Learning Lua

wiki

Where can I learn Lua? Programming In Lua [the Lua book] by Roberto Ierusalimschy is the official book about the language (an earlier version of which is available online [1]), and there are several other LuaBooks. Beyond that, the links below offer some direction. Content on this wiki includes the LuaTutorial (written before any LuaBooks emerged), but note that the Programming In Lua book is considered an excellent tutorial.

Getting started

• If you are completely new to Lua then the LuaOrgGuide has some articles about the language itself, its history, and coverage in the media.
• Have a look at the LuaTutorial, with articles in the TutorialDirectory.
• There are an increasing number of LuaBooks.
• There are notes on BuildingLua for various platforms.
• Have a look at the SampleCode for some examples.
• If you have any questions then you could try looking for answers in the [official FAQ], and the LuaFaq on this wiki. There is also a lua-l mailing list and its archive will contain many questions and their answers [3]. You can join the list easily [2].
• Get an editor that supports Lua syntax in LuaEditorSupport.
• If you would like to embed Lua in an application look at BindingCodeToLua.
• Browse LuaAddons, LibrariesAndBindings for useful addons, reference and ideas.
• LuaDirectory and LuaLinks contain more general links.

More advanced

• ClassesAndMethods discusses some ideas for implementing classes in Lua 4.0.
• LuaClassesWithMetatable discusses implementing objects and methods in Lua 5.0.
• If you would like to edit the Lua source code but don't know a lot about compilers there are some CompilerWritingReferences which may be useful.
• Lua uses a garbage collector to manage its memory allocation. Have a look at the GarbageCollection page for general information on garbage collectors and Lua's implementation.

Other sources

• If you have used Python before and are new to Lua try looking at the PythonLists and PythonDictionaries sample code.
• Ash Matheson, from CDSI (Burnaby, BC), has a [tutorial] on integrating Lua with C.
• David Lee Ludwig presented this [tutorial] for the WPI Game Development Club.
• [The PtokaX Wiki]. PtokaX is a server software for the Direct Connect network, uses LUA (5.1.2) as extension language. In this page you can also find some tutorials about the most commonly used features of LUA.
• the article [Lua - The Next Generation], from Linux Magazine, also features a small tutorial about Lua.
• The article [Embedding a scripting language inside your C/C++ code] is all about embedding Lua.
• [Using Lua with C#] shows how to use [LuaInterface] to integrate Lua with C#.
• [RiscLua for Beginners] also contains material and examples of general application.