User-controlled information on timer events.

It would be nice if os.startTimer accepted more arguments that will not be interpreted but will be added to the timer event's arguments.
Currently, no more than 4 arguments could be added (see Events are limited to 5 parameters)

For example, so that:

os.startTimer(5, "asdf", "jkl", "xyz")
evt = {os.pullEvent("timer")}
print(table.concat(evt, " "))

prints in 5 seconds:

timer (timer ID goes here) asdf jkl xyz

It could possibly include the ability to change the event name, although this could require a new function:

-- simulate a keypress in 5 seconds
os.startEventTimer(5, "key", keys.up)

If you need more info associated with a timer, you really only need one argument for an ID.
You can use an array of tables that have an index matching the timer ID, and the value is a table with as many things in it as you need to keep track of.

dissy, on 14 December 2012 - 05:34 PM said:

If you need more info associated with a timer, you really only need one argument for an ID.
You can use an array of tables that have an index matching the timer ID, and the value is a table with as many things in it as you need to keep track of.

I know. Would you rather use timers that way or this way?

I'm not going to do this. It would over complicate things on our side just to save a few lines of code on your side.