Lua Script Example - Enemy Follow Player - Defold Typing CST Test

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Lua Script Example - Enemy Follow Player — Defold Code

Enemy moves towards the player.

-- enemy.script
function update(self, dt)
	local player_pos = go.get_position("/player")
	local pos = go.get_position()
	local dir = vmath.normalize(player_pos - pos)
	go.set_position(pos + dir * 100 * dt)
end

Defold Language Guide

Defold is a free, cross-platform 2D game engine developed by King, designed for rapid development of high-performance 2D games. It features a lightweight editor, Lua scripting, a component-based architecture, and efficient deployment across multiple platforms.

Primary Use Cases

▸2D mobile games
▸Rapid prototyping and game jams
▸Educational games
▸Casual and puzzle games
▸Performance-sensitive 2D games

Notable Features

▸Lightweight editor with real-time previews
▸Lua scripting for game logic
▸Component-based game object system
▸Integrated physics engine
▸Cross-platform deployment (iOS, Android, HTML5, macOS, Windows, Linux)

Origin & Creator

Defold was created by King (the company behind Candy Crush) and released as a free engine in 2016, with full source available for developers under a permissive license.

Industrial Note

Defold is particularly popular for mobile 2D games, indie projects, game jams, and studios needing lightweight, maintainable, and efficient game engines.

Quick Explain

▸Defold enables developers to create games using a component-based approach and Lua scripting.
▸It provides 2D rendering, physics, animation, audio, input handling, particle systems, and basic GUI functionality.
▸Defold is used by indie developers and commercial studios for mobile, desktop, and web games, with emphasis on performance and scalability.

Core Features

▸Collections and game objects
▸Sprite and animation handling
▸Collision and physics
▸GUI system
▸Audio and particle systems

Learning Path

▸Learn Lua basics
▸Understand collections and game objects
▸Practice component-based design
▸Add GUI, audio, and particles
▸Deploy games to target platforms

Practical Examples

▸2D platformer
▸Casual mobile puzzle game
▸Top-down shooter
▸Physics-based arcade game
▸Multilevel adventure game

Comparisons

▸Defold vs Unity: Defold lightweight 2D vs Unity feature-rich 2D/3D
▸Defold vs Godot: Defold Lua vs Godot GDScript
▸Defold vs GameMaker Studio: Defold free/open-source vs GMS paid
▸Defold vs Construct 3: Defold code-based vs Construct visual scripting
▸Defold vs Cocos2d-x: Defold Lua scripting vs C++/Lua hybrid

Strengths

▸Lightweight and fast
▸Easy cross-platform deployment
▸Free and open-source
▸Good performance on mobile devices
▸Component-based architecture for modular design

Limitations

▸Primarily 2D-focused, limited 3D support
▸Smaller community than Unity or Godot
▸Less asset marketplace support
▸Requires familiarity with Lua scripting
▸GUI system is basic compared to full-feature engines

When NOT to Use

▸AAA 3D games
▸Heavy 3D simulations
▸Games requiring large asset marketplaces
▸Projects needing a large user community
▸VR/AR projects

Cheat Sheet

▸Collection = scene/group of objects
▸Game Object = entity
▸Component = behavior module
▸Script = Lua code
▸Factory = object instantiation

FAQ

▸Is Defold free?
▸Yes - free and open-source.
▸Does it support mobile?
▸Yes - iOS and Android.
▸Can it handle multiplayer?
▸Yes - via Lua networking scripts.
▸Is it beginner-friendly?
▸Moderate learning curve; Lua and component system required.
▸Does it support 3D?
▸Limited 3D; primarily 2D-focused.

30-Day Skill Plan

▸Week 1: Basic Lua scripting and editor usage
▸Week 2: Collections and game objects
▸Week 3: Physics and collisions
▸Week 4: GUI and particle systems
▸Week 5: Cross-platform deployment and optimization

Final Summary

▸Defold is a free, lightweight 2D engine with component-based architecture and Lua scripting.
▸It is ideal for mobile, web, and desktop 2D games, prototypes, and performance-sensitive projects.
▸Features cross-platform deployment, particle and GUI systems, and integrated physics.
▸Open-source nature allows customization and optimization.
▸Best suited for indie developers and small studios focusing on efficient 2D game development.

Project Structure

▸main/ - default collection and scripts
▸assets/ - images, sounds, particle effects
▸scripts/ - Lua scripts
▸gui/ - GUI scenes and components
▸build/ - compiled projects

Monetization

▸Mobile games with ad revenue
▸Paid mobile games
▸HTML5 games with monetization
▸Indie commercial games
▸Game jams and prototypes

Productivity Tips

▸Use texture atlases
▸Modularize components
▸Profile Lua scripts early
▸Organize collections and assets
▸Leverage Defold community tools

Basic Concepts

▸Collection: container of game objects
▸Game Object: entity with components
▸Component: modular behavior (sprite, script, collision)
▸Script: Lua code defining logic
▸GUI Scene: user interface layout

Official Docs

More Defold Typing Exercises

Defold Lua Script Example - Simple Player Movement Defold Lua Script Example - Player Jump Defold Lua Script Example - Simple Shooting Defold Lua Script Example - Timer Example Defold Lua Script Example - Mouse Click Detection Defold Lua Script Example - Display FPS Defold Lua Script Example - Random Movement Defold Lua Script Example - Simple Animation Defold Lua Script Example - Collision Detection

Practice Other Languages

C React Python C++Rust TypeScript Kotlin PHP Java C#Ruby Mql Cql N1ql Cypher

-- enemy.script function update(self, dt) local player_pos = go.get_position("/player") local pos = go.get_position() local dir = vmath.normalize(player_pos - pos) go.set_position(pos + dir * 100 * dt) end