State of Script Canvas as of 2019 (vs Lua)

Question

Hi guys, newcomer to Lumberyard here.

I was trying to figure out if there is something that you could achieve with Lua that you could not achieve with Script Canvas (so that I don't need to learn yet-another programming language) and I got to this kind-of-old post (https://forums.awsgametech.com/t/lua-and-canvas-what-is-the-difference/4551/1) stating that Script Canvas was missing certain features such as debugging and feature nodes. So I wanted to know if those missing functionalities have been covered as of today and Script Canvas can do everything that Lua can in terms of Lumberyard.

Thank you in advance

Regards

Accepted Answer

Hi @REDACTEDUSER

Script Canvas is designed to use the exact same script bindings as Lua, this means that the same Lumberyard scripting features exposed to Lua are available for use in Script Canvas.

It is also designed to allow you to extend it. You can write you own [custom nodes](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lumberyard/latest/userguide/script-canvas-custom-nodes.html) in C++, enabling you to construct your own game's scripting building blocks.

Most of the features in the post you mentioned are already available in Lumberyard 1.17, as of today there isn't much that you can do in Lua that you can't do in Script Canvas, and we're working on closing that gap.

With GDC just around the corner I invite you to follow [@AmazonGameTech](https://twitter.com/AmazonGameTech) on twitter, there's sure to be some interesting news.

Luis Sempé

Sr. Software Engineer | Scripting Team Lead | Lumberyard

Answer

Hi @REDACTEDUSER

Yes! We're still working on buttoning it up for release, but container support in Script Canvas will be available.

Luis Sempé

Sr. Software Engineer | Scripting Team Lead | Lumberyard

Answer

Glad you found it! Sorry for the late response I'm currently at GDC and wasn't near my computer. Cheers!

Answer

Has there been any support added to Script Canvas for some kind of array, list, or iterator functionality? That's one feature that I've found sorely missing from Script Canvas prompting me to not consider it over Lua. Array type Script Canvas variables would go far in closing the gap between what's possible in each.

Answer

I never even thought about GDC so busy with so much to learn given I"m a single dev, and I hope its going well and LY getting notice ;)

Answer

EDIT: nevermind I found it, I had to go into SC settings and enable preview to show all nodes.

@REDACTEDUSER

What happened to 'input handler',,trying to make script canvas for better player movement etc but I can't find input handler that was there in 1.17 release.

Was it removed in favor of ?

ty

Answer

That was quick! And right what I wanted to know :). Gracias Luis. I sure was already following @REDACTEDUSER

Oh! and thank you guys for your youtube series, they are beyond useful!

Regards

State of Script Canvas as of 2019 (vs Lua)

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