diff --git a/lua/flatbuffers/binaryarray.lua b/lua/flatbuffers/binaryarray.lua
index bf728cd..4d72375 100644
--- a/lua/flatbuffers/binaryarray.lua
+++ b/lua/flatbuffers/binaryarray.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+local compat = require("flatbuffers.compat")
+-- locals for slightly faster access
+local string_pack = compat.string_pack
+local string_unpack = compat.string_unpack
+
+
 local m = {} -- the module table
 
 local mt = {} -- the module metatable
@@ -44,7 +50,10 @@
         -- updated the startPos based on the size of the
         -- value
         while startPos < endPos do
-            local v = d[startPos] or '/0'
+            local v = d[startPos]
+            if not v or v == "" then
+                v = '/0'
+            end
             table.insert(b, v)
             startPos = startPos + #v
         end
@@ -104,19 +113,15 @@
     self.data[position] = value
 end
 
--- locals for slightly faster access
-local sunpack = string.unpack
-local spack = string.pack
-
 -- Pack the data into a binary representation
 function m.Pack(fmt, ...)
-    return spack(fmt, ...)
+    return string_pack(fmt, ...)
 end
 
 -- Unpack the data from a binary representation in
 -- a Lua value
 function m.Unpack(fmt, s, pos)
-    return sunpack(fmt, s.str, pos + 1)
+    return string_unpack(fmt, s.str, pos + 1)
 end
 
 -- Return the binary array module
diff --git a/lua/flatbuffers/builder.lua b/lua/flatbuffers/builder.lua
index 4a0c4f6..25e0032 100644
--- a/lua/flatbuffers/builder.lua
+++ b/lua/flatbuffers/builder.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 local N = require("flatbuffers.numTypes")
 local ba = require("flatbuffers.binaryarray")
 local compat = require("flatbuffers.compat")
+local string_unpack = compat.string_unpack
 
 local m = {}
 
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@
     end
 
     for i, elem in ipairs(a) do
-        local x = string.unpack(VOffsetT.packFmt, b, 1 + (i - 1) * 2)
+        local x = string_unpack(VOffsetT.packFmt, b, 1 + (i - 1) * 2)
         if x ~= 0 or elem ~= 0 then
             local y = objectStart - elem
             if x ~= y then
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@
     self.minalign = 1
     self.currentVTable = nil
     self.objectEnd = nil
-    self.head = #self.bytes -- place the head at the end of the binary array
+    self.head = self.bytes.size -- place the head at the end of the binary array
 
     -- clear vtables instead of making a new table
     local vtable = self.vtables
@@ -117,9 +118,9 @@
     while i >= 1 do
 
         local vt2Offset = self.vtables[i]
-        local vt2Start = #self.bytes - vt2Offset
+        local vt2Start = self.bytes.size - vt2Offset
         local vt2lenstr = self.bytes:Slice(vt2Start, vt2Start+1)
-        local vt2Len = string.unpack(VOffsetT.packFmt, vt2lenstr, 1)
+        local vt2Len = string_unpack(VOffsetT.packFmt, vt2lenstr, 1)
 
         local metadata = VtableMetadataFields * 2
         local vt2End = vt2Start + vt2Len
@@ -153,12 +154,12 @@
         vBytes = vBytes * 2
         self:PrependVOffsetT(vBytes)
 
-        local objectStart = #self.bytes - objectOffset
+        local objectStart = self.bytes.size - objectOffset
         self.bytes:Set(SOffsetT:Pack(self:Offset() - objectOffset),objectStart)
 
         table.insert(self.vtables, self:Offset())
     else
-        local objectStart = #self.bytes - objectOffset
+        local objectStart = self.bytes.size - objectOffset
         self.head = objectStart
         self.bytes:Set(SOffsetT:Pack(exisitingVTable - objectOffset),self.head)
     end
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@
 end
 
 local function growByteBuffer(self, desiredSize)
-    local s = #self.bytes
+    local s = self.bytes.size
     assert(s < MAX_BUFFER_SIZE, "Flat Buffers cannot grow buffer beyond 2 gigabytes")
     local newsize = s
     repeat
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@
 end
 
 function mt:Offset()
-   return #self.bytes - self.head
+   return self.bytes.size - self.head
 end
 
