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!

    • vrighter
      5·
      1 year 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·
        1 year 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·
          1 year 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·
            1 year 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·
            1 year ago

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