ClassicAPI

A small DLL for World of Warcraft 1.12.1 (Vanilla / Turtle WoW) that adds a collection of Lua API calls Blizzard never exposed in 1.12 but which make addon authoring noticeably less painful — primarily for backporting addons written against later API versions (3.3.5+) where these calls do exist.

The DLL hooks the FrameScript engine after WoW boots and registers its extensions through the same in-engine mechanisms WoW uses for its own Lua functions. No companion addon is required.

What's added

Full per-function reference: docs/API.md.

Calls

Namespace	Calls
Action	GetActionInfo
AddOns	C_AddOns.DoesAddOnExist, C_AddOns.GetAddOnName, C_AddOns.GetAddOnNotes, C_AddOns.GetAddOnSecurity, C_AddOns.GetAddOnTitle, C_AddOns.IsAddOnLoadable
Chat	GetCurrentChatGUID
Class	FillLocalizedClassList
Combat	InCombatLockdown
CVar	C_CVar.GetCVarBool
Container	C_Container.GetContainerItemCharges, C_Container.GetContainerItemDurability, C_Container.GetContainerItemID, C_Container.GetContainerItemRepairCost, C_Container.GetContainerNumFreeSlots, C_Container.GetItemCooldown, C_Container.MoveItem, C_Container.PlayerHasHearthstone, C_Container.SwapItems, C_Container.UseHearthstone, GetItemCooldown
EncodingUtil	C_EncodingUtil.CompressString, C_EncodingUtil.DecompressString, C_EncodingUtil.EncodeBase64, C_EncodingUtil.DecodeBase64, C_EncodingUtil.EncodeHex, C_EncodingUtil.DecodeHex, C_EncodingUtil.SerializeJSON, C_EncodingUtil.DeserializeJSON, C_EncodingUtil.SerializeCBOR, C_EncodingUtil.DeserializeCBOR
EquipmentSet	C_EquipmentSet.CanUseEquipmentSets, C_EquipmentSet.ClearIgnoredSlotsForSave, C_EquipmentSet.CreateEquipmentSet, C_EquipmentSet.DeleteEquipmentSet, C_EquipmentSet.EquipmentSetContainsLockedItems, C_EquipmentSet.GetEquipmentSetID, C_EquipmentSet.GetEquipmentSetIDs, C_EquipmentSet.GetEquipmentSetInfo, C_EquipmentSet.GetIgnoredSlots, C_EquipmentSet.GetItemIDs, C_EquipmentSet.GetItemLocations, C_EquipmentSet.GetNumEquipmentSets, C_EquipmentSet.IgnoreSlotForSave, C_EquipmentSet.IsSlotIgnoredForSave, C_EquipmentSet.ModifyEquipmentSet, C_EquipmentSet.SaveEquipmentSet, C_EquipmentSet.UnignoreSlotForSave, C_EquipmentSet.UseEquipmentSet (sets persist to WTF\Account\...\ClassicAPI_EquipmentSets.txt)
Events	C_EventUtils.IsEventValid
Expansion	ClassicExpansionAtLeast, ClassicExpansionAtMost, GetClassicExpansionLevel
Faction	C_Reputation.GetFactionDataByIndex, C_Reputation.GetFactionStandings, C_Reputation.GetLastStandingChange, C_Reputation.GetWatchedFactionData, C_Reputation.SetWatchedFactionByID, GetFactionIDByIndex, GetFactionInfoByID, GetFactionParentID
Focus	ClearFocus, FocusUnit
FriendList	C_FriendList.IsWhoQueryPending, C_FriendList.SendWhoQueryByName
