# Entries

_Path: en/lua/entries_

## Table of Contents

- Lua Entry Kinds

## Content

# Lua Entry Kinds


Configuration for Lua-based entries: functions, processes, workflows, and libraries.



## Entry Kinds


| Kind | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `function.lua` | Stateless function, runs on demand |
| `process.lua` | Long-running actor with state |
| `workflow.lua` | Durable workflow (Temporal) |
| `library.lua` | Shared code imported by other entries |



## Common Fields


All Lua entries share these fields:

| Field | Required | Description |
|-------|----------|-------------|
| `name` | yes | Unique name within namespace |
| `kind` | yes | One of the Lua kinds above |
| `source` | yes | Lua file path (`file://path.lua`) |
| `method` | yes | Function to export |
| `modules` | no | Allowed modules for `require()` |
| `imports` | no | Other entries as local modules |
| `meta` | no | Searchable metadata |



## function.lua


Stateless function called on demand. Each invocation is independent.

```yaml
- name: handler
  kind: function.lua
  source: file://handler.lua
  method: main
  modules:
    - http
    - json
```

Use for: HTTP handlers, data transformations, utilities.



## process.lua


Long-running actor that maintains state across messages. Communicates via message passing.

```yaml
- name: worker
  kind: process.lua
  source: file://worker.lua
  method: main
  modules:
    - process
    - channel
    - sql
```

Use for: Background workers, service daemons, stateful actors.

To run as a supervised service:

```yaml
- name: worker_service
  kind: process.service
  process: app:worker
  host: app:processes
  lifecycle:
    auto_start: true
    restart:
      max_attempts: 10
```



## workflow.lua


Durable workflow that survives restarts. State is persisted to Temporal.

```yaml
- name: order_processor
  kind: workflow.lua
  source: file://order_workflow.lua
  method: main
  modules:
    - workflow
    - time
```

Use for: Multi-step business processes, long-running orchestrations.



## library.lua


Shared code that can be imported by other entries.

```yaml
- name: helpers
  kind: library.lua
  source: file://helpers.lua
  method: main
  modules:
    - json
    - base64
```

Other entries reference it via `imports`:

```yaml
- name: handler
  kind: function.lua
  source: file://handler.lua
  method: main
  imports:
    helpers: app.lib:helpers
```

In Lua code:

```lua
local helpers = require("helpers")
helpers.format_date(timestamp)
```



## Modules


The `modules` field controls which modules can be loaded with `require()`:

```yaml
modules:
  - http
  - json
  - sql
  - process
  - channel
```

Only listed modules are available. This provides:
- Security: Prevent access to system modules
- Explicit dependencies: Clear what code needs
- Determinism: Workflows only get deterministic modules

See [Lua Runtime](lua/overview.md) for available modules.



## Imports


Import other entries as local modules:

```yaml
imports:
  utils: app.lib:utils       # require("utils")
  auth: app.auth:helpers     # require("auth")
```

The key becomes the module name in Lua code. The value is the entry ID (`namespace:name`).



## Pool Configuration


Configure execution pool for functions:

```yaml
- name: handler
  kind: function.lua
  source: file://handler.lua
  method: main
  pool:
    type: inline    # Run in caller's context
```

Pool types:
- `inline` - Execute in caller's context (default for HTTP handlers)



## Metadata


Use `meta` for routing and discovery:

```yaml
- name: api_handler
  kind: function.lua
  meta:
    type: handler
    version: "2.0"
    tags: [api, users]
  source: file://api.lua
  method: handle
  modules:
    - http
    - json
```

Metadata is searchable via the registry:

```lua
local registry = require("registry")
local handlers = registry.find({type = "handler"})
```



## See Also


- [Entry Kinds](guides/entry-kinds.md) - All entry kinds reference
- [Compute Units](concepts/compute-units.md) - Functions vs processes vs workflows
- [Lua Runtime](lua/overview.md) - Available modules



## Navigation

Previous: Types (lua/types)
Next: Base (lua/core/base)