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Overview

While connected, run Lua code on the server from VS Code. All options below except refresh require an execution realm. The selected realm controls where the code runs.

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Realm targeting

By default, code runs on the server realm. You can change the selected realm in either place:
  1. Command Palette → GLua: Set Realm
  2. Realm selector on bottom status bar
When you target client, code runs on all connected players. GLuaLS sends a net message to all clients with the code to execute. You can find this code in the generated debug.lua file in autorun.

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Run selected Lua

  1. Select any Lua code in the editor
  2. Right-click → GLua: Run Selected
GLuaLS sends the selected code to the chosen realm and runs it. Output appears in the Debug Console.

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Run current file

This runs the saved current file from your workspace. GLuaLS sends the file path to the server for execution.
Run the current file:
  1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)
  2. Run GLua: Run Current File

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Run a server command

Execute a SRCDS console command:
  1. Open the Command Palette
  2. Run GLua: Run Command
  3. Type the command (e.g., lua_run print("Hello"))
The Debug Console shows the output.

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Refresh File (Lua Refresh / Hot Reload)

Refresh a file on the server without restarting. Use this if you have Lua refresh disabled.
  1. Make your changes in the editor and save
  2. Right-click in the editor → GLua: Refresh File on Server
This triggers Lua refresh on the specified file.

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Debug Console

The Debug Console (Ctrl+Shift+Y) is the most direct way to interact. Any input is evaluated as a Lua expression on the server (or the targeted realm): 
> print(game.GetMap())
gm_flatgrass

> for k, v in pairs(ents.GetAll()) do print(v:GetClass()) end
prop_physics
prop_physics
player
-- ...
This works like lua_run in the server console, but VS Code shows the output.