This book is for students and professionals who are intrigued by the prospect of learning and using a powerful language that provides a rich infrastructure for creating programs. No programming knowledge is necessary to benefit from this book except for the section on Lua bindings, which requires some familiarity with the C programming language. A certain comfort level with command-line operations, text editing, and directory structures is assumed. You need surprisingly little in the way of computer resources to learn and use Lua. This book focuses on Windows and Unix-like (including Linux) systems, but any operating system that supports a command shell should be suitable. You'll need a text editor to prepare and save Lua scripts. If you choose to extend Lua with libraries written in a programming language like C, you'll need a suitable software development kit. Many of these kits are freely available on the Internet but, unlike Lua, they can consume prodigious amounts of disk space and memory.
Authored by Roberto Ierusalimschy, the chief architect of the language, this volume covers all aspects of Lua 5---from the basics to its API with C---explaining how to make good use of its features and giving numerous code examples. (Computer Books)
The easiest way to learn Lua programming Key Features The easiest way to learn Lua coding Use the Lua standard libraries and debug Lua code Embed Lua as a scripting language using the Lua C API Book Description Lua is a small, powerful and extendable scripting/programming language that can be used for learning to program, and writing games and applications, or as an embedded scripting language. There are many popular commercial projects that allow you to modify or extend them through Lua scripting, and this book will get you ready for that. This book is the easiest way to learn Lua. It introduces you to the basics of Lua and helps you to understand the problems it solves. You will work with the basic language features, the libraries Lua provides, and powerful topics such as object-oriented programming. Every aspect of programming in Lua, variables, data types, functions, tables, arrays and objects, is covered in sufficient detail for you to get started. You will also find out about Lua's module system and how to interface with the operating system. After reading this book, you will be ready to use Lua as a programming language to write code that can interface with the operating system, automate tasks, make playable games, and much more. This book is a solid starting point for those who want to learn Lua in order to move onto other technologies such as Love2D or Roblox. A quick start guide is a focused, shorter title that provides a faster paced introduction to a technology. It is designed for people who don't need all the details at this point in their learning curve. This presentation has been streamlined to concentrate on the things you really need to know. What you will learn Understand the basics of programming the Lua language Understand how to use tables, the data structure that makes Lua so powerful Understand object-oriented programming in Lua using metatables Understand standard LUA libraries for math, file io, and more Manipulate string data using Lua Understand how to debug Lua applications quickly and effciently Understand how to embed Lua into applications with the Lua C API Who this book is for This book is for developers who want to get up and running with Lua. This book is ideal for programmers who want to learn to embed Lua in their own applications, as well as for beginner programmers who have never coded before.
This collection of articles record some of the existing wisdom and practice on how to program well in Lua. In well-written articles that go much beyond the brief informal exchange of tips in the mailing list or the wiki, the authors share their mastery of all aspects of Lua programming, elementary and advanced. The articles cover a wide spectrum of areas and approaches, with authors from both the industry and academia and titles about game programming, programming techniques, embedding and extending, algorithms and data structures, and design techniques.
If you are a game developer or a general programmer who wishes to focus on programming systems and techniques to build your game AI without creating low-level interfaces in a game engine, then this book is for you. Knowledge of C++ will come in handy to debug the entirety of the AI sandbox and expand on the features present within the book, but it is not required.
The #1 bestselling programming book is back with updated and expanded coverage of the newest release of WoW! World of Warcraft (WoW) is currently the world's largest massively multiplayer online role-playing game. The newest release, "Wrath of the Lich King," has created a demand for updated information on writing addons. This eagerly anticipated edition answers that request and is an essential reference for creating WoW addons. Written by a duo of authors who have each contributed a number of successful WoW addons, the book offers an overview of Lua and XML (the programming languages used to write addons) and includes coverage of specific pitfalls and common programming mistakes-and how to avoid them. Valuable examples show you detailed aspects of writing addons for WoW and demonstrate how to implement addon concepts such as variables, slash commands, secure templates, and more. World of Warcraft insiders share their techniques for writing addons for both the latest version of WoW as well as the new Wrath of the Lich King expansion set Guides you through the specific nuances of the WoW API with the use of detailed examples Discusses ways to distribute and host your WoW addons so others can download and use them Explains how to respond to events, create frames, and use the WoW API to interact with the game You'll be well on your way to creating exciting WoW addons with this comprehensive reference by your side. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.
This manual is the official definition of Lua 5.1. It covers Lua's syntax and semantics, the full API with C, and the standard libraries. Lua is an extension programming language designed to support general procedural programming with data description facilities. It also offers good support for object-oriented programming, functional programming, and data-driven programming. Lua is intended to be used as a powerful, light-weight scripting language for any program that needs one. Lua is implemented as a library, and is highly portable, being written in clean C (that is, in the common subset of ANSI C and C++). This printed version contains the full text of the eletronic version, available at http: //www.lua.org/manual/.
In just 24 lessons of one hour or less, Coding with Roblox Lua in 24 Hours: The Official Roblox Guide helps you learn all the skills and techniques you'll need to code your own Roblox experiences. Perfect for beginners, each short and easy lesson builds upon everything that's come before, helping you quickly master the essentials of Lua programming. Step-by-step instructions walk you through common questions, issues, and tasks; Q&As, Quizzes, and Exercises build and test your knowledge; “Did You Know?” tips offer insider advice and shortcuts; and “Watch Out!” alerts help you avoid pitfalls. Learn how to... * Code with properties, variables, functions, if/then statements, and loops * Organize information using arrays and dictionaries * Work with events to make things move, explode, count down, and do whatever you can imagine * Keep your code manageable with abstractions and object-oriented programming * Store data permanently to create leaderboards, inventories, and custom currency * Use raycasting to allow visitors to place their own objects, such as furniture and props, within your world
Get up and running with Roblox development with the help of renowned game creator and best-selling author, Zander Brumbaugh for working with Roblox components and Lua programming Key Features Discover solutions to common problems faced while creating games on Roblox Explore tips, tricks, and best practices and learn advanced Roblox coding techniques to create games Understand how to program in the Roblox Lua language, add engaging effects, add a variety of functionalities, and much more Book DescriptionRoblox is a global virtual platform like no other for both playing and creating games. With well over 150 million monthly active users, Roblox hosts all genres of games that can be played by other members of the community using the Lua programming language. Not only can you create games for free, but you can also earn considerable sums of money if from the success of your games, and become part of the vast and supportive developer circle that provides excellent opportunities for networking in a tight-knit community. With this practical book, you'll get hands-on experience working on the Roblox platform. You'll start with an overview of Roblox development and then understand how to use Roblox Studio. As you progress, you'll gradually learn everything you need from how to program in Roblox Lua to creating Obby and Battle Royale games. Finally, you'll delve into the logistics of game production, focusing on optimizing the performance of your game by implementing impressive mechanics, monetization, and marketing practices. By the end of this Roblox book, you'll be able to lead or work with a team to bring your gaming world to life, and extend that experience to players around the world.What you will learn Get started with Roblox development and explore aspects such as choosing a developer type Understand how to use Roblox Studio and other free resources Create your first game with the Roblox Lua programming language Become well-versed with the three Ms - Mechanics, Monetization, and Marketing Develop real-world games such as Battle Royale and Obby Discover expert tips for collaborating effectively and managing project workloads Who this book is for This Roblox guide is for anyone interested in learning how to develop games on the Roblox platform. If you're already familiar with Roblox and looking for tips, tricks, and Roblox and Lua best practices for efficient development, you'll find this book helpful. The book requires no prior knowledge of game development.