 function mt:Pad(n)
@@ -209,15 +210,15 @@
 
     local h = self.head
 
-    local k = #self.bytes - h + additionalBytes
-    local alignsize = ((~k) + 1) & (size - 1) -- getAlignSize(k, size)
+    local k = self.bytes.size - h + additionalBytes
+    local alignsize = getAlignSize(k, size)
 
     local desiredSize = alignsize + size + additionalBytes
 
     while self.head < desiredSize do
-        local oldBufSize = #self.bytes
+        local oldBufSize = self.bytes.size
         growByteBuffer(self, desiredSize)
-        local updatedHead = self.head + #self.bytes - oldBufSize
+        local updatedHead = self.head + self.bytes.size - oldBufSize
         self.head = updatedHead
     end
 
@@ -300,7 +301,7 @@
     self:Prep(self.minalign, sizePrefix and 8 or 4)
     self:PrependUOffsetTRelative(rootTable)
     if sizePrefix then
-        local size = #self.bytes - self.head
+        local size = self.bytes.size - self.head
         Int32:EnforceNumber(size)
         self:PrependInt32(size)
     end
diff --git a/lua/flatbuffers/compat.lua b/lua/flatbuffers/compat.lua
index 89c992b..1296c33 100644
--- a/lua/flatbuffers/compat.lua
+++ b/lua/flatbuffers/compat.lua
@@ -1,17 +1,15 @@
-local m = {}
-
-local getAlignSize
-if _VERSION == "Lua 5.3" then
-    getAlignSize = function(k, size)
-            return ((~k) + 1) & (size - 1)
-        end    
-else
-    getAlignSize = function(self, size, additionalBytes)        
-        local alignsize = bit32.bnot(#self.bytes-self:Head() + additionalBytes) + 1
-        return bit32.band(alignsize,(size - 1))
-    end
-end
-    
-m.GetAlignSize = getAlignSize
-
-return m
\ No newline at end of file
+local compats = {
+    ["Lua 5.1"] = function()  
+        -- Check if Lua JIT is installed first
+        local ok = pcall(require, "jit")
+        if not ok then
+            return require("flatbuffers.compat_5_1")
+        else
+            return require("flatbuffers.compat_luajit")
+        end
+    end,
+    ["Lua 5.2"] = function() return require("flatbuffers.compat_5_1") end,
+    ["Lua 5.3"] = function() return require("flatbuffers.compat_5_3") end,
+    ["Lua 5.4"] = function() return require("flatbuffers.compat_5_3") end,
+}
+return assert(compats[_VERSION], "Unsupported Lua Version: ".._VERSION)()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lua/flatbuffers/compat_5_1.lua b/lua/flatbuffers/compat_5_1.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c5e432
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/flatbuffers/compat_5_1.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+local m = {}
+local ok, bit = pcall(require, "bit32")
+assert(ok, "The Bit32 library must be installed")
+assert(pcall(require, "compat53"), "The Compat 5.3 library must be installed")
+
+m.GetAlignSize = function(k, size)
+    return bit.band(bit.bnot(k) + 1,(size - 1))
+end
+
+if not table.unpack then
+    table.unpack = unpack
+end
+
+if not table.pack then
+    table.pack = pack
+end
+
+m.string_pack = string.pack
+m.string_unpack = string.unpack
+
+return m
diff --git a/lua/flatbuffers/compat_5_3.lua b/lua/flatbuffers/compat_5_3.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..762bf07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/flatbuffers/compat_5_3.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+-- We need to put it into a separate file to avoid syntax error like `unexpected symbol near '~'`
+local m = {}
+
+
+m.GetAlignSize = function(k, size)
+    return ((~k) + 1) & (size - 1)
+end
+
+
+m.string_pack = string.pack
+m.string_unpack = string.unpack
+
+
+return m
diff --git a/lua/flatbuffers/compat_luajit.lua b/lua/flatbuffers/compat_luajit.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ad9bd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/flatbuffers/compat_luajit.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+local bit = require("bit")
+local ffi = require("ffi")
+local band = bit.band
+local bnot = bit.bnot
+
+
+local m = {}
+local Uint8Bound = 256 -- bound is the max uintN + 1
+local Uint16Bound = 65536
+local Uint32Bound = 4294967296
+
+if not table.unpack then
+    table.unpack = unpack
+end
+
+if not table.pack then
+    table.pack = pack
+end
+
+m.GetAlignSize = function(k, size)
+    return band((bnot(k) + 1), (size - 1))
+end
+
+
+local function pack_I1(n)
+    return string.char(n)
+end
+local function pack_i1(n)
+    if n < 0 then
+        n = Uint8Bound + n
+    end
+    return pack_I1(n)
+end
+
+local function unpack_I1(n, pos)
+    return string.byte(n, pos)
+end
+local function unpack_i1(n, pos)
+    local res = unpack_I1(n, pos)
+    if res >= Uint8Bound / 2 then
+        return res - Uint8Bound
+    end
+    return res
+end
+
+local b2 = ffi.new("unsigned char[2]")
+local function pack_I2(n)
+    for i = 0, 1 do
