Minetest Lua Modding API Reference 0.4.dev ========================================== More information at http://c55.me/minetest/ Introduction ------------- Content and functionality can be added to Minetest 0.4 by using Lua scripting in run-time loaded mods. A mod is a self-contained bunch of scripts, textures and other related things that is loaded by and interfaces with Minetest. Mods are contained and ran solely on the server side. Definitions and media files are automatically transferred to the client. If you see a deficiency in the API, feel free to attempt to add the functionality in the engine and API. You can send such improvements as source code patches to . Programming in Lua ------------------- If you have any difficulty in understanding this, please read: http://www.lua.org/pil/ Startup -------- Mods are loaded during server startup from the mod load paths by running the init.lua scripts. Mod load path ------------- Generic: $path_share/games/gameid/mods/ $path_share/mods/gameid/ $path_user/games/gameid/mods/ $path_user/mods/gameid/ <-- User-installed mods $worldpath/worldmods/ In a run-in-place version (eg. the distributed windows version): minetest-0.4.x/games/gameid/mods/ minetest-0.4.x/mods/gameid/ <-- User-installed mods minetest-0.4.x/worlds/worldname/worldmods/ On an installed version on linux: /usr/share/minetest/games/gameid/mods/ ~/.minetest/mods/gameid/ <-- User-installed mods ~/.minetest/worlds/worldname/worldmods Mod directory structure ------------------------ mods |-- modname | |-- depends.txt | |-- init.lua | |-- textures | | |-- modname_stuff.png | | `-- modname_something_else.png | `-- `-- another modname: The location of this directory can be fetched by using minetest.get_modpath(modname) depends.txt: List of mods that have to be loaded before loading this mod. A single line contains a single modname. init.lua: The main Lua script. Running this script should register everything it wants to register. Subsequent execution depends on minetest calling the registered callbacks. minetest.setting_get(name) and minetest.setting_getbool(name) can be used to read custom or existing settings at load time, if necessary. textures: These textures will be transferred to the client and can be referred to by the mod. Naming convention for registered textual names ---------------------------------------------- Registered names should generally be in this format: "modname:" ( can have characters a-zA-Z0-9_) This is to prevent conflicting names from corrupting maps and is enforced by the mod loader. Example: mod "experimental", ideal item/node/entity name "tnt": -> the name should be "experimental:tnt". Enforcement can be overridden by prefixing the name with ":". This can be used for overriding the registrations of some other mod. Example: Any mod can redefine experimental:tnt by using the name ":experimental:tnt" when registering it. (also that mod is required to have "experimental" as a dependency) The ":" prefix can also be used for maintaining backwards compatibility. Aliases ------- Aliases can be added by using minetest.register_alias(name, convert_to) This will make Minetest to convert things called name to things called convert_to. This can be used for maintaining backwards compatibility. This can be also used for setting quick access names for things, eg. if you have an item called epiclylongmodname:stuff, you could do minetest.register_alias("stuff", "epiclylongmodname:stuff") and be able to use "/giveme stuff". Textures -------- Mods should generally prefix their textures with modname_, eg. given the mod name "foomod", a texture could be called "foomod_foothing.png" Representations of simple things -------------------------------- MapNode representation: {name="name", param1=num, param2=num} MapNodes do not directly have any other data associated with them. If you want to access the definition of the node, you access minetest.registered_nodes[node.name] param1 and param2 are 8 bit and 4 bit integers, respectively. They are reserved for certain automated functions. If you don't use these functions, you can use them to store arbitrary values. param1 is reserved for the engine when: paramtype != "none" param2 is reserved for the engine when any of these are used: liquidtype == "flowing" drawtype == "flowingliquid" drawtype == "torchlike" drawtype == "signlike" Position/vector: {x=num, y=num, z=num} Currently the API does not provide any helper functions for addition, subtraction and whatever; you can define those that you need yourself. stackstring/itemstring: A stack of items in serialized format. eg. 