lua
Execute Lua programs
TLDR
Start an interactive Lua shell
Execute a Lua script
Execute a Lua expression
SYNOPSIS
lua [options] [script [args]]
PARAMETERS
-e stat
Execute string 'stat'.
-i
Enter interactive mode after executing 'script'.
-l name
Require library 'name'.
-v
Show version information.
--
Stop handling options.
-
Execute stdin as a file.
script
The name of the Lua script file to execute.
args
Arguments passed to the Lua script. These are accessible within the script through the arg
table.
DESCRIPTION
The lua
command is an interpreter that executes programs written in the Lua programming language. It allows users to run Lua scripts directly from the command line, making it a convenient tool for scripting, prototyping, and automation tasks. The interpreter loads and executes the Lua code provided as a file or directly through standard input. It supports standard Lua libraries, enabling users to interact with the operating system, manipulate strings, perform mathematical operations, and more.
The command provides access to the full power of the Lua scripting language, known for its simplicity, extensibility, and embeddability. It's widely used in game development, embedded systems, and web applications. The lua
command facilitates rapid development cycles by enabling users to quickly test and execute Lua code without the need for a separate development environment. It's also useful for running Lua-based tools and applications.
CAVEATS
Ensure that the Lua script has execute permissions if running it directly with ./script.lua
.
ERROR HANDLING
When an error occurs during the execution of a Lua script, the lua
command typically prints an error message to the standard error stream (stderr) and exits. You can use pcall()
within your scripts for more sophisticated error handling.
MODULES AND LIBRARIES
Lua utilizes modules and libraries extensively. The require
function is crucial for loading external Lua modules. The LUA_PATH
environment variable influences where Lua searches for these modules.
HISTORY
Lua was created in 1993 by Roberto Ierusalimschy, Luiz Henrique de Figueiredo, and Waldemar Celes at PUC-Rio (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro) in Brazil. It emerged as a scripting language for customizing and extending software applications. The lua
command provides the primary means of executing Lua scripts from a Unix-like command line, allowing for its integration into system administration tasks, software builds, and general-purpose scripting.
SEE ALSO
luac(1)