Beginning Programming with Lua (Working Title)
By Richard Anton and published by RasterCat.
Introduction
What to expect
What you need to get started
Computer Concepts
Folders and Files
Graphical User Interfaces (Windows, OSX, and X Windows)
Terminals and Command Line Interfaces
Setting Up
Optional: Getting Linux (Fedora live on USB or CD)
Installing software
Using The terminal
Getting busybox for Windows
OS X Terminal
Introduction to Bash Shell Commands
Programming Editors
TextWranger for Mac
Scintilla for Linux or Windows
Other Editors
Intro to Lua
About Lua
Data types
Flow Control
Example: FizzBuzz
Project: Guess your age or weight
Data structures
Debugging Lua
Debugging Concepts
Lua Debuggers
Lua Tables
Searching and sorting
Lists and Queues
Project: Xmas wish list
Maps and Trees
PLACEHOLDER: Example project using maps or trees.
File I/O
Graphics
Example: Mondrain
Project: FatBits (make your own sprite drawing program, learn about mouse input)
Game Programming
SDL Setup
What is SDL?
SDL Hello World
Cannon Fodder
Graphics
Sound
Input Events
Lemon Attack (pun on Demon Attack, lemons falling from the sky out the hero)
Concept: Prevent dangerous lemons infected by alien parasites from reaching the Earth
Alien and Player Sprites
Playing Sound
Player Controls
Alien AI
Keeping Score
The Adventure Continues (i.e. expanding and making your own levels)
Concurrency
Concurrency in Lua
PLACEHOLDER: concurrency example, graphical trafifc light at intersection?
Conclusion
Where to go from here
Send us Feedback
Glossary
Appendices
Shell commands cheat sheet
Additional Resources
Example and solution source code
Image and Sound Assets
Other Programming Resources
Index