'default:dirt 5' eg. 'default:pick_wood 21323' eg. 'default:apple' item: A stack of items in Lua table format. eg. {name="default:dirt", count=5, wear=0, metadata=""} ^ 5 dirt nodes eg. {name="default:pick_wood", count=1, wear=21323, metadata=""} ^ a wooden pick about 1/3 weared out eg. {name="default:apple", count=1, wear=0, metadata=""} ^ an apple. Any time an item must be passed to a function, it can be an ItemStack (see below), an itemstring or a table in the above format. SimpleSoundSpec: eg. "" eg. "default_place_node" eg. {} eg. {name="default_place_node"} eg. {name="default_place_node", gain=1.0} Items ------ Node (register_node): A node from the world Tool (register_tool): A tool/weapon that can dig and damage things according to tool_capabilities Craftitem (register_craftitem): A miscellaneous item Groups ------- In a number of places, there is a group table. Groups define the properties of a thing (item, node, armor of entity, capabilities of tool) in such a way that the engine and other mods can can interact with the thing without actually knowing what the thing is. Usage: - Groups are stored in a table, having the group names with keys and the group ratings as values. For example: groups = {crumbly=3, soil=1} ^ Default dirt (soil group actually currently not defined; TODO) groups = {crumbly=2, soil=1, level=2, outerspace=1} ^ A more special dirt-kind of thing - Groups always have a rating associated with them. If there is no useful meaning for a rating for an enabled group, it shall be 1. - When not defined, the rating of a group defaults to 0. Thus when you read groups, you must interpret nil and 0 as the same value, 0. Groups of items ---------------- Groups of items can define what kind of an item it is (eg. wool). Groups of nodes ---------------- In addition to the general item things, whether a node is diggable and how long it takes is defined by using groups. Groups of entities ------------------- For entities, groups are, as of now, used only for calculating damage. object.get_armor_groups() -> a group-rating table (eg. {fleshy=3}) object.set_armor_groups({level=2, fleshy=2, cracky=2}) Groups of tools ---------------- Groups in tools define which groups of nodes and entities they are effective towards. Groups in crafting recipes --------------------------- - Not implemented yet. (TODO) - Will probably look like this: { output = 'food:meat_soup_raw', recipe = { {'group:meat'}, {'group:water'}, {'group:bowl'}, }, preserve = {'group:bowl'}, } Special groups --------------- - immortal: Disables the group damage system for an entity - level: Can be used to give an additional sense of progression in the game. - A larger level will cause eg. a weapon of a lower level make much less damage, and get weared out much faster, or not be able to get drops from destroyed nodes. - 0 is something that is directly accessible at the start of gameplay - dig_immediate: (player can always pick up node without tool wear) - 2: node is removed without tool wear after 0.5 seconds or so (rail, sign) - 3: node is removed without tool wear immediately (torch) Known damage and digging time defining groups ---------------------------------------------- - crumbly: dirt, sand - cracky: tough but crackable stuff like stone. - snappy: something that can be cut using fine tools; eg. leaves, small plants, wire, sheets of metal - choppy: something that can be cut using force; eg. trees, wooden planks - fleshy: Living things like animals and the player. This could imply some blood effects when hitting. - explody: Especially prone to explosions - oddly_breakable_by_hand: Can be added to nodes that shouldn't logically be breakable by the hand but are. Somewhat similar to dig_immediate, but times are more like {[1]=3.50,[2]=2.00,[3]=0.70} and this does not override the speed of a tool if the tool can dig at a larger speed than this suggests for the hand. Examples of custom groups -------------------------- Item groups are often used for defining, well, //groups of items//. - meat: any meat-kind of a thing (rating might define the size