Thanks! If it would allow that the modules locally exist inside of a single ZIP file instead of the single directory, it would be almost exactly what I want.

Then the "getting started" would be

"download luajit

choose/download wanted packages along with their listed dependencies

unzip all over the same directory

(optional) rebuild binaries

(optional) zip all modules to modules.zip. <== new

run a demo: luajit ..._demo.lua

This will give you an instantly portable luajit distro with only a few small files!"

Java also has JAR files which are actually ZIPs.