Luau Roblox

Luau / Roblox Development Skill

Applies to any work inside a Roblox game project written in Luau. Covers correct patterns for strict typing, service architecture, security, persistence, and game-loop design.

1. Mandatory File Header

Every .lua / .luau file must start with:

--!strict

No exceptions. This enables Luau's full type-checker and prevents entire classes of runtime errors. Never omit it, never suppress it with --!nonstrict.

2. Service Acquisition

Always use game:GetService() at the top of the file, before any logic. Never access services through game.ServiceName (breaks in some load orders).

--!strict
local Players       = game:GetService("Players")
local RunService    = game:GetService("RunService")
local DataStoreService = game:GetService("DataStoreService")
local ReplicatedStorage = game:GetService("ReplicatedStorage")

3. Module Pattern

Every service / controller / module exports a single table named identically to the file. Always export an init() function for one-time setup called from the bootstrap script.

--!strict
local MyService = {}

-- Called once by the bootstrap (init.server.luau / init.client.luau)
function MyService.init()
    -- setup, bind events, start loops
end

-- Public API
function MyService.doThing(player: Player, value: number): boolean
    -- logic
    return true
end

return MyService

Rules:

• Module table: PascalCase matching the filename (EconomyService, HUDController)
• Functions: camelCase (awardKnowledge, tryLevelUp)
• Constants: SCREAMING_SNAKE_CASE (local MAX_ENERGY = 100)
• Roblox service refs: PascalCase (local Players = ...)
• Types: PascalCase (type PlayerData = {...})

4. task.* API — Never Use Deprecated Alternatives

wait() is deprecated, inaccurate on frame boundaries, and will be removed. task.* is the only correct async primitive in modern Luau.

Server tick loop example:

task.spawn(function()
    while true do
        task.wait(1)
        MyService.tick()
    end
end)

5. Client / Server Architecture

The server is always authoritative. The client:

• Displays UI and shows state
• Fires RemoteEvents to request actions
• Never computes economic values — the server does that

Never expose a RemoteFunction from client to server (blocks the thread and is exploitable). Use RemoteEvent only. The server fires back data via a separate event if needed.

6. RemoteEvent Security

Roblox exploiters can fire any RemoteEvent with arbitrary arguments at any time.

Never trust client-provided amounts

-- BAD — exploitable
remoteEvent.OnServerEvent:Connect(function(player, upgradeId, cost)
    playerData.knowledge -= cost
end)

-- GOOD — server looks up the real cost
remoteEvent.OnServerEvent:Connect(function(player, upgradeId)
    local config = UpgradeConfig[upgradeId]
    if not config then return end
    local data = DataService.getPlayerData(player)
    if not data or data.knowledge < config.cost then return end
    data.knowledge -= config.cost
    -- apply effect
end)

Validate all arguments

local function onBuyUpgrade(player: Player, upgradeId: unknown)
    -- type check
    if type(upgradeId) ~= "string" then return end
    -- membership check
    if not UpgradeConfig[upgradeId] then return end
    -- data check
    local data = DataService.getPlayerData(player)
    if not data then return end
    -- economy check
    if data.knowledge < UpgradeConfig[upgradeId].cost then return end
    -- safe to proceed
end

Rate-limit all remotes

local lastFire: {[Player]: number} = {}
local DEBOUNCE = 0.5  -- seconds

remoteEvent.OnServerEvent:Connect(function(player: Player, ...)
    local now = os.clock()
    if lastFire[player] and (now - lastFire[player]) < DEBOUNCE then return end
    lastFire[player] = now
    -- proceed
end)

-- Clean up on player leave to avoid memory leaks
game:GetService("Players").PlayerRemoving:Connect(function(player)
    lastFire[player] = nil
end)

7. DataStore Patterns

Always wrap DataStore calls in pcall. Always log failures with a consistent prefix.

local function saveData(player: Player, data: PlayerData)
    local key = "player_" .. player.UserId
    local ok, err = pcall(function()
        dataStore:SetAsync(key, data)
    end)
    if not ok then
        warn("[DataService] SetAsync failed for " .. key .. ": " .. tostring(err))
    end
end

Merge saved data onto a known default

Never trust that a saved record has all fields (new fields added after initial save, corrupted data, etc.). Always merge onto the default template:

local function mergeWithDefault(saved: {[string]: unknown}, default: PlayerData): PlayerData
    local result = table.clone(default)
    for key, value in saved do
        if result[key] ~= nil and type(value) == type(result[key]) then
            result[key] = value
        end
    end
    return result
end

Save cadence

• Auto-save every 30 seconds via a task.spawn loop
• Always save on Players.PlayerRemoving — use task.defer to ensure it fires:

Players.PlayerRemoving:Connect(function(player)
    saveData(player, DataService.getPlayerData(player))
end)

8. Type Definitions (Types.lua)

Define all shared data shapes in src/shared/Types.lua. Import them in every file that uses them.

