Resources

• Logging

  • luasyslog - Log to syslog, based on LuaLogging.

• Web/Networking Platforms

  • OpenResty - A fast and scalable web application platform created by extending Nginx with Lua. Today's de-facto Lua web platform, used heavily by Cloudflare, Taobao, Tencent, and others.
  • turbo - Event-driven, non-blocking, LuaJIT-based networking suite and framework, inspired by Tornado.
  • Kepler Project - A collection of web-oriented projects using a common set of standards and components.

• OpenResty

  • OpenResty GitHub Organization - Home of the repositories for ngx_lua, ngx_openresty, and many related modules.
  • Lapis - Full-stack framework for Lua and OpenResty. Like the Django or Rails of Lua. Supports Moonscript.
  • lua-resty-http - Lua HTTP client driver, built on the cosocket API.
  • Lapis - Full-stack framework for Lua and OpenResty. Like the Django or Rails of Lua. Supports Moonscript.
  • ledge - Lua module providing scriptable, RFC-compliant HTTP cache functionality.

• Concurrency and Multithreading

  • cqueues - Library for managing sockets, signals, and threads based on an event loop with coroutines.
  • comparison
  • comparison

• Templating

  • lustache - Mustache template implementation.

• File system and OS

  • lunix - Bindings to common Unix system APIs, striving for thread-safety.
  • LuaFileSystem - Extends and complements Lua's built-in set of file system functions.

• Digital Signal Processing

  • Worp - Sound/music/DSP engine written for LuaJIT.

• Hardware and Embedded Systems

  • eLua - Lua, extended with optimizations and specific features for efficient and portable embedded software development.
  • eLua - Lua, extended with optimizations and specific features for efficient and portable embedded software development.

• Math and Scientific Computing

  • SciLua - Numerical/scientific computing framework built on LuaJIT, with an interface to R.
  • Torch7 - Scientific computing framework with wide support for machine learning algorithms, used by Facebook, Google, and more.
  • lhf's Lua Tools - Assorted libraries and tools, many math- or data-related.
  • SciLua - Numerical/scientific computing framework built on LuaJIT, with an interface to R.

• Parsing and Serialization

  • LuaExpat - SAX XML parser via binding to the Expat library.
  • lua-MessagePack - Pure Lua implementation of MessagePack.
  • LPeg - A pattern-matching library for Lua, based on Parsing Expression Grammars.
  • LuaExpat - SAX XML parser via binding to the Expat library.
  • LPeg - A pattern-matching library for Lua, based on Parsing Expression Grammars.
  • dkjson - JSON encoder/decoder implemented in pure Lua.

• Implementations, Interpreters, and Bindings

  • Lua - Lua's original ANSI C interpreter.
  • LuaJIT - High-performance Just-In-Time compiler for Lua.
  • Fengari - The Lua VM rewritten in Javascript with seamless JS and DOM interoperability.
  • Lua - Lua's original ANSI C interpreter.
  • MoonSharp - A Lua interpreter written entirely in C# for the .NET, Mono and Unity platforms.

• Package Managers

  • LuaRocks - De-facto tool for installing Lua modules as packages called "rocks", plus public rock repository and website. Much like npm or pip.

• Debugging and Profiling

  • ProFi - Simple profiler that works with LuaJIT and produces a report file.

• IDEs and Plugins

  • Lua Development Tools - Eclipse plugin which provides code completion, debugging, and more. Built on Metalua.
  • Lua for IDEA - IntelliJ IDEA plugin which, among other things, provides code completion, smart highlighting, and experimental debugging.
  • ZeroBraneStudio - Lightweight, customizable, cross-platform Lua-dedicated IDE with code completion and analysis, written in Lua. Has broad debugging support for numerous Lua engines.
  • BabeLua - Lua editor/debugger extension for VS2012-13 with highlighting, auto-completion, linting, and formatting capabilities.
  • Lua Development Tools - Eclipse plugin which provides code completion, debugging, and more. Built on Metalua.

• Utility Belts

  • compat53 - Compatibility module providing Lua-5.3-style APIs for Lua 5.2 and 5.1.
  • Penlight - Broad, heavyweight utility library, inspired by Python's standard libs. Provides the batteries that Lua doesn't.

• Game Engines

  • LÖVE 2D - Desktop game development platform. Cross-platform, feature-complete, well-adopted.
  • Corona SDK - Development platform for iOS and Android. Proprietary, but used by numerous top games and apps, totaling over 150 million downloads.
  • MOAI - Open source, cross-platform, mobile game development framework. Minimalist C++ engine powered by Lua scripting.
  • Drystal - Open source, games can run on Linux or on any platform with a recent web browser.
  • Amulet - Open source, audio/visual toolkit suitable for small games and experimentation. It runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, HTML5 and iOS.
  • LÖVR - 3D framework for creating virtual reality experiences, inspired by LÖVE 2D.
  • LÖVR - 3D framework for creating virtual reality experiences, inspired by LÖVE 2D.

• Game Development

  • moaifiddle - Edit and share short scripts for the MOAI game engine and run them in the browser using WebGL.
  • moaifiddle - Edit and share short scripts for the MOAI game engine and run them in the browser using WebGL.

• Testing

  • busted - BDD-style unit testing framework with great docs and Moonscript support.
  • luassert - Assertion library extending Lua's built-in assertions.

• Foreign Function Interfaces

  • LuaJIT FFI - LuaJIT's mechanism for calling external C functions and using C data structures from pure Lua code.