or healing ability or be irrelevant - it is not defined as of yet) - eatable: anything that can be eaten. Rating might define HP gain in half hearts. - flammable: can be set on fire. Rating might define the intensity of the fire, affecting eg. the speed of the spreading of an open fire. - wool: any wool (any origin, any color) - metal: any metal - weapon: any weapon - heavy: anything considerably heavy Digging time calculation specifics ----------------------------------- Groups such as **crumbly**, **cracky** and **snappy** are used for this purpose. Rating is 1, 2 or 3. A higher rating for such a group implies faster digging time. Also, the **level** group is used. Tools define their properties by a list of parameters for groups. They cannot dig other groups; thus it is important to use a standard bunch of groups to enable interaction with tools. **Example definition of the digging capabilities of a tool:** tool_capabilities = { full_punch_interval=1.5, max_drop_level=1, groupcaps={ crumbly={maxwear=0.01, maxlevel=2, times={[1]=0.80, [2]=0.60, [3]=0.40}} } } **Tools define:** * Full punch interval Maximum drop level For an arbitrary list of groups: * Maximum level (usually 0, 1, 2 or 3) Maximum wear (0...1) Digging times **Full punch interval**: When used as a weapon, the tool will do full damage if this time is spent between punches. If eg. half the time is spent, the tool will do half damage. **Maximum drop level** suggests the maximum level of node, when dug with the tool, that will drop it's useful item. (eg. iron ore to drop a lump of iron). **Maximum level** tells what is the maximum level of a node of this group that the tool will be able to dig. **Maximum wear** determines how much the tool wears out when it is used for digging a node, of this group, of the maximum level. For lower leveled tools, the wear is divided by //4// to the exponent //level difference//. This means for a maximum wear of 0.1, a level difference 1 will result in wear=0.1/4=0.025, and a level difference of 2 will result in wear=0.1/(4*4)=0.00625. **Digging times** is basically a list of digging times for different ratings of the group. It also determines the damage done to entities, based on their "armor groups". * For example, as a lua table, ''times={2=2.00, 3=0.70}''. This would * result the tool to be able to dig nodes that have a rating of 2 or 3 * for this group, and unable to dig the rating 1, which is the toughest. * Unless there is a matching group that enables digging otherwise. For * entities, damage equals the amount of nodes dug in the time spent * between hits, with a maximum of ''full_punch_interval''. Entity damage mechanism ------------------------ Client predicts damage based on damage groups. Because of this, it is able to give an immediate response when an entity is damaged or dies; the response is pre-defined somehow (eg. by defining a sprite animation) (not implemented; TODO). The group **immortal** will completely disable normal damage. Entities can define a special armor group, which is **punch_operable**. This group will disable the regular damage mechanism for players punching it by hand or a non-tool item. On the Lua side, every punch calls ''entity:on_punch(puncher, time_from_last_punch, tool_capabilities, direction)''. This should never be called directly, because damage is usually not handled by the entity itself. * ''puncher'' is the object performing the punch. Can be nil. Should never be accessed unless absolutely required. * ''time_from_last_punch'' is time from last punch (by puncher) or nil. * ''tool_capabilities'' can be nil. * ''direction'' is a unit vector, pointing from the source of the punch to the punched object. To punch an entity/object in Lua, call ''object:punch(puncher, time_from_last_punch, tool_capabilities, direction)''. * Return value is tool wear. * Parameters are equal to the above callback. * If ''direction'' is nil and ''puncher'' is not nil, ''direction'' will be automatically filled in based on the location of ''puncher''. Helper functions ----------------- dump2(obj, name="_", dumped={}) ^ Return object serialized as a string, handles reference loops dump(obj, dumped={}) ^ Return object serialized as a string Sounds ------- Examples of sound parameter tables: -- Play locationless on all clients { gain = 1.0, -- default } -- Play