Product DescriptionLua is the language of choice for anyone who needs a scripting language that is simple, efficient, extensible, portable, and free. Currently, Lua is being used in areas ranging from embedded systems to Web development and is widely spread in the game industry, where knowledge of Lua is an indisputable asset.
'Programming in Lua' is the official book about the language, giving a solid base for any programmer who wants to use Lua. Authored by Roberto Ierusalimschy, the chief architect of the language, it 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. 'Programming in Lua' is targeted at people with some programming background, but does not assume any prior knowledge about Lua or other scripting languages.
This Second Edition updates the text to Lua 5.1 and brings substantial new material, including numerous new examples, a detailed explanation of the new module system, and two new chapters centered on multiple states and garbage collection.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Lua will have no secrets...
I think this book is a "must have" if you are involved in Lua scripting. It covers almost every aspect of Lua programming from basics to advanced topics. Maybe a little of confusion may arise when reading the chapters related to the fundamental topics such as iterators and tables, because the author lifts up the limit going deeper in to the explanation. But I think that this is a merit and not an obstacle, because at every level what the author writes about the topic let you use Lua even if you have ... Read More
Rating: - Excellent Language Book
This book is very approachable and has a clear, concise writing style. It not only teaches the language, but also covers many interesting computer science topics along the way and shows how to make the most of Lua's features. I can honestly say you could also use this as a tool for learning advanced JavaScript, because it does a great job covering closures and other concepts that the two languages share. There's also a large section on embedding Lua, a powerful idea that makes software like Adobe Photoshop ... Read More
Rating: - Great introduction to Lua
Lua isn't a complicated language, honestly. If you're coming at it from another language, especially ones with simpler syntaxes like PHP or VB, you'll feel right at home. In fact, it's so simple you could easily pick up most of the language's workings just by looking at other people's code, and building your own from there. That said, not everyone likes to learn that way. Some people, myself included, like to have a reference book that they can pick up at a whim, skim to the topic that they're struggling with ... Read More
Rating: - Great book, but needs slight improvement
The information in the book is clear, easy to understand, and worth reading. The formatting of the text, the fonts used, and the overall style of the book is lacking. The end of the book was actually a few mm shorter than the spine on my copy, but nothing was cut off, so it doesn't matter beyond looking a little odd.
I would buy it again, even if the previous version is available for free online. It's great to read when you're not near a computer, as (for a programmer) the book is easy enough to ... Read More
Rating: - Great book for learning the Lua language.
One of the best programing language books I have read. If only the programing guides for other languages could be this clear and concise.
- Great introduction to Lua
