Critical Patterns

Table Patterns (REQUIRED)

-- ✅ ALWAYS: Use tables for structured data local user = { name = "John", age = 30, greet = function(self) print("Hello, " .. self.name) end }

user:greet() -- method call with self

Module Pattern (REQUIRED)

-- ✅ ALWAYS: Return table for modules local M = {}

function M.process(data) return data:upper() end

return M

Error Handling (REQUIRED)

-- ✅ Use pcall for protected calls local ok, result = pcall(function() return risky_operation() end)

if not ok then print("Error: " .. result) end

Decision Tree

Need class-like? → Use metatables Need error handling? → Use pcall/xpcall Need iteration? → Use pairs/ipairs Need configuration? → Use external .lua files

Commands

lua script.lua # Run script luac -o out.luac script.lua # Compile luarocks install package # Install package

Resources

• Best Practices: best-practices.md

• Performance: performance.md

• Scripting: scripting.md