How to install lua-parser with LPegLabel?

You need Lua >=5.1 and LPegLabel >=1.6.0 installed first. Then, clone the GitHub repository or use LuaRocks if available—check the project's README for specific setup steps, as it doesn't provide pre-packaged installers.

lua-parser vs standard Lua parser: which is better for error messages?

lua-parser is superior for error messages because it uses LPegLabel to provide contextual and specific syntax errors, while the standard Lua parser often gives generic errors. This makes lua-parser ideal for tools like linters or IDEs.

Can lua-parser handle Lua 5.4 code?

No, lua-parser is designed specifically for Lua 5.3 and may fail or produce incorrect ASTs for Lua 5.4 code due to syntax differences, such as new features or changes in the language.

How to use lua-parser to build a Lua linter?

Parse the Lua source code with lua-parser to get the AST, then traverse the tree to apply custom rules for static analysis. The detailed error messages can be integrated directly into linter output for better debugging.

Is lua-parser compatible with LuaJIT?

It may work with LuaJIT if using Lua 5.1 compatibility mode, but since LuaJIT is based on Lua 5.1/5.2, some Lua 5.3-specific features in the parsed code might not be supported or could cause issues.

How to pretty print an AST with lua-parser?

Use the 'lua-parser.pp' module: after parsing, call 'pp.print(ast)' to output the AST as a string, or 'pp.tostring(ast)' to get the string representation for further processing, as shown in the README examples.

lua-parser — Lua 5.3 Parser with LPegLabel

What is lua-parser?

lua-parser is a Lua 5.3 parser that converts Lua source code into an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) using the LPegLabel parsing library. It solves the problem of needing a reliable, error-aware parser for building Lua language tools, linters, or code analyzers by providing detailed syntax error messages and a structured AST output.

Target Audience

Lua developers and tool builders who need to programmatically analyze, transform, or validate Lua 5.3 code, such as those creating IDEs, static analyzers, or code formatters.

Value Proposition

Developers choose lua-parser for its integration with LPegLabel, which offers superior error reporting over traditional parsers, and its Metalua-compatible AST format, which ensures compatibility with a range of existing Lua ecosystem tools.

A Lua 5.3 parser written with LPegLabel

Use Cases

Best For

Building Lua linters or static analysis tools
Creating custom code formatters for Lua 5.3
Developing IDE plugins with syntax error highlighting
Implementing source code transformation utilities
Integrating Lua parsing into larger language toolchains
Educational tools for teaching Lua syntax and AST structure

Not Ideal For

Projects targeting Lua versions other than 5.3, such as Lua 5.1/5.2 or Lua 5.4
Applications where parsing speed is critical and detailed error messages are unnecessary overhead
Teams seeking a parser with zero external dependencies for simplified deployment
Tools that require a custom AST format incompatible with Metalua's representation

Pros & Cons

Pros

Enhanced Error Reporting

Uses LPegLabel to generate specific syntax error messages with file context and expected tokens, as shown in the README example with 'expected 'end' to close the for loop'.

Metalua-Compatible AST

Produces an AST in a format similar to Metalua, facilitating integration with existing Lua analysis and transformation tools in the ecosystem.

Built-in Pretty Printer

Includes a module to convert AST back to a readable string representation or print it directly, useful for debugging and code generation workflows.

Lightweight and Focused

Relies on LPegLabel for parsing without bloated dependencies, making it suitable for embedding in larger toolchains while maintaining reliability.

Cons

Lua Version Lock-in

Specifically supports only Lua 5.3, so it cannot parse code from older versions like 5.1/5.2 or newer ones like 5.4 without modifications.

External Dependency Burden

Requires LPegLabel >=1.6.0, which adds an external library dependency that must be installed and maintained separately.

Niche AST Format

The Metalua-compatible AST may not align with all Lua tooling, potentially requiring additional conversion layers for integration with some systems.

Performance Trade-offs

The use of LPegLabel for detailed error reporting introduces parsing overhead compared to minimal, faster parsers that prioritize speed over diagnostics.

What is lua-parser?

Target Audience

Lua developers and tool builders who need to programmatically analyze, transform, or validate Lua 5.3 code, such as those creating IDEs, static analyzers, or code formatters.

Value Proposition

Use Cases

Best For

Building Lua linters or static analysis tools
Creating custom code formatters for Lua 5.3
Developing IDE plugins with syntax error highlighting
Implementing source code transformation utilities
Integrating Lua parsing into larger language toolchains
Educational tools for teaching Lua syntax and AST structure

Not Ideal For

Projects targeting Lua versions other than 5.3, such as Lua 5.1/5.2 or Lua 5.4
Applications where parsing speed is critical and detailed error messages are unnecessary overhead
Teams seeking a parser with zero external dependencies for simplified deployment
Tools that require a custom AST format incompatible with Metalua's representation

Pros & Cons

Pros

Enhanced Error Reporting

Uses LPegLabel to generate specific syntax error messages with file context and expected tokens, as shown in the README example with 'expected 'end' to close the for loop'.

Metalua-Compatible AST

Produces an AST in a format similar to Metalua, facilitating integration with existing Lua analysis and transformation tools in the ecosystem.

Built-in Pretty Printer

Includes a module to convert AST back to a readable string representation or print it directly, useful for debugging and code generation workflows.

Lightweight and Focused

Relies on LPegLabel for parsing without bloated dependencies, making it suitable for embedding in larger toolchains while maintaining reliability.

Cons

Lua Version Lock-in

Specifically supports only Lua 5.3, so it cannot parse code from older versions like 5.1/5.2 or newer ones like 5.4 without modifications.

External Dependency Burden

Requires LPegLabel >=1.6.0, which adds an external library dependency that must be installed and maintained separately.

Niche AST Format

The Metalua-compatible AST may not align with all Lua tooling, potentially requiring additional conversion layers for integration with some systems.

Performance Trade-offs

The use of LPegLabel for detailed error reporting introduces parsing overhead compared to minimal, faster parsers that prioritize speed over diagnostics.

lua-parser

What is lua-parser?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

lua-parser

What is lua-parser?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?