table: Rewrite *_copy to copy any kind of type

Allowing shallow_copy/deep_copy to accept any type makes it easier to
write generic code where you just want to copy some input without
knowing anything about it. Like an event system, save system, etc.

Add corresponding test.

Tests pass

tablex.lua

@@ -329,41 +329,40 @@ if not tablex.clear then
 end
 
 -- Copy a table
---	See shallow_overlay to shallow copy into another table to avoid garbage.
+--	See shallow_overlay to shallow copy into an existing table to avoid garbage.
 function tablex.shallow_copy(t)
-	assert:type(t, "table", "tablex.copy - t", 1)
+	if type(t) == "table" then
-	local into = {}
+		local into = {}
-	for k, v in pairs(t) do
+		for k, v in pairs(t) do
-		into[k] = v
+			into[k] = v
+		end
+		return into
 	end
-	return into
+	return t
 end
 
 local function deep_copy(t, copied)
-	-- TODO: consider supporting deep_copy(3) so you can always use deep_copy without type checking
+	local clone = t
-	local into = {}
+	if type(t) == "table" then
-	for k, v in pairs(t) do
+		if copied[t] then
-		local clone = v
+			clone = copied[t]
-		if type(v) == "table" then
+		elseif type(t.copy) == "function" then
-			if copied[v] then
+			clone = t:copy()
-				clone = copied[v]
+			assert:type(clone, "table", "copy() didn't return a copy")
-			elseif type(v.copy) == "function" then
+		else
-				clone = v:copy()
+			clone = {}
-				assert:type(clone, "table", "copy() didn't return a copy")
+			for k, v in pairs(t) do
-			else
+				clone[k] = deep_copy(v, copied)
-				clone = deep_copy(v, copied)
-				setmetatable(clone, getmetatable(v))
 			end
-			copied[v] = clone
+			setmetatable(clone, getmetatable(t))
+			copied[t] = clone
 		end
-		into[k] = clone
 	end
-	return into
+	return clone
 end
 -- Recursively copy values of a table.
 -- Retains the same keys as original table -- they're not cloned.
 function tablex.deep_copy(t)
-	assert:type(t, "table", "tablex.deep_copy - t", 1)
 	return deep_copy(t, {})
 end
 

tests.lua

@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ local function test_shallow_copy()
 	x = { a = { b = { 2 }, c = { 3 }, } }
 	r = tablex.shallow_copy(x)
 	assert:equal(r.a, x.a)
+
+	x = 10
+	r = tablex.shallow_copy(x)
+	assert:equal(r, x)
 end
 
 local function test_deep_copy()
@@ -35,6 +39,10 @@ local function test_deep_copy()
 	assert(r.a ~= x.a)
 	assert:equal(r.a.b[1], 2)
 	assert:equal(r.a.c[1], 3)
+
+	x = 10
+	r = tablex.deep_copy(x)
+	assert:equal(r, x)
 end