NAME

       lua - Lua interpreter

SYNOPSIS

       lua [ options ] [ script [ args ] ]

DESCRIPTION

       lua  is  the  standalone  Lua  interpreter.  It loads and executes Lua programs, either in
       textual source form or in precompiled binary form.  (Precompiled binaries  are  output  by
       luac, the Lua compiler.)  lua can be used as a batch interpreter and also interactively.

       The  given  options are handled in order and then the Lua program in file script is loaded
       and executed.  The given args are available to script as strings in a global  table  named
       arg.   If no options or arguments are given, then -v -i is assumed when the standard input
       is a terminal; otherwise, - is assumed.

       In interactive mode, lua prompts the user,  reads  lines  from  the  standard  input,  and
       executes  them  as they are read.  If a line does not contain a complete statement, then a
       secondary prompt is displayed and lines are read until a complete statement is formed or a
       syntax  error  is  found.   If a line starts with '=', then lua evaluates and displays the
       values of the expressions in the remainder of the line.

       At the very start, before even handling the command line, lua checks the contents  of  the
       environment  variables LUA_INIT_5_2 or LUA_INIT, in that order.  If the contents is of the
       form '@filename', then filename is executed.  Otherwise, the string is assumed to be a Lua
       statement and is executed.

OPTIONS

       -e stat
              execute statement stat.

       -i     enter interactive mode after executing script.

       -l name
              execute the equivalent of name=require('name') before executing script.

       -v     show version information.

       -E     ignore environment variables.

       --     stop handling options.

       -      stop handling options and execute the standard input as a file.

SEE ALSO

       luac(1)
       The documentation at lua.org, especially section 7 of the reference manual.

DIAGNOSTICS

       Error messages should be self explanatory.

AUTHORS

       R. Ierusalimschy, L. H. de Figueiredo, W. Celes

                                   $Date: 2011/11/16 17:16:53 $                         LUA5.2(1)