Gossip	C_GossipInfo.CloseGossip, C_GossipInfo.GetActiveQuests, C_GossipInfo.GetAvailableQuests, C_GossipInfo.GetNumActiveQuests, C_GossipInfo.GetNumAvailableQuests, C_GossipInfo.GetNumOptions, C_GossipInfo.GetOptions, C_GossipInfo.GetText, C_GossipInfo.SelectActiveQuest, C_GossipInfo.SelectAvailableQuest, C_GossipInfo.SelectOption, C_GossipInfo.SelectOptionByIndex
GameTooltip	GameTooltip:GetGameObject, GameTooltip:GetItem, GameTooltip:GetOwner, GameTooltip:GetSpell, GameTooltip:GetUnitGUID, GameTooltip:HasGameObject, GameTooltip:HasItem, GameTooltip:HasSpell, GameTooltip:HasUnit, GameTooltip:SetEquipmentSet, GameTooltip:SetInventoryItemByID, GameTooltip:SetItemByID, GameTooltip:SetSpellByID, GameTooltip:SetTalentByID, GameTooltip:SetUnitAura
Hooks	hooksecurefunc
Input	IsLeftAltKeyDown, IsLeftControlKeyDown, IsLeftShiftKeyDown, IsModifierKeyDown, IsRightAltKeyDown, IsRightControlKeyDown, IsRightShiftKeyDown
Instance	GetInstanceInfo
Item	C_Item.DoesItemExist, C_Item.DoesItemExistByID, C_Item.EquipItemByName, C_Item.GetCurrentItemLevel, C_Item.GetDetailedItemLevelInfo, C_Item.GetItemCount, C_Item.GetItemFamily, C_Item.GetItemGUID, C_Item.GetItemIcon, C_Item.GetItemIconByID, C_Item.GetItemID, C_Item.GetItemInfoInstant, C_Item.GetItemInventoryType, C_Item.GetItemInventoryTypeByID, C_Item.GetItemLink, C_Item.GetItemLocation, C_Item.GetItemMaxStackSize, C_Item.GetItemMaxStackSizeByID, C_Item.GetItemName, C_Item.GetItemNameByID, C_Item.GetItemQuality, C_Item.GetItemQualityByID, C_Item.GetItemSellPrice, C_Item.GetItemSellPriceByID, C_Item.GetItemSetID, C_Item.GetItemSetIDByID, C_Item.GetItemSetInfo, C_Item.GetItemSpell, C_Item.GetItemUniqueness, C_Item.GetItemUniquenessByID, C_Item.GetStackCount, C_Item.GetWeaponEnchantInfo, C_Item.IsBound, C_Item.IsEquippableItem, C_Item.IsEquippedItem, C_Item.IsItemDataCached, C_Item.IsItemDataCachedByID, C_Item.IsLocked, C_Item.LockItem, C_Item.LockItemByGUID, C_Item.UnlockAllItems, C_Item.UnlockItem, C_Item.RequestLoadItemData, C_Item.RequestLoadItemDataByID, C_Item.UseItemByName, GetAuctionItemID, GetAuctionSellItemID, GetAverageItemLevel, GetCraftReagentItemID, GetInboxItemID, GetInventoryItemDurability, GetInventoryItemID, GetInventoryItemsForSlot, GetInventoryItemRepairCost, GetItemIcon, GetLootRollItemID, GetLootSlotItemID, GetMerchantItemID, GetQuestItemID, GetQuestLogItemID, GetTradePlayerItemID, GetTradeSkillItemID, GetTradeSkillReagentItemID, GetTradeTargetItemID, OffhandHasWeapon
Macros	GetMacroSpell
Map	C_Map.GetBestMapForUnit
MerchantFrame	C_MerchantFrame.GetBuybackItemID, C_MerchantFrame.GetItemInfo, C_MerchantFrame.GetNumJunkItems, C_MerchantFrame.IsMerchantItemRefundable, C_MerchantFrame.IsSellAllJunkEnabled, C_MerchantFrame.SellAllJunkItems
NamePlate	C_NamePlate.GetNamePlateForGUID, C_NamePlate.GetNamePlateForUnit, C_NamePlate.GetNamePlateGUIDs, C_NamePlate.GetNamePlates
