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In this comprehensive guide to learning Lua, you’ll discover an array of high-quality courses designed to help you master this versatile programming language, which is particularly popular in game development, scripting, and embedded systems. All featured courses are based on Lua 5.0 or later, ensuring you receive current and relevant knowledge.
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Here are my top course recommendations. Click to find detailed descriptions:
What is Lua?
Lua, a programming language created in 1993 by Roberto Ierusalimschy, Luiz Henrique de Figueiredo, and Waldemar Celes at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, is known for its light footprint and dynamism. Its straightforward syntax makes it an excellent choice for beginners, containing just 21 reserved keywords—fewer than both Python and C++.
Fundamentally, Lua operates around a single data structure known as a table, enabling the representation of various types of data structures, including linked lists, arrays, and hashmaps within a unified format.
With its capability to run on any platform that supports C, Lua excels in portability, making it ideal for embedded systems and scripting languages. Additionally, the LuaRocks package manager enhances its functionality by providing access to a multitude of third-party libraries.
Why Learn Lua?
Lua’s prevalence in different domains highlights its versatility:
- Game Development: Lua has solidified its position in the gaming industry, where it’s employed for scripting and game logic in popular titles like Roblox, World of Warcraft, and Angry Birds. The LÖVE2D framework, built with Lua, simplifies 2D game development, enabling creators to bring their ideas to life easily (Move or Die serves as a notable example). Learning Lua can thus pave the way for opportunities in game development and modding.
- Embedded Systems: With its simplicity and adaptability, Lua is often embedded within applications to provide scripting capabilities without adding prohibitive complexity. Notable frameworks like Turbo showcase its effectiveness in this area.
- Scripting: Lua is widely used as a scripting language across applications, automating tasks and enhancing functionality. Its role in tools like the Neovim text editor, as well as media players like VLC and mpv, exemplify its practical utility.
Course Overview
- Seven of the courses offered in this guide are free, while two require payment.
- Seven courses do not require any programming background, whereas two assume prior knowledge.
- The Class Central catalog features over 50 courses on Lua.
- Each course utilizes Lua 5.0 or newer, so there’s no risk of encountering outdated content.
If you’re new to programming, a great starting point is Steve’s Teacher’s Full Lua Programming Crash Course on YouTube. This course covers the essentials, from fundamental concepts like variables to more complex topics such as Object-Oriented Programming. By actively coding along with Steve, you’ll develop a strong foundation in Lua, which can be applied in diverse contexts including game development.
To begin, download Visual Studio Code here and familiarize yourself with its interface through this short tutorial.
Topics covered in this course include:
- Understanding Lua and its applications in gaming and more
- Data types such as booleans, numbers, and strings
- Flow control using conditional statements (if/else) and loops (for, while)
- Defining custom functions
- Utilizing tables for data organization
- Module creation for code reusable modules
- File handling including reading and writing
- Applying Object-Oriented Programming principles
- Advanced concepts like co-routines and metamethods
Steve has been producing programming tutorials across various languages and subjects for over five years, ensuring a high-quality educational experience.
This course is available for free through YouTube.
Provider:
YouTube
Instructor:
Steve’s Teacher
Level:
None required
Workload:
4 hours
Views:
626K
Likes:
13K
Cost:
Free
Exercises:
Code demos
Certificate:
None
Another excellent resource for aspiring developers is AlvinBlox’s 2020 Beginner Roblox Scripting Tutorials. This YouTube playlist focuses specifically on Lua scripting in the context of Roblox and can be completed in about 7 hours without any prior programming experience.
Once you complete this series, consider exploring additional content in my Roblox Game Development guide or diving into AlvinBlox’s Roblox tycoon tutorial.
Provider:
YouTube
Instructor:
AlvinBlox
Prerequisites:
None
Workload:
7 hours
Views:
1.9M
Likes:
50K
Cost:
None
Exercises:
Code demos
Certificate:
None
For those who prefer reading, a highly regarded book is Programming in Lua (4th ed), authored by one of the language’s creators, Roberto Ierusalimschy. This resource is valuable not only for Lua programmers but also for developers working with embedded systems, as it thoroughly covers Lua’s integration with the C API.
The book is divided into four key sections:
- The Basics: Introduces fundamental language aspects, with example programs such as a maze game and a file sorter.
- Real Programming: Discusses advanced topics like closures and modules.
- Lua-isms: Explores unique Lua features like coroutines and metatables.
- The C API: Focuses on the interface between Lua and C, detailing thread management and XML parsing.
While a free version for Lua 5.0 exists, the latest edition offers additional content and organized exercises with solutions, making it easier to learn.
