cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/4294116

I have a file with content like this:

item({
     ["attr"] = {
        ["size"] = "62091";
        ["filename"] = "qBuUP9-OTfuzibt6PQX4-g.jpg";
        ["stamp"] = "2023-12-05T19:31:37Z";
        ["xmlns"] = "urn:xmpp:http:upload:0";
        ["content-type"] = "image/jpeg";
     };
     ["key"] = "Wa4AJWFldqRZjBozponbSLRZ";
     ["with"] = "email@address";
     ["when"] = 1701804697;
     ["name"] = "request";
});

I need to know what format this is, and if there exists a tool in linux already to parse this or if I need to write one myself?

Thanks!

  • flubba86@lemmy.world
    40·
    11 months ago

    It’s not really a standalone file format, it’s executable Lua code.

    It returns a new item with the given table contents.

    That syntax with the keys in square brackets is the “long-form” method of creating a new table, that’s allows the use of spaces and dashes in the key name.

    https://stackoverflow.com/questions/34687498/what-is-the-function-of-square-brackets-around-table-keys-in-lua

    Maybe this is the lua-equivelent of a python Pickle file?

      • vrighter
        5·
        11 months ago

        assuming you run it in the right lua environment. The item function must be defined, and we’re only speculating about its return value without seeing proper docs, or the source

        • ∟⊔⊤∦∣≶@lemmy.nzOP
          5·
          11 months ago

          Item is a function?

          Well actually, yeah thats kinda obvious isn’t it now I look at the whole thing.

          Thats fine, I’ll just use a bit of the old sed and json it.

          Aha I have avoided learning Lua yet again!

          • vrighter
            2·
            11 months ago

            the code is constructing a table, and passing it to a function called item. But if all you need is the data, you can just remove the function call and assign the table to a variable like so: local myvar = {…}.

            then you can just manipulate the table as usual.

            • ∟⊔⊤∦∣≶@lemmy.nzOP
              3·
              11 months ago

              Unfortunately, this sequence is repeated many many times, so I would need to do a for-each and construct a new table for each inner section…

              There’s gotta be a better way. Time to read the source code and hijack whatever item() is doing.

            • vrighter
              31·
              11 months ago

              actually those semicolons indicate this isn’t actually lua, they are invalid in table constructors afaik

    • Jummit@lemmy.one
      31·
      11 months ago

      This isn’t Lua code, Lua requires commas as separators for table items.

      EDIT: Retracted, it seems like Lua allows this madness