locationless to a player { to_player = name, gain = 1.0, -- default } -- Play in a location { pos = {x=1,y=2,z=3}, gain = 1.0, -- default max_hear_distance = 32, -- default } -- Play connected to an object, looped { object = , gain = 1.0, -- default max_hear_distance = 32, -- default loop = true, -- only sounds connected to objects can be looped } minetest namespace reference ----------------------------- minetest.get_current_modname() -> string minetest.get_modpath(modname) -> eg. "/home/user/.minetest/usermods/modname" ^ Useful for loading additional .lua modules or static data from mod minetest.get_worldpath(modname) -> eg. "/home/user/.minetest/world" ^ Useful for storing custom data minetest.register_entity(name, prototype table) minetest.register_abm(abm definition) minetest.register_node(name, node definition) minetest.register_tool(name, item definition) minetest.register_craftitem(name, item definition) minetest.register_alias(name, convert_to) minetest.register_craft(recipe) minetest.register_globalstep(func(dtime)) minetest.register_on_placenode(func(pos, newnode, placer)) minetest.register_on_dignode(func(pos, oldnode, digger)) minetest.register_on_punchnode(func(pos, node, puncher)) minetest.register_on_generated(func(minp, maxp)) minetest.register_on_newplayer(func(ObjectRef)) minetest.register_on_dieplayer(func(ObjectRef)) minetest.register_on_respawnplayer(func(ObjectRef)) ^ return true in func to disable regular player placement ^ currently called _before_ repositioning of player occurs minetest.register_on_chat_message(func(name, message)) minetest.add_to_creative_inventory(itemstring) minetest.setting_get(name) -> string or nil minetest.setting_getbool(name) -> boolean value or nil minetest.chat_send_all(text) minetest.chat_send_player(name, text) minetest.get_player_privs(name) -> set of privs minetest.get_inventory(location) -> InvRef ^ location = eg. {type="player", name="celeron55"} {type="node", pos={x=, y=, z=}} minetest.sound_play(spec, parameters) -> handle ^ spec = SimpleSoundSpec ^ parameters = sound parameter table minetest.sound_stop(handle) minetest.debug(line) ^ Goes to dstream minetest.log(line) minetest.log(loglevel, line) ^ loglevel one of "error", "action", "info", "verbose" Global objects: minetest.env - environment reference Global tables: minetest.registered_items ^ List of registered items, indexed by name minetest.registered_nodes ^ List of registered node definitions, indexed by name minetest.registered_craftitems ^ List of registered craft item definitions, indexed by name minetest.registered_tools ^ List of registered tool definitions, indexed by name minetest.registered_entities ^ List of registered entity prototypes, indexed by name minetest.object_refs ^ List of object references, indexed by active object id minetest.luaentities ^ List of lua entities, indexed by active object id Deprecated but defined for backwards compatibility: minetest.digprop_constanttime(time) minetest.digprop_stonelike(toughness) minetest.digprop_dirtlike(toughness) minetest.digprop_gravellike(toughness) minetest.digprop_woodlike(toughness) minetest.digprop_leaveslike(toughness) minetest.digprop_glasslike(toughness) Class reference ---------------- EnvRef: basically ServerEnvironment and ServerMap combined. methods: - add_node(pos, node) - remove_node(pos) - get_node(pos) ^ Returns {name="ignore", ...} for unloaded area - get_node_or_nil(pos) ^ Returns nil for unloaded area - get_node_light(pos, timeofday) -> 0...15 or nil ^ timeofday: nil = current time, 0 = night, 0.5 = day - add_entity(pos, name): Returns ObjectRef or nil if failed - add_item(pos, itemstring) - add_rat(pos) - add_firefly(pos) - get_meta(pos) -- Get a NodeMetaRef at that position - get_player_by_name(name) -- Get an ObjectRef to a player - get_objects_inside_radius(pos, radius) - set_timeofday(val): val: 0...1; 0 = midnight, 0.5 = midday - get_timeofday() NodeMetaRef (this stuff is subject to change in a future version) methods: - get_type() - allows_text_input() - set_text(text) -- eg. set the text of a sign - get_text() - get_owner() - set_owner(string) Generic node metadata specific: - set_infotext(infotext) - get_inventory() -> InvRef - set_inventory_draw_spec(string) - set_allow_text_input(bool) - set_allow_removal(bool) - set_enforce_owner(bool) - is_inventory_modified() - reset_inventory_modified() - is_text_modified() - reset_text_modified() - set_string(name, value) - get_string(name) ObjectRef: