hledger

Record new transactions interactively, saving to the default journal file

$ hledger add

$ hledger import [path/to/bank.csv]

$ hledger print [[-f|--file]] [path/to/prices-2024.journal] [[-f|--file]] [path/to/prices-2023.journal]

$ hledger accounts [[-t|--tree]] --types

$ hledger [[bs|balancesheet]] [[-E|--empty]] [[-t|--tree]] --no-elide

$ hledger [[is|incomestatement]] [[-M|--monthly]] [[-T|--row-total]] [[-A|--average]] --sort [[-2|--depth 2]]

$ hledger [[areg|aregister]] assets:bank:checking

$ hledger print assets:cash | hledger [[-f|--file]] - [[-I|--ignore-assertions]] aregister expenses:food

hledger [GLOBAL_OPTIONS] [COMMAND_OPTIONS] [ARGUMENTS]

Examples of common commands:
hledger [GLOBAL_OPTIONS] balance [ACCOUNT_REGEX...]
hledger [GLOBAL_OPTIONS] register [ACCOUNT_REGEX...]
hledger [GLOBAL_OPTIONS] add [ACCOUNT_REGEX...]

--file FILE, -f FILE
    Path to the journal file to use.

--output-format FORMAT, -o FORMAT
    Specifies the output format (e.g., csv, json, html, text).

--start DATE, -b DATE
    Includes transactions on or after the specified date.

--end DATE, -e DATE
    Includes transactions on or before the specified date.

--period PERIOD, -p PERIOD
    Filters data for a specific period (e.g., "last month", "2023").

--depth N
    Limits the display depth of accounts in hierarchical reports.

--query QUERY
    Filters transactions or posts using a search query (e.g., "food and (date:2023/01/01..2023/01/31)").

--cost
    Displays amounts using their original cost.

--value
    Displays amounts using their current market value.

hledger is a powerful, cross-platform command-line utility for double-entry accounting. It manages financial data stored in plain text files (often .journal or .hledger files). Inspired by the original Ledger command, hledger brings its own set of features and a Haskell implementation, focusing on reliability and a consistent user experience. It allows users to track income, expenses, assets, and liabilities by entering transactions in a human-readable format. hledger can generate various financial reports, including balance sheets, income statements, registers, and more, directly from the command line. Its plain text format makes it highly flexible, version-controllable (e.g., with Git), and future-proof, avoiding vendor lock-in typical of proprietary accounting software. It supports advanced features like recurring transactions, commodities, budgeting, and multiple currencies, making it suitable for both personal and small business finance management.

• Learning Curve: Requires understanding of double-entry accounting and its specific plain-text file format.
• Text-based: No GUI by default; interaction is purely through the command line.
• Strict Syntax: The journal file syntax is precise; minor errors can lead to unexpected results.
• Data Integrity: User is responsible for backing up journal files.

Financial data is stored in simple, human-readable text files, making it highly flexible, portable, and easily integrable with version control systems like Git for tracking changes.

Being a command-line tool, hledger can be easily scripted and integrated into custom workflows, allowing for automation of reporting or data input.

Handles transactions and reports across multiple currencies with automated price fetching capabilities.

hledger emerged as a reimplementation of the popular Ledger CLI accounting system, written in Haskell. Its development began in 2008, aiming to provide a robust, reliable, and easily maintainable alternative to Ledger's C++ codebase. While inspired by Ledger's concepts and command-line interface, hledger has evolved with its own distinct features, a slightly different syntax interpretation, and a strong focus on correctness and user-friendliness inherent to the Haskell language. It has gained a dedicated community and is actively maintained, becoming a significant tool in the plain text accounting ecosystem.

ledger(1), beancount(1), git(1)