Learning lua

[Mutilatory]

Right, so i'm wanting to start creating addons starting with probably one of the biggest - a unit frame addon.

I was wondering where I could learn all the WoW related things and get cracking?

[Rilgamon]

Looking at already existing addons is what helps me a lot
After I know what commands are used I look them up at
http://www.wowwiki.com/World_of_Warcraft_API

Very well documented Frameworks are a good help, too.
The wowace-community is probably the best source for documented
wisdom and experience in addon writing.
In the beginning the ACE3-Framework http://www.wowace.com/addons/ace3/pa...tting-started/ shows what is possible and what is needed
in an addon.

Last but not least WoWInterface-Forum is full of helpful and
friendly programmers who tried everything you dream of already
and share their gathered knowledge happily

Edit: A good start to see what problems and solutions are found with unit frames search this
forum for posts of Grimsin ... his threads have really useful and interesting info in regard of unit frames.

[Mutilatory]

Thanks

When I download Ace3, Is the file an addon in itself or just librarys?

[Rilgamon]

Originally Posted by Mutilatory Thanks When I download Ace3, Is the file an addon in itself or just librarys?

Both. A library is just a special version of an addon. Some libraries are
"standalone" libraries and some need to be called from an addon.

Ace3 can be used in both ways. When you install it standalone you will
find it in your addon-list. But its not doing much. IMO addons should come
with all libraries they need and standalone libs is not really a good idea.

[Slakah]

http://www.wowinterface.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=24776

Good Guides http://lua-users.org/wiki/TutorialDirectory http://www.lua.org/pil http://wowprogramming.com/ API References http://wowprogramming.com/docs http://www.wowwiki.com/Api Weird stuff but sometimes useful (although most guides in there are out of date) http://www.wowwiki.com/HOWTOs If all else fails and your really stuck Make a thread here or go to the WoWUIDev IRC Channel.

[Mutilatory]

Originally Posted by Slakah http://www.wowinterface.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=24776

Thing is, from the looks of it most of that just teaches me syntax. I can get my head around syntax without a guide. I want a guide in particular to show me how to do things like:

How to show a texture onscreen with a variable size.

[roeddog]

try these from Amazon.com

Hacking World of Warcraft (ExtremeTech) by Daniel Gilbert and James Whitehead II (Paperback - June 5, 2007)

World of Warcraft Programming: A Guide and Reference for Creating WoW Addons by James Whitehead II and Rick Roe (Paperback - Feb. 8, 2010)

Beginning Lua with World of Warcraft Add-ons by Paul Emmerich (Paperback - July 29, 2009)

or these free references
http://www.wowwiki.com/Lua
http://www.lua.org/
http://lua-users.org/wiki/SampleCode

hope this helps to get you started

[nightcracker]

One tip: Don't start with unitframes.

[Mutilatory]

Originally Posted by nightcracker One tip: Don't start with unitframes.

Okay, off the menu. How about something which displays a texture at different sizes? Sounds easy enough.

[haste]

Originally Posted by nightcracker One tip: Don't start with unitframes.

There's really no issue starting with unit frames. What's important is that you start with something you want to do. There's benefits and disadvantage with all initial project types.