hledger/doc/site/index.md

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<h2 class="panel-title">Get started</h2>
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**[Install](download.html)**,
read the **[tutorial](step-by-step.html)**
or **[manual](manual.html)**
or **[blog posts](more-docs.html#blog-posts-articles)**,
or join us on IRC or the mail list.

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|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| IRC                       | [#hledger](http://irc.hledger.org) (see also [#ledger](http://webchat.freenode.net?channels=ledger&randomnick=1))
| Mail list&nbsp;&nbsp;     | via [google](http://list.hledger.org) or [gmane](http://news.gmane.org/gmane.comp.finance.ledger.hledger)
| Twitter                   | [#ledgercli](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ledgercli&src=typd&f=realtime), <a href="https://twitter.com/ledgertips">@LedgerTips</a>
| Github                    | [code](http://github.com/simonmichael/hledger), [bugs](http://bugs.hledger.org), [issues](http://issues.hledger.org)
| More...&nbsp;&nbsp;       | [quick links](http://hledger.org/developer-guide.html#quick-links)

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# hledger is...

### a lightweight, dependable, cross-platform accounting program

<img src="/images/coins2-248.png" width="" height="200" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em;" />
hledger is a computer program for easily tracking money, time, or
other commodities, on unix, mac and windows. With simple yet powerful
functionality accessed from command line or web browser, it is a
reliable, lightweight alternative to Quicken or GnuCash. I
use it for:

- tracking spending and income
- seeing time reports by day/week/month/project
- getting accurate numbers for client billing and tax filing
- tracking invoices
- building financial and time clarity and serenity

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### Free&nbsp;software

hledger is available under the GNU GPLv3+, which helps ensure that it
will remain free and available for as long as you need it.  It has
been developed as a community project by
[Simon Michael](http://joyful.com) and
[contributors](contributors.html) since 2007.
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### inspired by Ledger

hledger was inspired by and maintains substantial compatibility with [Ledger](faq.html#hledger-and-ledger),
and is part of the enthusiastic and supportive "*ledger" community.
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### a command-line tool, that respects your data

hledger is first a command-line tool. It follows Ledger's philosophy:
your data lives in a simple, safe, plain text file which you can edit
any way you wish; hledger reads that file and produces reports of
various kinds, without changing your data. (It can help you add new
transactions, but does not change existing ones.)
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### ...with a web UI

hledger comes with a built-in web server providing an alternate
[browser-based interface](manual.html#web)
([demo](http://demo.hledger.org)), for assisted data entry and point
and click reporting. The web and command-line clients can be used
simultaneously.  </div>

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### a Haskell application and library

hledger is written in Haskell, a modern and highly-regarded
programming language which contributes to hledger's robustness,
performance and long-term maintainability.  Most functionality is
exposed as reusable Haskell
[libraries](http://hackage.haskell.org/package/hledger-lib), making it
easy to write your own hledger-compatible
[scripts](more-docs.html#scripting-examples), [add-ons](manual.html#add-ons) and
applications.
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### documented

Complete, accurate documentation is always a top priority.
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### comfortable for techies, usable by all

hledger aims to be useful to both computer experts and regular folks.
Currently it is a bit more suited to power users, who appreciate the
power of text files, revision control, scriptability and double entry
accounting. The web interface helps make it accessible to GUI-only
folk as well.
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### focussed on serving the user

hledger strives to be usable, practical and to provide real-world value.
I've been depending on it and improving it since 2007.
I needed a tool like this badly, and I want to keep it growing and helping others who can also benefit.
You can help!
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