• Scriptable by Lua

  • Hammerspoon - A powerful, extensible OS X automation tool. A community-maintained fork of [Mjolnir](http://www.mjolnir.io/).
  • lumail - A console-based mail client, with extensive scripting capabilities.
  • AwesomeWM - A highly configurable and extensible window manager for X, scripted and configured by Lua.
  • Hammerspoon - A powerful, extensible OS X automation tool. A community-maintained fork of [Mjolnir](http://www.mjolnir.io/).
  • Textadept - Extremely lightweight, customizable, cross-platform editor, written (mostly) in (and scripted by) Lua.

• Miscellaneous

  • MoonScript - Moonscript is a dynamic scripting language that compiles to Lua. It reduces verbosity and provides a rich set of features like comprehensions and classes. Its author calls it 'CoffeeScript for Lua'.
  • sitegen - A static site generator which uses MoonScript and supports HTML and Markdown, page grouping, and plugins.
  • sitegen - A static site generator which uses MoonScript and supports HTML and Markdown, page grouping, and plugins.

• Community

  • lua-l - The official Lua mailing list, and one of the focal points of the Lua community.
  • Lua.Space - The Lua community blog.
  • Lua Users Foundation - An association of individuals with the mission of supporting and promoting Lua and its community and ecosystems.
  • lua-users.org - A site for and by users of Lua, featuring an IRC channel, a web archive of lua-l, and a large wiki.
  • Lua Workshop - Annual 2-day meeting of the Lua community, in rotating locations.
  • Lua Conf - Annual 1-day Lua conference in Brazil.
  • FOSDEM - Annual 2-day gathering of F/OSS developers in Brussels which sometimes has a "Lua devroom".
  • lua-l - The official Lua mailing list, and one of the focal points of the Lua community.
  • Lua Conf - Annual 1-day Lua conference in Brazil.
  • FOSDEM - Annual 2-day gathering of F/OSS developers in Brussels which sometimes has a "Lua devroom".
  • Lua Conf - Annual 1-day Lua conference in Brazil.

• References

  • Reference Manual - The official definition of the Lua language.
  • lua-users wiki - A large community-maintained collection of Lua information and resources, supplementing the official website.
  • Lua Unofficial FAQ - Answers all sorts of Lua-related questions, including many of the form 'How to ___?'.
  • Reference Manual - The official definition of the Lua language.
  • Lua Unofficial FAQ - Answers all sorts of Lua-related questions, including many of the form 'How to ___?'.

• Glossaries

  • Lua 5.3 Glossary - A glossary of some essential Lua terms.

• Style Guides

  • Lua-users style guide - A general, high-level style guide; unopinionated, easily agreed on.

• Tutorials

  • Lua Crash Course - Short crash course readover, or reference for when you forget the basics.
  • Learn Lua in 15 Minutes - A well-commented example file which covers the basics.
  • Learning Lua from JS - An overview of the similarities and differences between Lua and JS; a great start for JavaScript folks looking to pick up Lua.
  • lua-users tutorial - In-depth collection of tutorials aimed at newcomers.
  • Creating an Image Server - Walks through setting up and using OpenResty to build a simple image processing server; a great starting point for playing with OpenResty.
  • Lua Crash Course - Short crash course readover, or reference for when you forget the basics.
  • Learn Lua in 15 Minutes - A well-commented example file which covers the basics.
  • Creating an Image Server - Walks through setting up and using OpenResty to build a simple image processing server; a great starting point for playing with OpenResty.

• Articles

  • Embedding Lua in C - An introductory walkthrough of embedding Lua in a C program. A bit dated, but still a great walkthrough.
  • Lua: Good, bad, and ugly parts - A thorough summary of the good, different, bad, and ugly aspects of Lua, including many subtle quirks, by the author of ZeroBraneStudio.
  • Lua states, libraries, coroutines and memory - Diagrams and explains some more advanced concepts of the Lua VM, particularly when interfacing with C.
  • Embedding Lua in C - An introductory walkthrough of embedding Lua in a C program. A bit dated, but still a great walkthrough.

• Talks & Slides

  • Roberto's Talks - History of talks given by Lua's chief architect, with slides for each.
  • Lua Workshop Talks - High-quality talks are given at each ~annual Lua Workshop, and a history of them is online, slides included.
  • Roberto's Talks - History of talks given by Lua's chief architect, with slides for each.
  • Lua Workshop Talks - High-quality talks are given at each ~annual Lua Workshop, and a history of them is online, slides included.

• Books

  • Programming in Lua - The authoritative intro to all aspects of Lua programming, written by Lua's chief architect. Three editions released; first edition available online.
  • Programming Gems - A collection of articles covering existing wisdom and practices on programming well in Lua, in a broad variety of use cases.
  • Lua Programming - A shorter overview of the language, up to date for Lua 5.2, and available online.
  • Programming in Lua - The authoritative intro to all aspects of Lua programming, written by Lua's chief architect. Three editions released; first edition available online.
  • Lua Quick Reference - A quick reference on how to program in and embed Lua 5.1 through 5.3, by the creator of Textadept.
  • Programming Gems - A collection of articles covering existing wisdom and practices on programming well in Lua, in a broad variety of use cases.

• Other Lists

  • Where Lua is Used - A comprehensive list of stand-alone programs written in or extensible using Lua.
  • awesome-love2d - A list like this one, but focused on game dev and the LÖVE platform.

• Command-line Utilities

  • cliargs - A simple command-line argument parsing module.

• Humanize

  • say - Simple string key-value store for i18n.

• Network

  • LuaSocket - Networking extension which provides a socket API for TCP and UDP, and implements HTTP, FTP, and SMTP.

• Data Stores

  • LuaSQL - Simple interface for connecting to ODBC, ADO, Oracle, MySQL, SQLite and PostgreSQL.

• Analysis Tools and ASTs

  • luacov - Simple coverage analyzer, used by busted and telescope for checking test coverage.