Get started
**[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.
|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| IRC | [#hledger](http://irc.hledger.org) (see also [#ledger](http://webchat.freenode.net?channels=ledger&randomnick=1))
| Mail list | 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),
@LedgerTips
| Github | [code](http://github.com/simonmichael/hledger), [bugs](http://bugs.hledger.org), [issues](http://issues.hledger.org)
| More... | [quick links](http://hledger.org/developer-guide.html#quick-links)
# hledger is...
### a lightweight, dependable, cross-platform accounting program
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
### Free 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.
### 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.
### 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.)
### ...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.
### 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.
### documented
Complete, accurate documentation is always a top priority.
### 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.
### 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!
**[Gittip](https://www.gittip.com/simonmichael/)**