Many WoW addons use DEFAULT_CHAT_FRAME:AddMessage(text, r, g, b) to
output colored text to chat. Implemented as a Lua table with AddMessage
that converts RGB floats to WoW color codes and calls print().
Also aliased as ChatFrame1 for compatibility.
Example: DEFAULT_CHAT_FRAME:AddMessage("Hello!", 1, 0.5, 0)
- GetNumAddOns() — returns count of loaded addons
- GetAddOnInfo(indexOrName) — returns name, title, notes, loadable
Addon info is stored in the Lua registry from the .toc directives
and populated before addon files execute. Useful for addon managers
and compatibility checks between addons.
Total WoW API: 33 functions.
Implement the most commonly used buff/debuff query functions:
- UnitBuff(unitId, index) — query the Nth buff on a unit
- UnitDebuff(unitId, index) — query the Nth debuff on a unit
Returns WoW-compatible 11-value tuple: name, rank, icon, count,
debuffType, duration, expirationTime, caster, isStealable,
shouldConsolidate, spellId.
Supports "player" and "target" unit IDs. Essential for buff tracking
addons (WeakAuras-style), healer addons, and combat analysis tools.
Total WoW API: 31 functions.
Addons can now persist data across sessions using the standard WoW
SavedVariables pattern:
1. Declare in .toc: ## SavedVariables: MyAddonDB
2. Use the global in Lua: MyAddonDB = MyAddonDB or {default = true}
3. Data is automatically saved on logout and restored on next login
Implementation:
- TocFile::getSavedVariables() parses comma-separated variable names
- LuaEngine::loadSavedVariables() executes saved .lua file to restore globals
- LuaEngine::saveSavedVariables() serializes Lua tables/values to valid Lua
- Serializer handles tables (nested), strings, numbers, booleans, nil
- Save triggered on PLAYER_LEAVING_WORLD and AddonManager::shutdown()
- Files stored as <AddonDir>/<AddonName>.lua.saved
Updated HelloWorld addon to track login count across sessions.
- UnitRace(unitId) — returns race name ("Human", "Orc", etc.)
- UnitPowerType(unitId) — returns power type ID and name ("MANA", "RAGE", etc.)
- GetNumGroupMembers() — party/raid member count
- UnitGUID(unitId) — returns hex GUID string (0x format)
- UnitIsPlayer(unitId) — true if target is a player (not NPC)
- InCombatLockdown() — true if player is in combat
Total WoW API surface: 29 functions.
Implement WoW's C_Timer API used by most modern addons:
- C_Timer.After(seconds, callback) — fire callback after delay
- C_Timer.NewTicker(seconds, callback, iterations) — repeating timer
with optional iteration limit and :Cancel() method
Implemented in pure Lua using a hidden OnUpdate frame that
auto-hides when no timers are pending (zero overhead when idle).
Example:
C_Timer.After(3, function() print("3 sec later!") end)
local ticker = C_Timer.NewTicker(1, function() print("tick") end, 5)
Frames can now set an OnUpdate script that fires every frame with
the elapsed time as an argument. This enables addon timers, polling,
and animations.
local f = CreateFrame("Frame")
f:SetScript("OnUpdate", function(self, elapsed)
-- called every frame with deltaTime
end)
OnUpdate only fires for visible frames (frame:Hide() pauses it).
Tracked in __WoweeOnUpdateFrames table, dispatched via
LuaEngine::dispatchOnUpdate() called from the Application main loop.
Implement the core WoW frame system that nearly all addons use:
- CreateFrame(type, name, parent, template) — creates a frame table
with metatable methods, optionally registered as a global by name
- frame:RegisterEvent(event) — register frame for event dispatch
- frame:UnregisterEvent(event) — unregister
- frame:SetScript(type, handler) — set OnEvent/OnUpdate/etc handlers
- frame:GetScript(type) — retrieve handlers
- frame:Show()/Hide()/IsShown()/IsVisible() — visibility state
- frame:GetName() — return frame name
Event dispatch now fires both global RegisterEvent handlers AND
frame OnEvent scripts, matching WoW's dual dispatch model.
Updated HelloWorld to use standard WoW addon pattern:
local f = CreateFrame("Frame", "MyFrame")
f:RegisterEvent("PLAYER_ENTERING_WORLD")
f:SetScript("OnEvent", function(self, event, ...) end)
Add 5 more essential WoW API functions for addon development:
- SendChatMessage(msg, type, lang, target) — send chat messages
(SAY, YELL, WHISPER, PARTY, GUILD, OFFICER, RAID, BG)
- CastSpellByName(name) — cast highest rank of named spell
- IsSpellKnown(spellId) — check if player knows a spell
- GetSpellCooldown(nameOrId) — get remaining cooldown
- HasTarget() — check if player has a target
Total WoW API surface: 18 functions across Unit, Game, and Action
categories. Addons can now query state, react to events, send
messages, and cast spells.
Implement the WoW-compatible event system that lets addons react to
gameplay events in real-time:
- RegisterEvent(eventName, handler) — register a Lua function for an event
- UnregisterEvent(eventName, handler) — remove a handler
- fireEvent() dispatches events to all registered handlers with args
Currently fired events:
- PLAYER_ENTERING_WORLD — after addons load and world entry completes
- PLAYER_LEAVING_WORLD — before logout/disconnect
Events are stored in a __WoweeEvents Lua table, dispatched via
LuaEngine::fireEvent() which is called from AddonManager::fireEvent().
Error handling logs Lua errors without crashing.
Updated HelloWorld addon to use RegisterEvent for world entry/exit.
Foundation for WoW-compatible addon support:
- Vendor Lua 5.1.5 source as a static library (extern/lua-5.1.5)
- TocParser: parses .toc files (## directives + file lists)
- LuaEngine: Lua 5.1 VM with sandboxed stdlib (no io/os/debug),
WoW-compatible print() that outputs to chat, GetTime() stub
- AddonManager: scans Data/interface/AddOns/ for .toc files,
loads .lua files on world entry, skips LoadOnDemand addons
- /run <code> slash command for inline Lua execution
- HelloWorld test addon that prints to chat on load
Integration: AddonManager initialized after asset manager, addons
loaded once on first world entry, reset on logout. XML frame
parsing is deferred to a future step.
