Best Lua Books for Beginners and Advanced Developers

Best Lua books for Lua developers

There are many Lua books available in the market, but there is one special mention as it has been written by creators of Lua themselves: "Programming in Lua".

• Currently has its fourth edition in the market.
• The book is available in paperback and digital form.
• The book also covers the scripting fundamentals of the Lua, its libraries, and its applications.
• The book is best suited for those who are already familiar with programming and want to learn Lua.

With that said, let's dive into some of the best books for Lua.

Best Lua books for beginners

Beginning Lua Programming by Kurt Jung and Aaron Brown

This book is an all-inclusive handbook for programmers who wish to learn Lua as their first programming language.

• Comprehend the language: This book will help you understand Lua programming and its real-world applications. Get your hands on the language's syntax and foundations. This Lua book provides a clear picture of Lua programming language semantics.
• Master the Lua: After reading this book, you can use the Lua programming language to create programs from scratch. You'll learn how to leverage Lua's libraries to write efficient and dependable programs.
• Extend your Lua expertise: This book covers most of the essential aspects of the Lua programming language. After reading it, you'll be able to explore the language in details.

With this book, you will not only comprehend the Lua language but also get a strong grip of the programming concepts, which will allow you to easily transition to other languages.

Lua for beginners by Ignatz

This book is designed to be as concise and to the point as possible so you can start programming in Lua immediately. This book is an excellent introduction to the Lua programming language for novices.

• Learn with Lua examples: You'll learn about various applications through various Lua examples. Because all the examples are in Lua, you can run them directly in your Lua interpreter.
• Get started quickly: This book covers all the basics of Lua programming, including syntax, data types, control structures, and functions. You'll be able to grasp the sophisticated Lua programming concepts quickly.

Roblox Lua: Scripting for Beginners

This book provides an introductory tutorial to scripting in Lua, tailored for individuals who are interested in creating Roblox games.

• Fundamentals of Lua and Roblox: This book will guide you on the principles of the Lua programming language as well as introduce you to the Roblox platform and demonstrate how to use Lua to create Roblox games.
• Create your own Roblox games: Once you've learned the basics, you'll be able to start developing your own Roblox games. This book will walk you through the process of creating a simple game from start to finish.

Coding with Roblox Lua in 24 Hours by Genevieve Johnson

This book is ideal for kids who want to learn programming. It uses a simple, easy-to-follow approach to teach Lua's programming basics. It initiates the Roblox Lua approach for kids.

• Basics of programming: This book will teach you the basics of programming, including how to write code, how to debug code, and how to run it.
• Introduction to Lua: This book will also introduce you to the Lua language and its use in different industries.
• Write your Lua programs: By the end of this book, you will be able to develop your Lua programs and games.

Best Lua books for intermediate learners

Lua Quick Start Guide by Gabor Szauer

This book is a quick guide to the Lua scripting language. With this book, you'll be able to:

• Get started with Lua libraries: This book introduces you to the libraries available for use in projects. With this book, you'll be able to get started using Lua in your projects right away.
• Debug Lua applications: This book includes provisions on debugging Lua applications, so you can find and fix errors in your Lua scripts with several examples performing the debugging.
• Understand the Lua runtime environment: This Lua book also provides an overview of the Lua runtime environment, so you can understand how Lua programs are executed and how to configure the Lua interpreter for your purposes.

Lua 5. x Reference Manual by Roberto Ierusalimschy

This is the official reference manual for Lua scripting language. In addition to providing a reference to the Lua language, this book also covers the internals of the Lua interpreter, so you can better understand how Lua works.

• A complete reference: It serves as a directory for the developers who rely on official resources to learn more about the language. It is a must-have resource for anybody interested in programming in Lua.
• Cover all aspects: The book covers all aspects of Lua programming, from the basics to the most complex features. It is a fantastic resource for both novice and seasoned engineers.
• Learn about the Lua C API: This book also contains a complete reference to the Lua C API, which allows you to embed Lua in your applications.

Lua Programming Gems by Roberto Ierusalimschy

This Lua book is recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about Lua programming, regardless of their experience level. It covers a wide range of concepts, beginning with an introduction to the Lua language and moves on to more complex topics.

• Learn from the experts: This book features articles written by some of the most experienced Lua programmers in the world.
• Discover Lua techniques: You will learn about many different Lua programming techniques and comprehend the solutions to common Lua programming problems, saving you time and effort.
• Apply in new ways: The articles in this book will teach you how to use Lua in various domains, such as games, web development, and scientific computing.

Summary

Different books focus on various aspects of the language, and no one book addresses everything.
However, the books recommended above are well-written and provide substantial competency in the language. So, according to experience level, choose the book and embark on your Lua journey today.