Add core.protocol_versions for modder convenience

builtin/game/init.lua

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ local gamepath   = scriptpath .. "game".. DIR_DELIM
 local builtin_shared = {}
 
 dofile(gamepath .. "constants.lua")
+dofile(gamepath .. "protocol_versions.lua")
 assert(loadfile(commonpath .. "item_s.lua"))(builtin_shared)
 assert(loadfile(gamepath .. "item.lua"))(builtin_shared)
 assert(loadfile(commonpath .. "register.lua"))(builtin_shared)

builtin/game/protocol_versions.lua

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+-- c.f. https://content.luanti.org/api/minetest_versions/
+-- see also src/network/networkprotocol.cpp
+core.protocol_versions = {
+	["5.0"] = 37,
+	["5.1"] = 38,
+	["5.2"] = 39,
+	["5.3"] = 39,
+	["5.4"] = 39,
+	["5.5"] = 40,
+	["5.6"] = 41,
+	["5.7"] = 42,
+	["5.8"] = 43,
+	["5.9"] = 44,
+	["5.10"] = 46,
+	["5.11"] = 47,
+}

doc/lua_api.md

@@ -5721,6 +5721,7 @@ Utilities
       -- or inconsistent in engine forks. You must not use this for checking
       -- feature availability of clients. Instead, do use the fields
       -- `protocol_version` and `formspec_version` where it matters.
+      -- You can use `core.protocol_versions` to map Luanti versions to protocol versions.
       -- This version string may only be used for analysis purposes.
       version_string = "0.4.9-git",   -- full version string
 
@@ -5734,6 +5735,13 @@ Utilities
   }
   ```
 
+* `core.protocol_versions`:
+  * Table mapping minor Luanti 5.x versions to
+    corresponding protocol versions for modder convenience.
+  * For example, to check whether a client has at least the feature set
+    of Luanti 5.8 or newer, you could do:
+    `core.get_player_information(player_name).protocol_version >= core.protocol_versions["5.8"]`
+  * Available since 5.11
 * `core.get_player_window_information(player_name)`:
 
   ```lua

src/network/networkprotocol.cpp

@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
 		[scheduled bump for 5.11.0]
 */
 
+// Note: Also update builtin/game/protocol_versions.lua when bumping
 const u16 LATEST_PROTOCOL_VERSION = 47;
 
 // See also formspec [Version History] in doc/lua_api.md