What it is

Audacity is an open-source audio editor and recorder written in C++ and distributed under free software terms. It lives in the open-source desktop audio editing ecosystem, where it provides a multi-track interface for recording and editing audio on Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. The README describes the project as an easy-to-use audio tool, and the repository contains both the Audacity 3.x line and the in-progress Audacity 4 line.

The concrete problem it addresses is the need for a cross-platform application that can handle audio tracks and recording tasks. The README describes Audacity as a multi-track audio editor and recorder, so it is aimed at users who need to arrange, record, and edit sound rather than only play it back. The repository is also undergoing major structural change, because Audacity 4 introduces a new user interface and many refactorings, while Audacity 3.x patch work remains available through a separate branch.

Key capabilities

• Audacity provides multi-track audio editing, allowing users to work with more than one audio track inside the application.
• Audacity provides audio recording, so it can capture sound as well as edit existing audio material.
• Audacity runs on Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems, making it a cross-platform editor rather than a single-system tool.
• Audacity is built as a C++ application and is associated with wxWidgets applications, as indicated by the repository language and topic list.
• Audacity is distributed under free software terms, with GPLv3 listed for the project and most code files described as GPLv2-or-later.

Who uses it and how

• Users on Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems can use Audacity as a desktop audio editor and recorder.
• People who need to record and edit multiple audio tracks can use Audacity for multi-track sound work.
• Contributors who want to work on the 3.x line can submit patches by branching from audacity3 instead of using the master branch.
• Builders can follow the linked BUILDING.md instructions for Audacity 3.x or Audacity 4 to compile the application from source.

Getting started

The README points users to the Audacity website for more information and to branch-specific BUILDING.md files for compiling Audacity 3.x and Audacity 4. Contributors working on Audacity 3.x should branch from audacity3, while new contributors should be aware that the master branch is currently not particularly friendly because of the ongoing structural change.

When to use it — and when not to

Audacity is a good fit when someone needs a free, cross-platform, multi-track audio editor and recorder. It is less suitable for new contributors who expect a friendly master branch, because the repository is undergoing major structural change for Audacity 4. Users also need to understand the branch split, and the license details include exceptions for third-party libraries and VST3-related code.