require'simpledebugger.lua'

function here( t, str, pat )
  assert( type(t)=='table', 'expecting a table' )
  assert( type(str)=='string', 'expecting a string' )
  pat = pat or '$(%b<>)'
  local f = function(w)
    local m = t[strsub(w,2,-2)] or w -- stop"it"
    if type(m)=='function' then m = m(t) end
    return tostring(m)
  end
  return( gsub( str, pat, f ) )
end

temp = [[ 
  this is a $<x> for $<y>
]]
local tab = { x = 'test', y = 'fun' }
write( here( tab, temp ) )
write( here( temp, tab ) )
print"game over"