NameCache	C_CreatureInfo.GetCreatureID, C_PlayerCache.GetPlayerInfoByName, C_PlayerCache.IsEnabled, C_PlayerCache.IsScanEnabled, C_PlayerCache.RememberPlayer, C_PlayerCache.SetEnabled, C_PlayerCache.SetScanEnabled, C_PlayerInfo.GUIDIsCreature, C_PlayerInfo.GUIDIsGameObject, C_PlayerInfo.GUIDIsPet, C_PlayerInfo.GUIDIsPlayer, GetPlayerInfoByGUID
Quest	C_QuestLog.GetQuestIDForLogIndex, C_QuestLog.GetTitleForQuestID, C_QuestLog.IsOnQuest, C_QuestLog.IsQuestDataCachedByID, C_QuestLog.IsUnitOnQuest, C_QuestLog.RequestLoadQuestByID, GetQuestLogLeaderBoardID
Spell	C_Spell.CancelSpellByID, C_Spell.DoesSpellExist, C_Spell.GetSchoolString, C_Spell.GetSpellCooldown, C_Spell.GetSpellDescription, C_Spell.GetSpellInfo, C_Spell.GetSpellLink, C_Spell.GetSpellName, C_Spell.GetSpellReagents, C_Spell.GetSpellSubtext, C_Spell.GetSpellTexture, C_Spell.IsAutoAttackSpell, C_Spell.IsCurrentSpell, C_Spell.IsRangedAutoAttackSpell, C_Spell.IsSelfBuff, C_Spell.IsSpellHarmful, C_Spell.IsSpellHelpful, C_Spell.IsSpellPassive, C_Spell.IsSpellUsable, C_Spell.SpellHasRange, CancelSpellByName, CastSpellNoToggle, GetCraftSpellID, GetSpellInfo, GetSpellLink, GetSpellSchool, IsHarmfulSpell, IsHelpfulSpell, IsPassiveSpell, IsPlayerSpell, IsSpellKnown, IsUsableSpell, SpellHasRange
SpellBook	C_SpellBook.GetCurrentLevelSpells, C_SpellBook.GetSpellLevelLearned, C_SpellBook.GetSpellSkillLine, C_SpellBook.IsAutoAttackSpellBookItem, C_SpellBook.IsRangedAutoAttackSpellBookItem, FindSpellBookSlotByID
State	CancelShapeshiftForm, Dismount, GetMirrorTimerInfo, GetMirrorTimerProgress, GetShapeshiftFormID, IsAssistingRitual, IsFalling, IsInGroup, IsInRaid, IsMounted, IsStealthed, IsSwimming
Table	table.wipe
Talent	GetTalentIDByIndex, GetTalentSpellID
Time	C_DateAndTime.AdjustTimeByDays, C_DateAndTime.AdjustTimeByMinutes, C_DateAndTime.CompareCalendarTime, C_DateAndTime.GetCalendarTimeFromEpoch, C_DateAndTime.GetCurrentCalendarTime, C_DateAndTime.GetSecondsUntilDailyReset, C_DateAndTime.GetServerTimeLocal, C_Timer.After, C_Timer.NewTicker, C_Timer.NewTimer, GetServerTime
UIColor	C_UIColor.GetColors (backports GlobalColor.dbc; companion addon wraps each row with ColorMixin and assigns _G[baseTag] + _G[baseTag.."_CODE"])
Unit	GetUnitSpeed, UnitClassBase, UnitGUID, UnitInRange, UnitIsAFK, UnitIsDND, UnitIsFeignDeath, UnitIsInMyGuild, UnitIsPossessed, UnitPower, UnitPowerMax, UnitPowerType, UnitRaceBase, UnitStandState, UnitTokenFromGUID
UnitAuras	C_UnitAuras.GetAuraDataByIndex, C_UnitAuras.GetAuraDataBySpellName, C_UnitAuras.GetAuraDispelTypeColor, C_UnitAuras.GetBuffDataByIndex, C_UnitAuras.GetDebuffDataByIndex, C_UnitAuras.GetPlayerAuraBySpellID, C_UnitAuras.GetUnitAuraBySpellID, C_UnitAuras.GetUnitAuras

