Getting Started With Lua Scripting

Writing your own Roblox scripts starts in Roblox Studio, not an executor. Studio is the free official editor where you create games and run Luau safely. This guide gets you from opening Studio to running your first script.

Set up Roblox Studio

Download Roblox Studio from the official Roblox site and open any template. Scripts live in the Explorer panel; the Output window (View → Output) is where your prints and errors appear. This is your sandbox — code here only affects your own place, so you can experiment freely.

This is the right environment for learning to script. It is separate from running existing scripts in live games, which is what an executor does.

Scripts vs LocalScripts

Roblox has two main script kinds: a Script runs on the server (shared, authoritative), and a LocalScript runs on one player's client (UI, input, camera). Knowing which side your code belongs on is one of the most important early lessons.

Most existing scripts you run are client-side; when you write your own, choosing the right side is what makes it actually work.

Your first script

Insert a Script into ServerScriptService and type a single line that prints to the Output — print("Hello from my first script"). Press Play and watch it appear. It is small, but it confirms your whole loop works: write code, run, see output.

From there, try changing a property — set a part's Transparency, or a player's WalkSpeed — to see code affect the game.

Where to go next

Build on this with understanding Lua basics and creating custom functions, then learn to react to the game with working with Roblox events. When something errors, debugging your scripts shows you how to read it.