LuaJIT
LuaJIT is a high-performance just-in-time (JIT) compiler for the Lua programming language, developed by Mike Pall. It significantly accelerates Lua code execution by compiling bytecode to native machine code at runtime, often achieving speeds comparable to C or C++. It is widely used in performance-critical applications like game development, embedded systems, and scripting engines.
Developers should learn LuaJIT when working on projects that require fast Lua execution, such as video games (e.g., in engines like LÖVE or World of Warcraft addons), real-time systems, or high-throughput servers. It is particularly valuable for embedding Lua in applications where performance is a bottleneck, as it can reduce latency and improve efficiency without rewriting code in a lower-level language.