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Mastering Roblox Coding
Mastering Roblox Coding

Mastering Roblox Coding: The unofficial guide to leveling up your Roblox scripting skills and building games using Luau programming

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Mastering Roblox Coding

Chapter 1: Getting Up to Speed with Roblox and Luau Basics

In this chapter, we will start by looking at what Roblox is. Once we know this, we will learn about Roblox’s programming language. Then, we will proceed to understand the basics of this programming language, such as the data types and variables. We will learn how to perform unique operations on each of these data types, such as math operations. Once we know this, we can slowly increase the complexity of our scripts. We will then use conditionals to take our scripts to another level. Conditionals allow us to change the behavior of our code depending on data. Finally, we will learn all about scopes. We will learn what they are and why it is crucial to keep them in mind while coding.

The following topics are covered in this chapter:

  • Understanding Roblox and Luau
  • Understanding and using data types in Luau
  • Introducing variables
  • Using conditionals
  • Understanding scopes
  • Exercises

By the end of this chapter, you will have learned how to make scripts in Roblox. In addition, you will know how to make simple systems in your experience.

Technical requirements

To start programming with Luau, you need access to a device with internet access. This can either be a Windows or a Mac device.

You need to download the following software:

  • Roblox Player
  • Roblox Studio

To install Roblox Player and Roblox Studio, please follow the steps in the following article:

https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/204473560

All the code examples for this book can be found on GitHub at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Mastering-Roblox-Coding.

The CiA video for this chapter can be found at https://bit.ly/3ORIwT7.

Understanding Roblox and Luau

In this section, we will start by looking at what Roblox is and what makes it unique. Then, once we understand the fundamentals of Roblox, we will learn about the programming language that Roblox uses for its games.

Roblox is a really popular platform for children around the world. This is because they can play almost anything they want. With over 24 million different experiences, as Roblox likes to call their games, you can be almost anything. You can become a pirate, be the king of a castle, escape prison, or stop players from escaping. The possibilities are endless. And the best part is that it is completely free to play. According to Roblox, in September 2021, 47 million unique users played Roblox daily. Once you have created your account in a few clicks, you are ready to join an almost unlimited and constantly increasing supply of experiences.

Creating an account

To make an account on Roblox, visit this link:

https://www.roblox.com/signup

Roblox is unique because other players make all these experiences that you can join. Anyone that creates a Roblox account can create a game. Besides Roblox Player, which allows you to join experiences, there is an additional application called Roblox Studio. With it, you can create your very own experiences.

At the time of writing this book, there are over 9.5 million developers on the platform. These developers can unleash their creativity and make anything they want. Roblox also takes care of all the complex and technical tasks involved in hosting and maintaining games. All you have to focus on is creating the game. Roblox takes care of the rest. The platform ensures that your game shows up for your friends, and makes sure that you and your friends can join the game. They make sure that you can report people who misbehave and bans them from the platform. These systems, among many more, are provided by Roblox. If you make games using other game engines, these systems all have to be made and operated by you. This is pricey and very time-consuming.

However, this is not even the best thing that Roblox has to offer. You are also able to monetize the experiences! Roblox has a virtual currency called Robux. Players can purchase this with real-life money. When they convert their money into Robux, they can use it throughout the entire site to buy different things. This varies from purchasing clothing for your avatar to purchasing in-game perks for any game you like. When someone purchases something in your game, you get 70% of the sale. You can convert this earned Robux currency back to real-life money. This is called the Developer Exchange program. Some developers on the platform make over 1 million USD yearly!

Most of the time, these developers do not work alone. There is usually an entire team of developers that work on a game. These developers have different roles. The most common developers on a team are programmers and builders. However, other developer roles can be added if teams start to grow. In addition, other developer roles exist, such as animators, modelers, UI designers, music composers, and possibly even more. As previously stated, this book is about the programming aspect of Roblox. So, let us learn more about the programming language that is used to code Roblox experiences.

