Characteristics and use.
WHAT IT IS
A small, fast, embeddable scripting language.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES IT
Extremely small implementation Designed to be embedded within other programs One data structure, the table, serving as array, dictionary and object
WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Scripting within games Configuration and extension of applications Embedded systems Network device and proxy scripting Plugins and extensions
WHY IT IS EMBEDDED SO OFTEN
It is small, fast, and simple to interface with host programs.
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR LEARNING IT
You usually learn it because something you use employs it.
WHAT TO BE AWARE OF
Indices conventionally starting at one, not zero A small standard library, with the host providing the rest Version differences that are not compatible
WHAT ITS STRENGTHS ARE
Speed, for a scripting language Simplicity Minimal footprint
WHAT IT IS NOT
A general-purpose application language, usually.
WHO ENCOUNTERS IT
Game developers, infrastructure engineers, and anyone extending software that embeds it.
WHAT TO LEARN FIRST
Tables, which are the whole data model.
