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Rive Scripting Quick Reference

Need the full script matrix?

See Script Capability Matrix for a comprehensive table of script inputs, callback parameters, and hard limitations by script type.

Node Script Skeleton​

export type MyNode = {
    speed: Input<number>,
    enabled: Input<boolean>,
    path: Path,
    paint: Paint,
}

function init(self: MyNode, context: Context): boolean
    self.path = Path.new()
    self.paint = Paint.new()
    return true
end

function update(self: MyNode)
end

function advance(self: MyNode, seconds: number): boolean
    return true
end

function draw(self: MyNode, renderer: Renderer)
end

return function(): Node<MyNode>
    return {
        init = init,
        update = update,
        advance = advance,
        draw = draw,
        speed = 1,
        enabled = true,
        path = late(),
        paint = late(),
    }
end

Lifecycle Order​

  1. init(self, context) - once on start
  2. update(self) - when inputs change (NO context param!)
  3. advance(self, seconds) - every animation frame
  4. draw(self, renderer) - on canvas repaint (keep pure, no state changes!)

Runtime Guardrails​

  • Use pure Luau + Rive APIs; do not use Roblox runtime globals (game, workspace, Instance).
  • Script names are flat (no folders/slashes, no .lua/.luau extension).
  • Keep long-running integer-style values 32-bit safe (-2147483648..2147483647).

Inputs & Data Binding​

Define Inputs​

export type MyNode = {
    size: Input<number>,
    tint: Input<Color>,
    model: Input<Data.Character>,
    enemy: Input<Artboard<Data.Enemy>>,
}

return function(): Node<MyNode>
    return {
        init = init,
        draw = draw,
        size = 80,
        tint = Color.rgb(255, 120, 80),
        model = late(),
        enemy = late(),
    }
end

Read Input Values​

local value = self.size
self.tint  -- Color

ViewModel and Artboard Inputs​

-- ViewModel inputs expose Property<T> fields that use .value
self.model.health.value
self.enemy:instance()

ViewModel Access (Main Artboard)​

function init(self: MyNode, context: Context): boolean
    local vm = context:viewModel()
    local score = vm and vm:getNumber("score")
    if score then
        print(score.value)
    end
    return true
end

Drawing Essentials​

Path​

local path = Path.new()
path:moveTo(Vector.xy(0, 0))
path:lineTo(Vector.xy(100, 0))
path:lineTo(Vector.xy(100, 100))
path:close()

If a path uses a fill, ensure the path is closed.

Paint​

local fill = Paint.with({ style = "fill", color = Color.rgb(80, 170, 255) })
local stroke = Paint.with({ style = "stroke", thickness = 4, color = Color.rgb(30, 60, 120) })

Renderer​

renderer:drawPath(path, fill)
renderer:save()
renderer:transform(Mat2D.withTranslation(50, 0))
renderer:drawPath(path, stroke)
renderer:restore()

Luau Essentials Used in Rive​

Tables (Arrays + Dictionaries)​

local list = {1, 2, 3}
local dict = {x = 10, y = 20}
for i, v in ipairs(list) do end
for k, v in pairs(dict) do end

Functions and Methods​

local function clamp(value: number, min: number, max: number): number
    return math.max(min, math.min(max, value))
end

function MyType:methodName()
end

String Interpolation​

print(`Score: {score}`)

Next Steps​