Introducing Luau

Roblox uses a programming language named Luau. Luau is an easy-to-learn yet powerful programming language. Luau is a heavily modified version of the programming language called Lua.

Because Roblox Luau has a relatively low learning curve compared to other programming languages, it is an ideal programming language to start with, especially for younger developers or aspiring developers. Even if you have no interest in creating experiences on Roblox, this is still a great starting point. In general, programming in any language teaches you how to think logically. This is useful even when you are not programming. By the end of this book, you will be able to analyze coding problems, split them into smaller tasks, and overcome them.

If you are hoping to program in other languages in the future, this is an excellent place to start. You might argue that if you know how to program in one programming language, you can program in all of them. This is because programming is basically instructing a computer on what to do. When nothing is specified, the computer does nothing. The only real difference between most programming languages is syntax. The syntax is basically what words you type in your script. Most programming languages use the same words. However, the syntax may differ.

Becoming a master in Roblox game development gives you a head start when programming in other languages. Regardless, before switching to another language, you first have to master Luau. It takes a lot of practice to understand everything in this programming language fully. This will most certainly be very stressful and confusing. Therefore, this book slowly progresses in complexity. A basic understanding of Roblox is highly recommended.

Roblox is a unique platform where people can play millions of experiences for free. The amazing thing about these experiences is that other users on the platform make them. There are a lot of different roles that you can have as a developer on the platform. You can be a modeler, animator, graphics artist, and even a programmer.

In the next section, we make our very first Luau script.

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Key benefits

  • Leverage the tips and tricks covered in this game development book for writing advanced Roblox scripts
  • Explore the capabilities of Roblox Luau to create complex games using user input, datastores, and user interfaces for all devices
  • Each subject contains an additional exercise for the reader to experiment

Description

Roblox is a game platform with over 47 million daily active users. Something unique to Roblox is that you’re playing games made by other gamers! This means that you can make your own games, even if you have no experience. In addition, Roblox provides a free engine that allows you to create and publish a simple game in less than five minutes and get paid while at it. Most Roblox games require programming. This book starts with the basics of programming in Roblox Luau. Each chapter builds on the previous one, which eventually results in you mastering programming concepts in Lua. Next, the book teaches you complex technologies that you can implement in your game. Each concept is explained clearly and uses simple examples that show you how the technology is being used. This book contains additional exercises for you to experiment with the concepts you’ve learned. Using best practices, you will understand how to write and build complex systems such as databases, user input controls, and all device user interfaces. In addition, you will learn how to build an entire game from scratch. By the end of this book, you will be able to program complex systems in Roblox from the ground up by learning how to write code using Luau and create optimized code.

Who is this book for?

This book is for fairly experienced Roblox developers who have basic programming knowledge and want to take their skills to the next level with advanced concepts in a simple and effective way. Basic knowledge of Roblox, Roblox Studio, and Roblox Luau is recommended before getting started with this book. A short refresher is provided for those who have not used Roblox in a while.

What you will learn

  • Understand and learn the basics of Roblox Luau
  • Discover how to write efficient and optimized Luau code to avoid bad smells
  • Explore how to optimize your game for PC, consoles, phones, and tablets
  • Get up to speed with how to build databases using Luau
  • Understand client and server functionalities and learn how to securely establish communication
  • Discover how to build an advanced Roblox game from scratch
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Publication date : Aug 26, 2022
Length: 424 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781801814041
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Frequently bought together


Stars icon
Total AU$95.97 AU$107.97 AU$12.00 saved
Coding Roblox Games Made Easy, Second Edition
AU$41.99
Mastering Roblox Coding
AU$56.99
The Ultimate Roblox Game Building Cookbook
AU$34.99
Total AU$95.97AU$107.97 AU$12.00 saved Stars icon