--!strict
export type PlayerData = {
    knowledge: number,
    energy: number,
    diplomas: number,
    mathLevel: number,
    scienceLevel: number,
    historyLevel: number,
    peLevel: number,
    totalKnowledgeEarned: number,
}

export type UpgradeConfig = {
    id: string,
    displayName: string,
    baseCost: number,
    growth: number,
    bonusPerLevel: number,
}

Always annotate function parameters and return types explicitly — never rely on inference when the function is part of a public API.

9. Config Over Magic Numbers

All gameplay numbers live in config files under src/shared/config/. Never hardcode values in service logic.

-- BAD
local cost = 25 * (1.25 ^ level)

-- GOOD
local cfg = SubjectsConfig[subjectId]
local cost = cfg.baseCost * (cfg.growth ^ level)

Upgrade cost formula: cost = baseCost * (growth ^ level)

10. Error Handling

Use pcall around any throwable operation. Log with the format [ServiceName] message.

local ok, result = pcall(function()
    return dataStore:GetAsync(key)
end)
if not ok then
    warn("[DataService] GetAsync failed: " .. tostring(result))
    return nil
end

11. No Globals

Never write to _G or shared. Pass dependencies as arguments or module-level locals set during init(). This keeps modules testable and avoids order-of-require issues.

12. File Length

Keep files under 300 lines. If a service grows past that, extract a sub-module. Example: StudyService grows large → extract StudyCalculator as a pure-function module.

13. Incremental Game Patterns (School_Incremental Specific)

Economy tick (1 second cadence)

-- In EconomyService.init()
task.spawn(function()
    while true do
        task.wait(1)
        for _, player in Players:GetPlayers() do
            EconomyService.tick(player)
        end
    end
end)

Knowledge gain calculation

Knowledge per study = BaseStudyGain * knowledgeMultiplier

where knowledgeMultiplier accumulates from Subject levels: multiplier += mathLevel * MathConfig.bonusPerLevel

Prestige formula

diplomas = math.floor(totalKnowledgeEarned / PrestigeConfig.baseCost)

Boss reward delivery

Boss rewards are rare currencies. Deliver via EconomyService.awardCurrency, not by direct attribute write, so all validation and logging stays in one place.

Subject upgrade cost

cost = subject.baseCost * (subject.growth ^ currentLevel)

Computed in UpgradeCalculator.lua — never inline this formula in UI or service code.

14. Remotes Naming Convention

All RemoteEvents and RemoteFunctions live in src/shared/Remotes.lua. Name them PascalCase verb-noun: RequestStudy, BuyUpgrade, RequestPrestige, BossDefeated.

-- Remotes.lua
--!strict
local ReplicatedStorage = game:GetService("ReplicatedStorage")
local Remotes = ReplicatedStorage:WaitForChild("Remotes")

return {
    RequestStudy    = Remotes:WaitForChild("RequestStudy") :: RemoteEvent,
    BuyUpgrade      = Remotes:WaitForChild("BuyUpgrade")  :: RemoteEvent,
    RequestPrestige = Remotes:WaitForChild("RequestPrestige") :: RemoteEvent,
    SyncPlayerData  = Remotes:WaitForChild("SyncPlayerData")  :: RemoteEvent,
}

Quick Reference

Strict mode:           --!strict  (every file, no exceptions)
Async:                 task.wait / task.spawn / task.delay  (never wait/spawn/delay)
Services:              game:GetService()  (never game.ServiceName)
Module table:          PascalCase, one per file
Functions:             camelCase
Constants:             SCREAMING_SNAKE_CASE
Remotes:               PascalCase verb-noun, all in Remotes.lua
Security:              validate type + membership + economy on every OnServerEvent
Rate limit:            0.5s debounce per player per remote
DataStore:             always pcall, always merge onto default template
Save cadence:          30s auto + PlayerRemoving
File length:           max 300 lines
Magic numbers:         forbidden — use config files
Upgrade cost formula:  baseCost * (growth ^ level)
Prestige formula:      floor(totalKnowledgeEarned / baseCost)
Economy tick:          1 second server loop