+        b2[i] = bit.band(n, 255)
+        n = bit.rshift(n, 8)
+    end
+    return ffi.string(b2, 2)
+end
+local function pack_i2(n)
+    if n < 0 then
+        n = Uint16Bound + n
+    end
+    return pack_I2(n)
+end
+
+local function unpack_I2(n, pos)
+    local a, b = string.byte(n, pos, pos + 1)
+    return b * Uint8Bound + a
+end
+local function unpack_i2(n, pos)
+    local res = unpack_I2(n, pos)
+    if res >= Uint16Bound / 2 then
+        return res - Uint16Bound
+    end
+    return res
+end
+
+local b4 = ffi.new("unsigned char[4]")
+local function pack_I4(n)
+    for i = 0, 3 do
+        b4[i] = bit.band(n, 255)
+        n = bit.rshift(n, 8)
+    end
+    return ffi.string(b4, 4)
+end
+local function pack_i4(n)
+    if n < 0 then
+        n = Uint32Bound + n
+    end
+    return pack_I4(n)
+end
+
+local function unpack_I4(n, pos)
+    local a, b, c, d = string.byte(n, pos, pos + 3)
+    return Uint8Bound * (Uint8Bound * ((Uint8Bound * d) + c) + b) + a
+end
+local function unpack_i4(n, pos)
+    local res = unpack_I4(n, pos)
+    if res >= Uint32Bound / 2 then
+        return res - Uint32Bound
+    end
+    return res
+end
+
+local b8 = ffi.new("unsigned char[8]")
+local function pack_I8(n)
+    n = ffi.cast("unsigned long long", n)
+    local hi = math.floor(tonumber(n / Uint32Bound))
+    local li = n % Uint32Bound
+    for i = 0, 3 do
+        b8[i] = bit.band(li, 255)
+        li = bit.rshift(li, 8)
+    end
+    for i = 4, 7 do
+        b8[i] = bit.band(hi, 255)
+        hi = bit.rshift(hi, 8)
+    end
+    return ffi.string(b8, 8)
+end
+local function pack_i8(n)
+    n = ffi.cast("signed long long", n)
+    return pack_I8(n)
+end
+
+local function unpack_I8(n, pos)
+    local a, b, c, d = string.byte(n, pos, pos + 3)
+    local li = Uint8Bound * (Uint8Bound * ((Uint8Bound * d) + c) + b) + a
+    local a, b, c, d = string.byte(n, pos + 4, pos + 7)
+    local hi = Uint8Bound * (Uint8Bound * ((Uint8Bound * d) + c) + b) + a
+    return ffi.cast("unsigned long long", hi) * Uint32Bound + li
+end
+local function unpack_i8(n, pos)
+    local res = unpack_I8(n, pos)
+    return ffi.cast("signed long long", res)
+end
+
+local bf = ffi.new("float[1]")
+local function pack_f(n)
+    bf[0] = n
+    return ffi.string(bf, 4)
+end
+
+local function unpack_f(n, pos)
+    ffi.copy(bf, ffi.cast("char *", n) + pos - 1, 4)
+    return tonumber(bf[0])
+end
+
+local bd = ffi.new("double[1]")
+local function pack_d(n)
+    bd[0] = n
+    return ffi.string(bd, 8)
+end
+
+local function unpack_d(n, pos)
+    ffi.copy(bd, ffi.cast("char *", n) + pos - 1, 8)
+    return tonumber(bd[0])
+end
+
+
+m.string_pack = function(fmt, i, ...)
+    if fmt == "<I1" then
+        return pack_I1(i)
+    elseif fmt == "<I2" then
+        return pack_I2(i)
+    elseif fmt == "<I4" then
+        return pack_I4(i)
+    elseif fmt == "<I8" then
+        return pack_I8(i)
+    elseif fmt == "<i1" then
+        return pack_i1(i)
+    elseif fmt == "<i2" then
+        return pack_i2(i)
+    elseif fmt == "<i4" then
+        return pack_i4(i)
+    elseif fmt == "<i8" then
+        return pack_i8(i)
+    elseif fmt == "<f" then
+        return pack_f(i)
+    elseif fmt == "<d" then
+        return pack_d(i)
+    else
+        error(string.format("FIXME: support fmt %s", fmt))
+    end
+end
+
+
+m.string_unpack = function(fmt, s, pos)
+    if not pos then
+        pos = 1
+    end
+
+    if fmt == "<I1" then
+        return unpack_I1(s, pos)
+    elseif fmt == "<I2" then
+        return unpack_I2(s, pos)
+    elseif fmt == "<I4" then
+        return unpack_I4(s, pos)
+    elseif fmt == "<I8" then
+        return unpack_I8(s, pos)
+    elseif fmt == "<i1" then
+        return unpack_i1(s, pos)
+    elseif fmt == "<i2" then
+        return unpack_i2(s, pos)
+    elseif fmt == "<i4" then
+        return unpack_i4(s, pos)
+    elseif fmt == "<i8" then
+        return unpack_i8(s, pos)
+    elseif fmt == "<f" then
+        return unpack_f(s, pos)
+    elseif fmt == "<d" then
+        return unpack_d(s, pos)
+    else
+        error(string.format("FIXME: support fmt %s", fmt))
+    end
+end
+
+
+return m
diff --git a/lua/flatbuffers/numTypes.lua b/lua/flatbuffers/numTypes.lua
index 01f4199..289fa59 100644
--- a/lua/flatbuffers/numTypes.lua
+++ b/lua/flatbuffers/numTypes.lua
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
     ValidNumber = function(self, n) return true end, -- anything is a valid boolean in Lua
     EnforceNumber = function(self, n) end, -- anything is a valid boolean in Lua
     EnforceNumbers = function(self, a, b) end, -- anything is a valid boolean in Lua
-    EnforceNumberAndPack = function(self, n) return self:Pack(value) end,
+    EnforceNumberAndPack = function(self, n) return self:Pack(n) end,
 }
 