Moving things in the game are generally these (basically reference to a C++ ServerActiveObject) methods: - remove(): remove object (after returning from Lua) - getpos() -> {x=num, y=num, z=num} - setpos(pos); pos={x=num, y=num, z=num} - moveto(pos, continuous=false): interpolated move - punch(puncher, time_from_last_punch, tool_capabilities, direction) ^ puncher = an another ObjectRef, ^ time_from_last_punch = time since last punch action of the puncher - right_click(clicker); clicker = an another ObjectRef - get_hp(): returns number of hitpoints (2 * number of hearts) - set_hp(hp): set number of hitpoints (2 * number of hearts) - get_inventory() -> InvRef - get_wield_list(): returns the name of the inventory list the wielded item is in - get_wield_index(): returns the index of the wielded item - get_wielded_item() -> ItemStack - set_wielded_item(item): replaces the wielded item, returns true if successful LuaEntitySAO-only: (no-op for other objects) - setvelocity({x=num, y=num, z=num}) - getvelocity() -> {x=num, y=num, z=num} - setacceleration({x=num, y=num, z=num}) - getacceleration() -> {x=num, y=num, z=num} - setyaw(radians) - getyaw() -> radians - settexturemod(mod) - setsprite(p={x=0,y=0}, num_frames=1, framelength=0.2, - select_horiz_by_yawpitch=false) - ^ Select sprite from spritesheet with optional animation and DM-style - texture selection based on yaw relative to camera - set_armor_groups({group1=rating, group2=rating, ...}) - get_entity_name() (DEPRECATED: Will be removed in a future version) - get_luaentity() Player-only: (no-op for other objects) - get_player_name(): will return nil if is not a player - get_look_dir(): get camera direction as a unit vector - get_look_pitch(): pitch in radians - get_look_yaw(): yaw in radians (wraps around pretty randomly as of now) InvRef: Reference to an inventory methods: - get_size(listname): get size of a list - set_size(listname, size): set size of a list - get_stack(listname, i): get a copy of stack index i in list - set_stack(listname, i, stack): copy stack to index i in list - get_list(listname): return full list - set_list(listname, list): set full list (size will not change) - add_item(listname, stack): add item somewhere in list, returns leftover ItemStack - room_for_item(listname, stack): returns true if the stack of items can be fully added to the list - contains_item(listname, stack): returns true if the stack of items can be fully taken from the list remove_item(listname, stack): take as many items as specified from the list, returns the items that were actually removed (as an ItemStack) ItemStack: A stack of items. methods: - is_empty(): return true if stack is empty - get_name(): returns item name (e.g. "default:stone") - get_count(): returns number of items on the stack - get_wear(): returns tool wear (0-65535), 0 for non-tools - get_metadata(): returns metadata (a string attached to an item stack) - clear(): removes all items from the stack, making it empty - replace(item): replace the contents of this stack (item can also be an itemstring or table) - to_string(): returns the stack in itemstring form - to_table(): returns the stack in Lua table form - get_stack_max(): returns the maximum size of the stack (depends on the item) - get_free_space(): returns get_stack_max() - get_count() - is_known(): returns true if the item name refers to a defined item type - get_definition(): returns the item definition table - get_tool_capabilities(): returns the digging properties of the item, ^ or those of the hand if none are defined for this item type - add_wear(amount): increases wear by amount if the item is a tool - add_item(item): put some item or stack onto this stack, ^ returns leftover ItemStack - item_fits(item): returns true if item or stack can be fully added to this one - take_item(n): take (and remove) up to n items from this stack ^ returns taken ItemStack ^ if n is omitted, n=1 is used - peek_item(n): copy (don't remove) up to n items from this stack ^ returns copied ItemStack ^ if n is omitted, n=1 is used Registered entities -------------------- - Functions receive a "luaentity" as self: - It has the member .name, which is the registered name ("mod:thing") - It has the