Lua for Python Programmers

Functional Programming

Functional programming is possible in Python, but Lua makes it easy. Check out this code:

> infix = function(op)
>>   if op == "+" then return function(a, b) return a + b end
>>   elseif op == "-" then return function(a, b) return a - b end
>>   else return function() end
>>   end
>> end

> = infix("+")(10,5)
15
> = infix("-")(10,5)
5
> = infix("?")(10,5)
>

Lambda functions available in Python are the puny cousins of true anonymous functions. Because all functions in Lua are first-class values, Lua is more writable for functional programmers than Python.