1.4 Command line setup

On many GNU/Linux distributions, LilyPond can be installed from the package manager. This is also the case on macOS using either MacPorts or Homebrew.

In any case, you can install LilyPond by downloading the archive from Download and unpacking it. The binaries are usable immediately after unpacking. You can run

/.../lilypond-x.y.z/bin/lilypond file.ly

(on Windows, replace the slashes ‘/’ with backslashes ‘\’).

This compiles file.ly, and produces file.pdf. To test your setup, you can use this minimal file:

\version "2.25.21"

{ c' }

This will produce this output in file.pdf:

Now continue with the Tutorial to learn more about LilyPond’s syntax, or see Command-line usage for more information on calling LilyPond on the command line.