GlueXML calls

Registered on the glue Lua state (the engine that runs the login, realm-select, and character-select screens). The persistence entries in the first row are glue-only — they exist to support GlueXML patches that need a small persistence surface across sessions, since vanilla 1.12 glue ships no general-purpose persistence API beyond GetSavedAccountName/SetSavedAccountName (saturated by autologin). The rest of the table is in-game calls that we also mirror onto the glue state because GlueXML had no way to reach them otherwise.

Group	Calls
CharacterOrder	GetSavedCharacterOrder, SetSavedCharacterOrder (persist to WTF\Account\...\ClassicAPI.txt)
CVar	GetCVar, SetCVar, RegisterCVar, GetCVarDefault, C_CVar.GetCVarBool (storage is process-global — writes from glue are visible in-world and vice versa)
Script	RunScript (compile and run a Lua chunk in the glue state's globals — useful for slash-command-style helpers in GlueXML)

Macros

Engine-level extensions to macro parsing and dispatch — no new Lua functions, just behavior the stock 1.12 engine didn't have. See the Macros section in the Lua reference for details.

Form	What it does
/cast <spellID>	/cast 5019 casts Shoot if known; macro slot tags correctly for action-bar UI
CastSpellByName("<spellID>")	Same — numeric strings resolve through the engine's name resolver
CastSpellNoToggle("<name>") in a macro	Engine's macro parser now recognizes it as a primary-spell line, so the macro slot in an addon like pfUI highlights when its spell is auto-repeating or its self-aura is active

Events

Event	Payload
BAG_UPDATE_DELAYED	(none)
EQUIPMENT_SETS_CHANGED	(none)
EQUIPMENT_SWAP_PENDING	setID
EQUIPMENT_SWAP_FINISHED	success, setID
FACTION_STANDING_CHANGED	factionID, newStanding, repGained
GLOBAL_MOUSE_DOWN	button
GLOBAL_MOUSE_UP	button
HEARTHSTONE_BOUND	(none)
ITEM_DATA_LOAD_RESULT	itemID, success
MODIFIER_STATE_CHANGED	keyName, down
NAME_PLATE_CREATED	nameplateFrame
NAME_PLATE_UNIT_ADDED	unitToken ("nameplateN")
NAME_PLATE_UNIT_REMOVED	unitToken ("nameplateN")
PLAYER_FOCUS_CHANGED	(none)
PLAYER_STARTED_LOOKING	(none)
PLAYER_STOPPED_LOOKING	(none)
PLAYER_STARTED_MOVING	(none)
PLAYER_STOPPED_MOVING	(none)
PLAYER_STARTED_TURNING	(none)
PLAYER_STOPPED_TURNING	(none)
QUEST_ACCEPTED	questLogIndex, questID
QUEST_DATA_LOAD_RESULT	questID, success
QUEST_TURNED_IN	questID, xpReward, moneyReward
UPDATE_SHAPESHIFT_FORM	(none)

Globals

Group	Constants
Version	CLASSIC_API_VERSION
Expansion	LE_EXPANSION_LEVEL_CURRENT, LE_EXPANSION_CLASSIC … LE_EXPANSION_MIDNIGHT
Item quality	LE_ITEM_QUALITY_POOR … LE_ITEM_QUALITY_WOWTOKEN
Unit stat	LE_UNIT_STAT_STRENGTH … LE_UNIT_STAT_SPIRIT
Addon security	Enum.AddOnSecurityStatus.{Secure,Insecure,Banned,NotAvailable}
Power type	Enum.PowerType.{HealthCost,None,Mana,Rage,Focus,Energy,Happiness}

Unit tokens

Token	Resolves to
nameplate1..nameplateN	Unit behind the Nth visible nameplate, in creation-order. Works with every UnitX function — UnitName, UnitGUID, UnitClass, UnitHealth, etc. Suffix chains (nameplate1target, nameplate1targettarget) compose. See NamePlate / Unit tokens.
focus / focustarget	Sticky target set via FocusUnit, cleared via ClearFocus. Same UnitX coverage as nameplateN. Fires PLAYER_FOCUS_CHANGED on transition. See Focus.

