Table of Contents
Who this is for: Beginners wanting to learn game development in Roblox, students interested in programming, and aspiring game creators.
Ready to jump in? Play roblox games to get inspired by what’s possible and see different mechanics in action.
Play free games on Playgama.com
Getting Started with Roblox Lua
Roblox uses a modified version of Lua called Luau, which is specifically designed for game development. To start coding in Roblox, you’ll need Roblox Studio, the free development environment that comes with built-in script editors and debugging tools.
Setting Up Your First Script
Open Roblox Studio and create a new place. In the Explorer window, you’ll see your game’s hierarchy. Right-click on ServerScriptService to create a new Script, or right-click on StarterPlayerScripts to create a LocalScript. Scripts run on the server and affect all players, while LocalScripts run on individual players’ devices.
Basic Lua Syntax in Roblox
Roblox Lua follows standard programming conventions but includes game-specific features:
- Variables: Use
local variableName = valueto create variables - Functions: Define with
function functionName() end - Comments: Use
--for single-line comments - Print statements: Use
print("Hello World")to output to the console
Essential Roblox Services and Objects
Roblox provides built-in services that handle different aspects of your game:
| Service | Purpose | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| game.Workspace | Contains 3D objects | Manipulating parts and models |
| game.Players | Manages player data | Player events and information |
| game.ReplicatedStorage | Shared resources | Remote events and shared objects |
| game.StarterGui | UI elements | Creating interfaces and menus |
Your First Functional Script
Here’s a simple script that creates a part and makes it change color:
local part = Instance.new("Part")
part.Parent = game.Workspace
part.Position = Vector3.new(0, 10, 0)
part.BrickColor = BrickColor.new("Bright red")
while true do
wait(1)
part.BrickColor = BrickColor.random()
endLearning Resources and Best Practices
Start with the official Roblox Developer Hub, which offers comprehensive tutorials and API documentation. Practice by modifying existing scripts and experimenting with different objects. Join the Developer Forum to connect with other creators and get help with specific problems.
Focus on understanding events, which trigger when specific actions occur (like a player touching a part), and remote events for client-server communication. These concepts are fundamental to creating interactive games.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can explore advanced topics like data stores for saving player progress, creating custom tools, and building complex game mechanics that will make your Roblox creations truly engaging.
TL;DR
Roblox uses Luau (modified Lua) which you code in Roblox Studio. Start with basic scripts, learn essential services like Workspace and Players, then practice with simple projects like color-changing parts.
