Lua is the simplest full-fledged language that almost no one knows about 🦎

Python has long been considered a "language for all", but Lua moves the bar even lower: 22 keywords, 8 data types and one data structure. This is enough to write a game, set up a web server, or automate a cloud infrastructure.

Due to such a small core, the language reads like pseudocode, and you can learn it literally in an evening. In this article, we will dive deep: we will see how tables and coroutines are arranged, where Lua wins over Python, we will provide usage statistics and show live examples.

Minimum syntax — maximum power ⏱️

-- рекурсивный факториал
function fact(n)
    if n == 1 then return 1 end
    return n * fact(n - 1)
end

print("fact(5) = " .. fact(5)) -- 120

Blocks are closed end, lines are concatenated .., comments begin --. Clear and without hidden rules. Need a loop? Single-line for solves:

for i = 1, 10 do print(i) end

Dry numbers: Lua vs Python, Ruby, JavaScript 📊

Conclusion: Lua starts faster, takes up less memory and remains more compact than its competitors, while retaining all the necessary features.

One data structure — a table 📦

local arr = {1, 4, 9}
local map = {width = 200, height = 100}

print(arr[1])      -- 1 (индексация с 1)
print(map.width)   -- 200

Want an array? Use numeric indexes. Need a dictionary? Assign by name. Want both? No problem — the table can simultaneously store both positional and named elements.

The advantages of this approach:

1. A simple memory model is a single allocator.

2. There is no difference between a JSON object and an array when exchanging data with JS.

3. The learning time is reduced: "I learned the tables and understood all the Lua data structures."

Productive environment 🔧

• Multiple assignments and return values

local a, b = 10, 20
function size() return 800, 600 end
local w, h = size()

• Iterators ipairs and pairs

for i, v in ipairs({"a","e","i"}) do print(i, v) end
for k, v in pairs({john=120, ann=80}) do print(k, v) end

• Coroutines — an easy way to write non-blocking code without async/await:

local co = coroutine.create(function()
  for i = 1,3 do print("tick", i); coroutine.yield() end
end)

coroutine.resume(co) -- tick 1
coroutine.resume(co) -- tick 2
coroutine.resume(co) -- tick 3

Where Lua is already working 🚀

This is just the tip of the iceberg: Lua can be found in Redis, in DJI embedded systems, and even in Tesla Autopilot.

Minimum but powerful standard library 📚

local msg = "Hello Lua"
print(msg:sub(7):lower():reverse()) -- aul

• Strings, tables, coroutines, file system, os, debug — everything is already sewn in, nothing needs to be imported.

• The "lightweight regex-like" pattern system occupies <500 lines of C.

• The garbage collector with a list tricolor algorithm works automatically.

Error handling without a headache 🚑

function grade(score)
  if score > 100 then error{code=1002,msg=">100"} end
  return score>=50 and "P" or "F"
end

for _, s in ipairs({20,120,60}) do
  local ok, res = pcall(grade, s)
  if ok then print("Grade:", res)
  else print("Error["..res.code.."]:", res.msg) end
end

pcall catches exceptions, and the result of (ok, data) simplifies the processing flow.

Modules without special keywords 📦➡️📦

-- calc.lua
local M = {}
function M.add(a,b) return a+b end
return M

-- main.lua
local calc = require("calc")
print(calc.add(2,3)) -- 5

No export/import; tables and require — that's the whole "assembly".

Ecosystem: small but growing 🌱

• LuaRocks: >9,000 packages (+12% growth in 2024).

• LuaJIT: accelerates code to C-speed, used in Nginx and Redis.

• Job trends: Upwork notes +18% demand for Lua freelance for 2024.

Why learn Lua right now 🎓

1. Low‑code boom: startups are looking for embedded DSL — Lua integrates with two C files.

2. Gaming industry: Roblox, Defold, Corona SDK are based on Lua scripts.

3. IoT market: ESP firmware with Lua takes up <512 KB of flash.

4. OpenAI API? 🤖 It's cheaper to write A‑B test scripts in Lua than to raise full‑stack.

5. After "Kodik: Programming Training" application you can take an interactive course on Lua in the evening — 🔥 and immediately apply the skills.

Conclusion 🎯

Lua combines extreme minimalism with practicality: JIT compiler, LuaRocks, coroutines and metatables allow you to write games, web servers and scripts for DevOps. If you need a language that you can explain to a friend over coffee, try Lua. And if you want to go from scratch to the first coroutines in a couple of hours, check out "Kodik: Programming Training".