Tiny-ecs is an Entity Component System for Lua that’s simple, flexible, and useful. Because of Lua’s tabular nature, Entity Component Systems are a natural choice for simulating large and complex systems. For more explanation on Entity Component Systems, here is some basic info.

Fennel is a language a lot like Lua, but it simplifies the syntax and removes some of the most error-prone and troublesome features of Lua while adding modern conveniences like pattern matching and a capable REPL for interactive use. That description omits to mention it’s a language in the lisp family, which I think has an undeserved negative association in the mind of the average programmer. Maybe it’s better to focus on the concrete benefits like the simplified syntax and lack of operator precedence rules to memorize!

luarocks install luacheck

Macros are how lisps accomplish metaprogramming. You’ll see a lot of people treat lisp macros with a kind of mystical reverence. “Macros allow you to do things that aren’t possible in other languages” is a common refrain, but that’s nonsense. (Turing tarpits exist; other languages have macros.) The difference is that lisps allow you to write programs using the same notation you use for data structures. It’s not that these things are impossible in other languages; it’s just that the lisp way flows seamlessly instead of feeling arcane.

Code formatter for Lua. Contribute to Koihik/LuaFormatter development by creating an account on GitHub.