# bard
[](https://crates.io/crates/bard) [](https://github.com/vojtechkral/bard/actions/workflows/CI.yaml)
Markdown → songbooks.
_bard_ is a songbook compiler that reads Markdown files and produces songbooks in PDF, HTML, and [Hovorka](http://karel-hovorka.eu/zpevnik/).
_bard_ reads files like this:
```Markdown
# Wild Mountain Thyme
## Irish & Scottish traditional
1. Oh the `G`summer `C`time `G`has come
And the `C`trees are sweetly `G`bloomin'
And the `C`wild `G`mountain `Em`thyme
Grows `C`around the `Am`bloomin' `C`heather
Will ye `G`go `C`lassie `G`go?
> And we'll `C`all go `G`together to pull `C`wild `G`mountain `Em`thyme
All `C`around the `Am`bloomin' `C`heather, will ye `G`go `C`lassie `G`go?
```
... and creates output like this:

Check out the [Example PDF](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vojtechkral/bard/main/example/output/songbook.pdf)
from the [Example project](./example).
---
### [Getting Started](https://bard.md/book/install.html)
---
## Features
- _bard_ is a command-line tool
- Project-oriented: A single `bard.toml` defines inputs, outputs and other configuration
- Easy-to-use source format: Markdown
- Output formats:
- PDF via TeX
- HTML
- [Hovorka XML](http://karel-hovorka.eu/zpevnik/)
- JSON and XML for machine processing
- Transposition and notation conversion
- Optional auto-generated second chord set
- Templating: Outputs are fully customizable with [Handlebars](https://handlebarsjs.com/) templates
## Code Contributors
[](https://github.com/vojtechkral/bard/graphs/contributors)