Provider:
Lua.Org
Author:
Roberto Ierusalimschy
Prerequisites:
Basic programming experience
Workload:
388 pages
Rating (Amazon):
4.6/5.0 (360 ratings)
Cost:
Paid (Lua 5.4) / Free (Lua 5.0)
Exercises:
Available
Certificate:
None
If you’re looking for an interactive learning experience, Codecademy offers a free, limited-access Learn Lua course suitable for beginners. This course emphasizes essential programming skills within a browser environment, eliminating the need for complex installations.
You’ll gain familiarity with Lua fundamentals while constructing terminal-based programs, thereby acquiring practical experience. Key learning objectives include:
- Writing and executing code within Codecademy’s editor
- Adding comments to code
- Printing messages to a terminal
- Understanding data types and variables
- Using conditional statements for decision-making
- Structuring code with functions
Note that full access requires a subscription to Codecademy Pro.
Provider:
Codecademy
Instructor:
Kenny Lin
Prerequisites:
None
Workload:
4 hours
Enrollments:
93.8K
Rating:
4.4 / 5.0 (3.2K ratings)
Cost:
Free (limited) / Paid (full-access)
Exercises:
Interactive exercises with auto-feedback
Certificate:
Paid
If you’re utilizing Neovim, consider watching John McBride’s Lua, a Primer. This 30-minute video provides foundational knowledge about Lua’s syntax and its application in Neovim configuration.
Channel:
John McBride
Provider:
YouTube
Instructor:
John McBride
Prerequisites:
Programming experience
Workload:
30 minutes
Views:
21K
Likes:
596
Cost:
Free
Exercises:
Code demonstrations
Certificate:
None
For a quick introduction to programming in Lua, consider the Lua Crash Course that gives a rapid overview in just 15 minutes, perfect for seasoned programmers looking to pick up Lua quickly.
This course covers basic data types, conditionals, and more, providing a strong foundation for deeper exploration into Lua programming. Additionally, you can find application-oriented tutorials such as those from PohkaDev, who offers guidance on using Lua to create custom games in platforms like Dota 2.
Provider:
YouTube
Instructor:
PohkaDev
Prerequisites:
Programming experience
Workload:
15 minutes
Views:
130K
Likes:
4.4K
Cost:
Free
Exercises:
Code demonstrations
Certificate:
None
If your goal is to learn programming through game development, check out Steve’s Teacher’s Game Development with LÖVE 2D and Lua course. It offers a hands-on approach, guiding learners through the creation of two games while teaching fundamental Lua concepts along the way.
You will learn to implement platform mechanics, enemy interactions, scoring systems, and various gameplay features. The initial segment of this course overlaps with his introductory course on Lua.
Institution:
freeCodeCamp
Provider:
YouTube
Instructor:
Steve’s Teacher
Prerequisites:
None
Workload:
11 hours
Views:
282K
Likes:
7.4K
Cost:
Free
Exercises:
Code demos
Certificate:
None
For a more structured learning path, consider the paid Udemy course on Lua game development using LÖVE. This comprehensive course encompasses not only game programming but also web and mobile development practices. You’ll create three engaging projects, allowing you to apply your knowledge practically.
The programs you’ll develop include a Whack-A-Mole style game, a top-down shooter, and a platformer focused on coin collection, equipping you with the skills necessary to thrive in game development.
Provider:
Udemy
Instructor:
Kyle Schaub
Prerequisites:
None
Workload:
8 hours
Enrollments:
11.7K
Rating:
4.7 / 5.0 (2.9K ratings)
Cost:
Paid
Exercises:
Code demonstrations
Certificate:
Paid
Lastly, for those who enjoy practicing via coding exercises, Exercism offers an expansive platform with 110 Lua programming challenges across various difficulty levels. Participants can tackle these exercises using an online editor or on their own devices, with the added benefit of community feedback available through its mentoring program.
Exercism is dedicated to helping learners enhance their programming skills across numerous languages, including Lua, and they facilitate engagement through a supportive community.
Provider:
Exercism
Prerequisites:
None
Workload:
N/A
Mentors:
164 active
Enrollments:
19.7K
Cost:
Free
Exercises:
Autograded challenges
Certificate:
None
Why You Should Trust Us
Class Central operates as a trusted resource in online education, guiding millions toward their learning objectives. With over a decade of experience navigating the online education landscape, our catalog includes hundreds of thousands of courses and reviews, contributing to informed learner decisions.
Best Courses Guides Methodology
The selection of courses in this guide follows a systematic methodology:
- Research: An extensive search was conducted leveraging data from Class Central and internet resources to identify high-rated Lua courses.
- Evaluation: In-depth reviews from Class Central and other sources helped understand learners’ experiences and combined this knowledge with personal insights.
- Selection: Courses were chosen based on content quality, curriculum relevance, affordability, and overall ratings.
This rigorous approach ensures the recommendations are valuable and effective for anyone looking to learn Lua programming.
Source
www.classcentral.com