Table of Contents

15 Chapters
Part 1: Start Programming with Roblox Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 1: Getting Up to Speed with Roblox and Luau Basics Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 2: Writing Better Code Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 3: Event-Based Programming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 2: Programming Advanced Systems Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 4: Securing Your Game Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 5: Optimizing Your Game Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 6: Creating User Interfaces for All Devices Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 7: Listening to User Input Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 8: Building Data Stores Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 9: Monetizing Your Game Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 3: Creating Your Own Simulator Game Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 10: Creating Your Own Simulator Game Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.8
(5 Ratings)
5 star 80%
4 star 20%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 0%
Kyler Oct 29, 2022
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This book is a great way to start your Roblox journey. It includes relevant-to-Roblox examples that immediately give you the context around the concept you just learnt.Each chapter has an attached YouTube link, an excellent supplement to your learning.If you already code on Roblox, this book could help clarify concepts you find difficult, such as networking, dataStores, monetization, and more.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Kinty L. Nov 21, 2022
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I am a native Roblox developer with little to no programming knowledge. With what I know, this book is great to getting you on your feet to programming in Studio. It starts small with instances and eventually builds you up to the point where you can create your own game. It also has a lot of small "review" exercise that I find very effective in helping you absorb and execute what you have just learned, like homework. Everything was easy to follow and not intimidating to get into. I highly recommend this book for those who are looking to tap into the Roblox development market.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
The shadow Aug 27, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
The media could not be loaded.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Tiny Oct 31, 2022
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
First off, I’m not a Roblox user and don’t have any small children. If I did, or if I was, then using “Mastering Roblox Coding” (Packt) by Mark Kiepe would be the book I would want to work through with them. The book provides a comprehensive look at how to create and modify unique instances in Roblox. It begins with some initial coding principles, builds through advanced systems, and then provides a full step by step run through to build a unique game. Additionally, each chapter has 1-3 exercises that further your understanding of the objectives. Recommend for anyone currently playing Roblox, or interested in learning more about a new coding system Roblox uses Luau for coding, as an expansion of Lua, but builds off many basic Linux principles. If you are new to coding in general, this section is highly informative. If you have coded before, than it provides a useful introduction to the differences in Lua and other forms of code. The real key to the section for Roblox is the emphasis on event-based programming. Since Roblox mostly supports gaming instances, tying specific coding events to other functions will be extremely helpful in driving gameplay forward. The next section steps up the Roblox game. It involves securing the system from fraudulent users, building UI interfaces, listening to user inputs, storing data and monetization options. As a security guy, I always like it when references emphasize the need to secure systems. This motto, as the first part of the section, reflects in later sections through UI interfaces and listening practices. These involve how the user inputs and coordinates data. The first as a extensive UI deconstruction, deals with the formats one sets for user play. The next, deals with what the users actually input and changing views as one moves around the environment. Monetization is always important in games and the book covers several different ways to monetize an approach. One can use a individual payment, coordination with 3rd party developers, or even in game rewards that can be linked to premium play. The amount of time spent on monetizing the game is excellent. The last section, and the best, goes through a step by step to build one’s own game and instances. While it does use a preformatted game, using the learning from the previous chapters would allow building out into new structures. Overall, this was an exceptional guide to the Roblox world. Even as not a regular user, I was able to follow along and try different samples on my own environment. The linkages were excellent, screenshots were numerous and the explanation of what those instances did, and why they worked were all satisfactory. The exercises within each chapter provided beginning, intermediate and advanced work to build one’s own knowledge of the material. I’d recommend the book for those playing Roblox and looking for more, or those looking to help their children learn programming through this environment.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Jose Antonio Martinez Perez Sep 28, 2022
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
If you love games, programming and tech, this is the book for you, this is more than a book, is a guide to learn the basic, medium and advanced topics to get dominant on the awesome world of Roblox.Things to consider to take the full power of the book:-Basic programming- Basic Javascript-Love gaming.This is book to learn and apply the knowledge with your kids if you're a parent.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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