1. Home
  2. /
  3. Defold
  4. /
  5. Lua Script Example - Simple Animation

Lua Script Example - Simple Animation - Defold Typing CST Test

Loading…

Lua Script Example - Simple Animation — Defold Code

Cycles sprite animation frames automatically.

-- animation.script
function update(self, dt)
	self.time = (self.time or 0) + dt
	if self.time >= 0.1 then
		sprite.play_flipbook(go.get_id(), hash("anim"))
		self.time = 0
	end
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

  • ▸https://defold.com
  • ▸https://defold.com/manuals/
  • ▸https://github.com/defold/defold

More Defold Typing Exercises

Defold Lua Script Example - Simple Player MovementDefold Lua Script Example - Player JumpDefold Lua Script Example - Simple ShootingDefold Lua Script Example - Enemy Follow PlayerDefold Lua Script Example - Timer ExampleDefold Lua Script Example - Mouse Click DetectionDefold Lua Script Example - Display FPSDefold Lua Script Example - Random MovementDefold Lua Script Example - Collision Detection

Practice Other Languages

CReactPythonC++RustTypeScriptKotlinPHPJavaC#RubyMqlCqlN1qlCypher