MoonScript

Name: MoonScript
Author: Leaf Corcoran

A dynamic scripting language with a whitespace-based syntax that compiles to Lua.

Open source (MIT)By Leaf Corcoran

Free Open sourceWindows Web Command line

Official websitemoonscript.org

Download pagegithub.com

Compare MoonScript with another product

View the MoonScript source code

1 more way to get MoonScript

Chocolateychoco install moonscript

Alternatives

YueScriptYueScript is derived from MoonScript and also compiles to readable Lua, adding pipes, pattern matching and destructuring, with a similarly small community.
LuaJITA just-in-time compiler for the Lua programming language, compatible with the Lua 5.1 API.
LuaWriting plain Lua removes the compile step and gives a larger community, but you lose MoonScript's concise syntax, classes and string interpolation.
LuauLuau is a Lua-derived language with gradual typing and its own fast interpreter, but it is not fully interchangeable with standard Lua libraries.
Lua Language ServerA language server that adds diagnostics, autocompletion, type checking and formatting for Lua in code editors.
StyLuaA deterministic, opinionated code formatter for Lua, LuaJIT, Luau and CfxLua.

See all alternatives

About MoonScript

MoonScript gives Lua a cleaner syntax with significant whitespace, classes with inheritance, string interpolation and other conveniences. Code can be compiled to Lua ahead of time or loaded at run time through the moonloader with require "moonscript".

Because the output is plain Lua, it works with LuaJIT and other Lua implementations and with existing Lua libraries. Command-line tools let you run MoonScript files directly, and the website has an online compiler for trying it out.

Strengths

Compiles to plain Lua, compatible with LuaJIT and existing libraries
Concise syntax with classes and string interpolation
Online compiler for trying it in the browser
Editor support for Vim and TextMate

Limitations

Small community compared with Lua itself
Adds a compile step or loader to Lua projects

Details

Pricing: FreeFree and open source under the MIT licence.
License: MIT
Developer: Leaf Corcoran
Platforms: Windows, Web, Command line
How it runs: Downloadable app, Web application
Account: Not required
Works offline: Yes
Best suited for: Lua programmers who want a more concise syntax
Categories: Developer tools
Last verified: October 2, 2026
Added: October 2, 2026
Sources: moonscript.org

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