Installation

Use VanillaFixes to load the DLL.

1. Install VanillaFixes if it isn't already.
2. Copy ClassicAPI.dll into your game directory.
3. Add ClassicAPI.dll to dlls.txt.
4. Launch the game with VanillaFixes.exe.

Bundled addon: !!!ClassicAPI

The Lua-side companion library lives in AddOns/!!!ClassicAPI/. It's a 1.12.1 / Lua 5.0 backport of the modern Blizzard helpers that aren't engine functions but that consumer code still expects to find as globals — Mixin / CreateFromMixins, CallbackRegistryMixin, EventRegistry, ColorMixin + CreateColor, Item / ItemLocation, MathUtil (Lerp / Clamp / CreateCounter), TableUtil (tCompare, MergeTable, SafePack, etc.), and EventUtil (ContinueOnAddOnLoaded etc.).

Some of the addon's surface depends on engine functions ClassicAPI provides (C_UIColor.GetColors populates the modern color globals, C_Item.GetItemInfoInstant powers ItemMixin, the ITEM_DATA_LOAD_RESULT event drives ContinueOnItemLoad); the rest is pure Lua and would work standalone. Without the DLL the addon still loads, but those features no-op.

The triple-! prefix is load-order-significant — WoW loads addons alphabetically, so !!!ClassicAPI is guaranteed to run before any consumer that depends on its globals. Don't rename the folder.

To install: copy AddOns/!!!ClassicAPI/ into your Interface/AddOns/ directory.

Bundled addon: DebugTools

A 1.12.1 / Lua 5.0 backport of Blizzard's Blizzard_DebugTools addon (originally shipped with the 3.0 client) lives in AddOns/DebugTools/. It's an independent addon — it doesn't use anything ClassicAPI adds, and ClassicAPI works fine without it. It's bundled here because it's the natural companion for testing and debugging anything written against the 1.12 Lua surface (with or without the ClassicAPI extensions).

Slash commands provided:

Command	Purpose
/dump <expr>	Pretty-print any Lua value, including tables and multi-return tuples. The right tool for inspecting return values from GetSpellInfo, C_Item.GetItemInfoInstant, etc.
/etrace	Event tracer window. /etrace start, /etrace stop, /etrace add EVENT, etc.
/framestack (or /fstack)	Tooltip showing the frame hierarchy under the mouse cursor.
/luaerrors (or /scripterrors)	Lua error display window.

Lua globals provided (backports of 3.3.5 helpers that don't exist in 1.12):

Global	Purpose
print(...)	Backport of the 3.3.5 print — concats varargs with " " and pushes to DEFAULT_CHAT_FRAME. Routes through setprinthandler's handler; falls back via geterrorhandler if the handler errors.
setprinthandler(func) / getprinthandler()	Install / query a custom print handler. Useful for redirecting print output in tests.
tostringall(...)	Apply tostring() to every vararg, preserving the count. Lua 5.0-compatible (uses arg.n since select doesn't exist in 5.0).

To install: copy AddOns/DebugTools/ into your Interface/AddOns/ directory like any other addon.

Building

Requires CMake (3.10+) and an MSVC toolchain that can target 32-bit Windows. WoW.exe is x86, so the DLL must be built as Win32; an x64 build will not load.

git submodule update --init --recursive   # fetches MinHook, picojson, tinycbor
cmake -B build -A Win32
cmake --build build --config Release

The output is build/Release/ClassicAPI.dll.

To stamp a version into CLASSIC_API_VERSION, pass -DCLASSICAPI_TAG=vX.Y.Z at configure time; the value exposed to Lua will be X*10000 + Y*100 + Z.

License

LGPL v3 or later. See the headers in src/ for the full notice.