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)