Alda is a text-based programming language for music composition that lets you write and play music from your text editor and command line.
Alda solves the problem of composing music without requiring knowledge of either traditional music notation software or programming languages. It uses a markup-like syntax designed to be accessible to musicians unfamiliar with programming and programmers unfamiliar with music theory. You write scores as text files that the command-line tool can play back, and an interactive REPL lets you enter code and hear results in real time. The tool generates MIDI music using instruments from the General MIDI Sound Set, and supports programmatic composition for algorithmic and live-coding approaches.
Alda suits musicians and composers who prefer working in text editors, developers interested in algorithmic composition, and anyone seeking an alternative to graphical notation software. The project is particularly useful if you want to version-control your music as plain text or integrate music generation into larger programs. The tool's current capabilities focus on MIDI playback; planned features include browser-based execution, waveform synthesis instruments, MusicXML export for compatibility with other music software, and improved Raspberry Pi support.
Work in the issue tracker centers on bug fixes, low-hanging fruit improvements, and feature development, indicating active maintenance focused on both stability and incremental enhancement.
