MuseScore
Full-featured free music-notation and composition app with a QML/JavaScript plugin API.
| Language | C++ (plugins in QML/JS) |
|---|---|
| Category | Composition & notation |
| License | GPL-3.0-only |
| Platforms | macOS Windows Linux |
| Install | Download the installer from musescore.org, or install distro packages |
| First released | ~2002 |
| Maintained | Yes |
| Links | Website · Source |
Strengths
- Professional-grade notation, playback and export
- Extensible via a QML/JS plugin API
- Large community and active development
Limitations
- Heavyweight; plugin API changes across major versions
- Not built for tracker/loop-based workflows
Best for
Composing, engraving and sharing conventional sheet music.
Minimal example
import MuseScore 3.0
MuseScore {
onRun: { console.log(curScore.nmeasures); Qt.quit() }
}