
 
function p.ostime()
    return ';time\n:' .. os.time() .. '\n'
end	
 
return p

Test Your Lua Script

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To test your Lua script:

  1. Navigate to either the Module_talk:Sandbox page, the Wikiversity:Sandbox page, or your own user or sandbox page.
  2. Add the following code and save the page:
{{#invoke:Sandbox|osclock}}
{{#invoke:Sandbox|osdate}}
{{#invoke:Sandbox|osdifftime}}
{{#invoke:Sandbox|ostime}}

The result should be similar to:

clock
0.003786627
date
Sat 28 Dec 2013 03:20:55 AM UTC
difftime
31535999
time
1388200855

Understand Your Lua Script

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To understand your Lua script:

  1. os.clock() returns the approximate amount of CPU time used by the script.
  2. os.date() returns the current date.
  3. local t1 = {year = 2014, month = 1, day = 1, hour = 0, min = 0, sec = 0, isdst = false} defines a local variable t1 as a table with the given date and time values.
    isdst = false indicates that the time value is not daylight savings time.
  4. local t2 = {year = 2014, month = 12, day = 31, hour = 23, min = 59, sec = 59, isdst = false} defines a local variable t2 as a table with the given date and time values.
  5. os.difftime(os.time(t2), os.time(t1)) returns the difference in seconds between t1 and t2.
  6. os.time() returns the current time in seconds.

Conclusion

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Congratulations! You've now created, tested, and understood a Lua script that uses the OS library. Return to the main Lua page to learn about other Lua code libraries.

See Also

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References

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