LuaTeX is an extended version of pdfTeX using Lua as an embedded scripting language. The LuaTeX project's main objective is to provide an open and configurable variant of TeX while at the same time offering downward compatibility. From the user perspective we have pdfTeX as stable and more or less frozen 8 bit engine, XeTeX as unicode input and font aware engine using libraries for font handling, and LuaTeX as engine that is programmable and delegates as much as possible to Lua, with the objective to keep the core engine lean and mean. Each engine has its benefits and drawbacks (more details here).

At the TUG 2007 conference in San Diego, the first public beta of LuaTeX was presented. Most of that day was dedicated to the project, its outcomes and its objectives (this project is partly driven by the oriental TeX project). Videos of the conference can be seen here.