initial_properties field in entity definition

doc/lua_api.txt

@@ -792,8 +792,10 @@ Object Properties
 
 Entity definition (register_entity)
 {
-    Everything from object properties,
-    -- entity specific --
+    (Deprecated: Everything in object properties is read directly from here)
+    
+    initial_properties = <initial object properties>,
+
     on_activate = function(self, staticdata),
     on_step = function(self, dtime),
     on_punch = function(self, hitter),
@@ -801,6 +803,7 @@ Entity definition (register_entity)
     get_staticdata = function(self),
     ^ Called sometimes; the string returned is passed to on_activate when
       the entity is re-activated from static state
+    
     # Also you can define arbitrary member variables here
     myvariable = whatever,
 }

games/minimal/mods/experimental/init.lua

@@ -409,16 +409,17 @@ minetest.register_alias("TNT", "experimental:tnt")
 --
 
 minetest.register_entity("experimental:dummyball", {
-	-- Static definition
-	hp_max = 20,
-	physical = false,
-	collisionbox = {-0.4,-0.4,-0.4, 0.4,0.4,0.4},
-	visual = "sprite",
-	visual_size = {x=1, y=1},
-	textures = {"experimental_dummyball.png"},
-	spritediv = {x=1, y=3},
-	initial_sprite_basepos = {x=0, y=0},
-	-- Dynamic variables
+	initial_properties = {
+		hp_max = 20,
+		physical = false,
+		collisionbox = {-0.4,-0.4,-0.4, 0.4,0.4,0.4},
+		visual = "sprite",
+		visual_size = {x=1, y=1},
+		textures = {"experimental_dummyball.png"},
+		spritediv = {x=1, y=3},
+		initial_sprite_basepos = {x=0, y=0},
+	},
+
 	phase = 0,
 	phasetimer = 0,
 

src/scriptapi.cpp

@@ -4887,8 +4887,13 @@ void scriptapi_luaentity_get_properties(lua_State *L, u16 id,
 	// Set default values that differ from ObjectProperties defaults
 	prop->hp_max = 10;
 	
-	// Read stuff
+	// Deprecated: read object properties directly
 	read_object_properties(L, -1, prop);
+	
+	// Read initial_properties
+	lua_getfield(L, -1, "initial_properties");
+	read_object_properties(L, -1, prop);
+	lua_pop(L, 1);
 }
 
 void scriptapi_luaentity_step(lua_State *L, u16 id, float dtime)