Lua function with arg pass to another function with arg

Question

Here is raw idea of what I'm trying to do.

function a(str)
    print(str)
end

function b(str)
    print(str)
end

function c(str)
    print(str)
end

function runfunctions(...)
    local lst = {...}
    lst.startup()
end

local n1 = a('1')
local n2 = b('2')
local n3 = c('3')

runfunctions(n3,n1,n2)

Few functions got to be pass as args to other functions and being executed in sequence. Once any of them been executed it can't be executed for msec so next will be executed, to avoid only being executed few of them and don't run till the last one.

Answer 1

You need closures.

In your code, the functions a, b and c all do the execution and returns nothing. Instead, return a closure that does the work (but not execute for now):

function a(str)
    return function() print(str) end
end

Then execute the function when needed:

function runfunctions(...)
    for _, v in ipairs{...} do
        v()
    end
end

Answer 2

function runfunctions(...)
   for _, f_with_args in ipairs{...} do
      pcall((table.unpack or unpack)(f_with_args))
   end
end

runfunctions({c, '3'}, {a, '1'}, {b, '2'}, {print, "Hello", "world"})