Alda
Text-based music composition language; write and play back scores from your editor and terminal.
| Language | Go / Kotlin |
|---|---|
| Category | Composition & notation |
| License | EPL-2.0 |
| Platforms | macOS Windows Linux |
| Install | brew install alda, or install script from alda.io/install |
| First released | 2015 |
| Maintained | Yes |
| Links | Website · Source |
Strengths
- Readable notation with instruments, octaves, chords, voices
- Play scores directly from the CLI, no DAW required
- Cross-platform single-binary client
Limitations
- Playback uses built-in soundfont/MIDI, not hi-fi audio
- Oriented to written composition, not live performance
Best for
Composing multi-part scores as plain text.
Minimal example
piano:
o3 c d e f | g a b > c