Heavily optimize data usage with player_api

mods/player_api/api.lua

@@ -108,18 +108,36 @@ end
 -- Check each player and apply animations
 minetest.register_globalstep(function()
 	for _, player in pairs(minetest.get_connected_players()) do
+		-- Check if the player's control state has changed
+		local meta = player:get_meta()
+		local controls = player:get_player_control()
+		local control_table = meta:get_string("player_api_old_controls")
+		local player_input_changed = false
+		if control_table ~= "" then
+			control_table = minetest.deserialize(control_table)
+			for index,boolean in pairs(control_table) do
+				if controls[index] ~= boolean then
+					player_input_changed = true
+					break
+				end
+			end
+		else
+			player_input_changed = true
+		end
+
+		if player_input_changed then
+			-- Serialize old control state to be used in next server step
+			meta:set_string("player_api_old_controls",minetest.serialize(controls))
 			local name = player:get_player_name()
 			local model_name = player_model[name]
 			local model = model_name and models[model_name]
 			if model and not player_attached[name] then
 				local controls = player:get_player_control()
 				local animation_speed_mod = model.animation_speed or 30
-
 				-- Determine if the player is sneaking, and reduce animation speed if so
 				if controls.sneak then
 					animation_speed_mod = animation_speed_mod / 2
 				end
-
 				-- Apply animations based on what the player is doing
 				if player:get_hp() == 0 then
 					player_set_animation(player, "lay")
@@ -141,4 +159,5 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function()
 				end
 			end
 		end
+	end
 end)

mods/player_api/init.lua

@@ -31,4 +31,7 @@ minetest.register_on_joinplayer(function(player)
 		{x = 200, y = 219},
 		30
 	)
+	-- Remove old player controls when they join
+	local meta = player:get_meta()
+	meta:set_string("player_api_old_controls", "")
 end)