member .object, which is an ObjectRef pointing to the object - The original prototype stuff is visible directly via a metatable - Callbacks: - on_activate(self, staticdata) ^ Called when the object is instantiated. - on_step(self, dtime) ^ Called on every server tick (dtime is usually 0.05 seconds) - on_punch(self, puncher, time_from_last_punch, tool_capabilities, dir) ^ Called when somebody punches the object. ^ Note that you probably want to handle most punches using the automatic armor group system. ^ puncher: ObjectRef (can be nil) ^ time_from_last_punch: Meant for disallowing spamming of clicks (can be nil) ^ tool_capabilities: capability table of used tool (can be nil) ^ dir: unit vector of direction of punch. Always defined. Points from the puncher to the punched. - on_rightclick(self, clicker) - get_staticdata(self) ^ Should return a string that will be passed to on_activate when the object is instantiated the next time. Definition tables ------------------ Entity definition (register_entity) { physical = true, collisionbox = {-0.5,-0.5,-0.5, 0.5,0.5,0.5}, visual = "cube"/"sprite", visual_size = {x=1, y=1}, textures = {texture,texture,texture,texture,texture,texture}, spritediv = {x=1, y=1}, initial_sprite_basepos = {x=0, y=0}, on_activate = function(self, staticdata), on_step = function(self, dtime), on_punch = function(self, hitter), on_rightclick = function(self, clicker), get_staticdata = function(self), # Also you can define arbitrary member variables here myvariable = whatever, } ABM (ActiveBlockModifier) definition (register_abm) { nodenames = {"default:lava_source"}, neighbors = {"default:water_source", "default:water_flowing"}, -- (any of these) ^ If left out or empty, any neighbor will do interval = 1.0, -- (operation interval) chance = 1, -- (chance of trigger is 1.0/this) action = func(pos, node, active_object_count, active_object_count_wider), } Item definition (register_node, register_craftitem, register_tool) { description = "Steel Axe", groups = {}, -- key=name, value=rating; rating=1..3. if rating not applicable, use 1. eg. {wool=1, fluffy=3} {soil=2, outerspace=1, crumbly=1} {bendy=2, snappy=1}, {hard=1, metal=1, spikes=1} inventory_image = "default_tool_steelaxe.png", wield_image = "", wield_scale = {x=1,y=1,z=1}, stack_max = 99, liquids_pointable = false, tool_capabilities = { full_punch_interval = 1.0, max_drop_level=0, groupcaps={ -- For example: fleshy={times={[2]=0.80, [3]=0.40}, maxwear=0.05, maxlevel=1}, snappy={times={[2]=0.80, [3]=0.40}, maxwear=0.05, maxlevel=1}, choppy={times={[3]=0.90}, maxwear=0.05, maxlevel=0} } } on_drop = func(item, dropper, pos), on_place = func(item, placer, pointed_thing), on_use = func(item, user, pointed_thing), } Node definition (register_node) { , drawtype = "normal", visual_scale = 1.0, tile_images = {"default_unknown_block.png"}, special_materials = { {image="", backface_culling=true}, {image="", backface_culling=true}, }, alpha = 255, post_effect_color = {a=0, r=0, g=0, b=0}, paramtype = "none", paramtype2 = "none", is_ground_content = false, sunlight_propagates = false, walkable = true, pointable = true, diggable = true, climbable = false, buildable_to = false, drop = "", -- alternatively drop = { max_items = ..., items = { ... } } metadata_name = "", liquidtype = "none", liquid_alternative_flowing = "", liquid_alternative_source = "", liquid_viscosity = 0, light_source = 0, damage_per_second = 0, selection_box = {type="regular"}, legacy_facedir_simple = false, -- Support maps made in and before January 2012 legacy_wallmounted = false, -- Support maps made in and before January 2012 sounds = { footstep = , dig = , -- "__group" = group-based sound (default) dug = , }, } Recipe: (register_craft) { output = 'default:pick_stone', recipe = { {'default:cobble', 'default:cobble', 'default:cobble'}, {'', 'default:stick', ''}, {'', 'default:stick', ''}, }, replacements = } Recipe (shapeless): { type = "shapeless", output = 'mushrooms:mushroom_stew', recipe = { "mushrooms:bowl", "mushrooms:mushroom_brown", "mushrooms:mushroom_red", }, replacements = } Recipe (tool repair): { type = "toolrepair", additional_wear = -0.02, } Recipe (cooking): { type = "cooking", output = "default:glass", recipe = "default:sand", cooktime = 3, } Recipe (furnace fuel): { type = "fuel", recipe = "default:leaves", burntime = 1, }