Learing Lua: How much is enough?

[Ekamu]

So I decided to get serious about learning Lua and LOVE.
As of now I have covered the entire part I of PIL
http://www.lua.org/pil/contents.html

Apart from C related topics and Coroutines

I was thinking since I am going to be using a framework that has its own API I won't need to bother with learning The C API (part3) and I'm not too sure if Coroutines are necessary to get my feet wet with LOVE's framework.

Basically my question is how much Lua is enough, should I learn absolutely everything on PIL, do I only need to know the syntax and some basic techniques.
Have in mind that I would like to make simple 2D platformers and arcade games with LOVE.

I am really eager to just get started on working on some games but whenever I do I get really disappointed, its like a never ending learning curve. Maybe failure is just part of getting better and they say their is no limit to learning.

Those of you who learned Lua, when did you start using LOVE, right after you learned some basic synax, after you learned some advanced topics/techniques like metamethods on OOP or did you literally master Lua through and through and THEN get started on LOVE.

I'm not really in such a hurry BUT I would like to get my feet wet and see some good progress (not just frustration and almost never ending failure).

[micha]

I don't know the C Interface and I have only skimmed through the coroutine part of PiL. So my feeling is that these parts are not highly necessary for game programming.
See the different techniques as tools. The more tools you have, the more elegant you code can become, but you can already manage to build something cool with very basic tools.

My personal recommandation is: Get comfortable with basic programming concepts like: if-statements, loops, functions etc; understand the Lua data types; take some time to understand tables and then start doing projects.
If you feel like these thinks work naturally for you then it is time to understand metatables, look at OOP in Lua, understand how to use include correctly and how global and local variables work. (At least this is approximately, where I am at, right now. And I don't feel I know to little for game developement).

Try to not think of the learning process as being two phases: (1) learn Lua, (2) make games. Instead it is one interlinked process. While doing projects you will improve you Lua skills.

Edit: And yes, in the beginning it will feel awkward, when you try to accomplish something but don't master the language quiet yet. For me it felt like being very hungry and being forced to eat with chop sticks (I don't master the skill of eating with chop sticks). You have to go through this process.

[kikito]

You have enough to start, especially if you are doing LÖVE.

I have not needed the C part to do LÖVE at all. The coroutines part is a nice to have knowledge, but it is not mandatory. You can do pretty much anything without coroutines.

Your feet are wet enough. Time to start swimming!

[Ekamu]

What about the Standard Libraries? Are those used a lot in LOVE or do you mainly use the LOVE API functions or a mixture of both.

It's a good idea to think of it as tools, just like how maths and physics/mechanics is a great tool for games but you never need to be a master to make something cool and simple.

OK for now I'll do as you guys said and merge the entire learning curve into one thing (and start swimming, at least in the shallow end for now).

I'm thinking platforms are a bit too advanced for me right now, with basic tools though I can make a decent space-shooter maybe like space invaders.

[ejmr]

What about the Standard Libraries? Are those used a lot in LOVE or do you mainly use the LOVE API functions or a mixture of both.

A mixture of both in my experience, although more the LÖVE libraries than Lua’s.

I'm thinking platforms are a bit too advanced for me right now, with basic tools though I can make a decent space-shooter maybe like space invaders.

Starting simple is good in my opinion. Just make something playable that you enjoy; it doesn’t need to be a complete game in-and-of itself since you’re learning (not that any of us ever stop learning, heh). And speaking of ‘Space Invaders’, personally something I’ve found helpful in learning new tools and languages is to create a re-implementation of simple arcade game I already know, so that could be another good avenue for getting your feet wet with LÖVE.

In any case, as long as you’re having fun then you’re doing the right thing