Using unique dynamic variable names (not variable values!)

Question

Ok so, this is more a sanity check than anything else.

Lets asume we have a struct called lua_State, now I need to create a uncertain amount of unique lua_State's. To make sure I don't use the same variable name twice I would need to have some sort of way to get an unique variable every time i make a new state.

However there is only one way (I think?) to create a new state, and that is as follows:

lua_State *S = lewL_newstate();

Now I would need some way to dynamically change that "S" to.. whatever.

For example: If I had 4 lua files, and I wanted to load each into their own lua_State, I would call: lua_State *A = lewL_newstate(); for the first, lua_State *B = lewL_newstate(); for the second, and so on. Keep in mind the number of lua files varies so creating a fixed number of states probably won't go over well.

How would I go about doing this?

clarification:

.h

struct lua_State

.cpp

createNewState(Lua_State* something){
 lua_State* something = luaL_newstate();
}

I thought about creating a

std::map<int, lua_State*> luaMap;

but then I would still have the problem of actually generating (for lack of better words) a variable name for every int-index.

So, have I been drinking too much coffee and is there a glaringly obvious simply solution to what I am trying to do, or should I just stop coding untill the crazy blows over?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Can't you use std::map<std::string, lua_State*> and use the script name as an index to the state?

Answer 2

Why do you need a variable name for every index? Why is it not good enough to refer to, for example, luaMap[0] and luaMap[1]? I don't think there's really any way to do what you want. You need some sort of dynamic array, like a std::vector.

Answer 3

Use a std::vector to both store the created states and generate sequential identifiers (i.e. array indices). Unless I'm missing something, then you are grossly over-complicating your requirements.

std::vector<lua_State *> stateList;

// create a new Lua state and return it's ID number
int newLuaState()
{
    stateList.push_back(luaL_newstate());
    return stateList.size() - 1;
}

// retrieve a Lua state by its ID number
lua_State * getLuaState(int id)
{
    assert(0 <= id && stateList.size() > id);
    return stateList[id];
}