Installation
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Docs
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Changelog
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Contributing
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Alda is a text-based programming language for music composition. It allows you
to compose and play back music using only your text editor and the command line.
```alda
piano:
o3
g8 a b > c d e f+ g | a b > c d e f+ g4
g8 f+ e d c < b a g | f+ e d c < b a g4
<< g1/>g/>g/b/>d/g
```
> For more examples, see these [example scores](./examples/).
The language's design equally favors aesthetics, flexibility and ease of use.
(Why compose music this way instead of in a graphical sheet music notation
program? See [this blog post][alda-blog-post] for a brief history and
rationale.)
[alda-blog-post]: https://blog.djy.io/alda-a-manifesto-and-gentle-introduction/
## Features
* Easy to understand, markup-like syntax.
* Designed for musicians who don't know how to program, as well as programmers
who don't know how to music.
* A score is a text file that can be played using the `alda` command-line tool.
* [Interactive REPL](doc/alda-repl.md) lets you enter Alda code and hear the
results in real time.
* Supports [writing music
programmatically](doc/writing-music-programmatically.md) (for algorithmic
composition, live coding, etc.)
* Create MIDI music using any of the instruments in the [General MIDI Sound
Set][gm-sound-set]
[gm-sound-set]: http://www.midi.org/techspecs/gm1sound.php
### Planned
> If you'd like to help, come on in -- [the water's fine](#contributing)!
* [Run Alda in the browser](https://github.com/alda-lang/alda/discussions/455)
* [Define and use waveform synthesis instruments](https://github.com/alda-lang/alda/discussions/435)
* [Export to MusicXML](https://github.com/alda-lang/alda/discussions/424) for interoperability with other music software
* [Improve Raspberry Pi support](https://github.com/alda-lang/alda/discussions/456)
## Installation
See [the official website][alda-install] for instructions to install the latest
release of Alda.
[alda-install]: https://alda.io/install
### Building from source
Another option is to build Alda from source. Alda consists of two components:
the **client** (written in Go) and the **player** (written in Kotlin/Java).
```bash
# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/alda-lang/alda.git
cd alda
# Build the client and player executables
client/bin/build
player/bin/build
```
The executables are built in `client/target` and `player/target`, and the
output of the build commands shows you the path to the built executables, which
include builds for various OS/arch combinations.
For more details, see the READMEs in the [client](client/README.md) and
[player](player/README.md) directories.
## Demo
For an overview of available commands and options:
alda --help
To play a file containing Alda code:
alda play --file examples/bach_cello_suite_no_1.alda
To play arbitrary code at the command line:
alda play --code "piano: c6 d12 e6 g12~4"
To start an interactive [Alda REPL](doc/alda-repl.md) session:
alda repl
## Documentation
Alda's documentation can be found [here](doc/index.md).
## Contributing
We'd love your help -- Pull Requests welcome!
For more details on how you can contribute to Alda, see [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md).
> Another way you can contribute is by [sponsoring Dave][gh-sponsor] in the
> future development of Alda.
[gh-sponsor]: https://github.com/sponsors/daveyarwood
## Support, Discussion, Camaraderie
**Slack**: Joining the [Alda Slack group](http://slack.alda.io) is quick and
painless. Come say hi!
**Reddit**: Subscribe to the [/r/alda](https://www.reddit.com/r/alda/)
subreddit, where you can discuss all things Alda and share your Alda scores!
## License
Copyright © 2012-2026 Dave Yarwood et al
Distributed under the Eclipse Public License version 2.0.