use players metadata. Enhance the API

init.lua

@@ -6,11 +6,7 @@
 
 skins = {}
 skins.modpath = minetest.get_modpath("skins")
-skins.file = minetest.get_worldpath().."/skins.mt"
 skins.default = "character_1"
-skins.pages = {}
-skins.skins = {}
-skins.file_save = false
 
 skins.type = { SPRITE=0, MODEL=1, ERROR=99 }
 skins.get_type = function(texture)
@@ -33,30 +29,8 @@ end
 dofile(skins.modpath.."/skinlist.lua")
 dofile(skins.modpath.."/players.lua")
 
-
-skins.update_player_skin = function(player)
-	local name = player:get_player_name()
-
-	if not skins.is_skin(skins.skins[name]) then
-		skins.skins[name] = skins.default
-	end
-	player:set_properties({
-		textures = {skins.skins[name]..".png"},
-	})
-end
-
 -- Unified inventory page/integration
 if minetest.get_modpath("unified_inventory") then
 	dofile(skins.modpath.."/unified_inventory_page.lua")
 end
 
--- Change skin on join - reset if invalid
-minetest.register_on_joinplayer(function(player)
-	local player_name = player:get_player_name()
-	if not skins.is_skin(skins.skins[player_name]) then
-		skins.skins[player_name] = skins.default
-	end
-	skins.update_player_skin(player)
-end)
-
-

players.lua

@@ -1,40 +1,30 @@
-skins.load_players = function()
-	local file = io.open(skins.file, "r")
-	if file then
-		for line in file:lines() do
-			local data = string.split(line, " ", 2)
-			skins.skins[data[1]] = data[2]
-		end
-		io.close(file)
+-- get current skin
+skins.get_player_skin = function(player)
+	local skin = player:get_attribute("skin")
+	if not skins.is_skin(skin) then
+		skin = skins.default
 	end
+	return skin
 end
-skins.load_players()
 
-local ttime = 0
-minetest.register_globalstep(function(t)
-	ttime = ttime + t
-	if ttime < 360 then --every 6min'
-		return
+-- Set skin
+skins.set_player_skin = function(player, skin)
+	if skin == skins.default then
+		skin = ""
 	end
-	ttime = 0
-	skins.save()
+	player:set_attribute("skin", skin)
+	skins.update_player_skin(player)
+end
+
+-- update visuals
+skins.update_player_skin = function(player)
+	local skin = skins.get_player_skin(player)
+	player:set_properties({
+		textures = {skins.list[skin]},
+	})
+end
+
+-- Update skin on join
+minetest.register_on_joinplayer(function(player)
+	skins.update_player_skin(player)
 end)
-
-minetest.register_on_shutdown(function() skins.save() end)
-
-skins.save = function()
-	if not skins.file_save then
-		return
-	end
-	skins.file_save = false
-	local output = io.open(skins.file, "w")
-	for name, skin in pairs(skins.skins) do
-		if name and skin then
-			if skin ~= skins.default then
-				output:write(name.." "..skin.."\n")
-			end
-		end
-	end
-	io.close(output)
-end
-

skinlist.lua

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ for _, fn in pairs(skins_dir_list) do
 			if file then
 				local data = string.split(file:read("*all"), "\n", 3)
 				file:close()
-				table.insert(skins.list, name)
+				skins.list[name] = fn
 				skins.meta[name] = {}
 				skins.meta[name].name = data[1]
 				skins.meta[name].author = data[2]