 local uint8_mt = 
diff --git a/lua/flatbuffers/view.lua b/lua/flatbuffers/view.lua
index fde15c3..433f25c 100644
--- a/lua/flatbuffers/view.lua
+++ b/lua/flatbuffers/view.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+local compat = require("flatbuffers.compat")
+local string_unpack = compat.string_unpack
+
+
 local m = {}
 local mt = {}
 
@@ -12,13 +16,12 @@
     end
 end
 
-local unpack = string.unpack
 local function unPackUoffset(bytes, off)
-    return unpack("<I4", bytes.str, off + 1)
+    return string_unpack("<I4", bytes.str, off + 1)
 end
 
 local function unPackVoffset(bytes, off)
-    return unpack("<I2", bytes.str, off + 1)
+    return string_unpack("<I2", bytes.str, off + 1)
 end
 
 function m.New(buf, pos)
@@ -73,6 +76,17 @@
     return off + self:Get(N.UOffsetT, off) + 4
 end
 
+function mt:VectorAsString(off, start, stop)
+    local o = self:Offset(off)
+    if o ~= 0 then
+        start = start or 1
+        stop = stop or self:VectorLen(o)
+        local a = self:Vector(o) + start - 1
+        return self.bytes:Slice(a, a + stop - start + 1)
+    end
+    return nil
+end
+
 function mt:Union(t2, off)
     assert(getmetatable(t2) == mt_name)
     enforceOffset(off)