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Setting up SuperCollider

SC Learn runs entirely in the browser — no installation needed. But to go beyond the introductory exercises and use the full SuperCollider language, you need to install the real software on your computer. This guide covers the essentials.

01 — Download
SuperCollider is free and open source. Download it from supercollider.github.io — installers are available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Go to supercollider.github.io↗
02 — The IDE

SuperCollider comes with its own IDE (Integrated Development Environment). When you first open it, you will see three main areas:

editor
Code editor
The main panel where you write SuperCollider code. You can have multiple documents open as tabs.
post
Post window
The panel on the right. SuperCollider prints all its output here: server status, errors, evaluation results, and warnings. When something goes wrong, check the Post Window first.
help
Help browser
The built-in documentation. Access it from the Help menu, or select any word in the editor and press Cmd+D (Mac) / Ctrl+D (Win/Linux). The help pages include runnable examples.
03 — First steps
01
Open the IDE
After installing, launch the SuperCollider application. You will see the code editor on the left and the Post Window on the right.
02
Boot the audio server
SuperCollider separates the language from the audio engine. Type s.boot in the editor and press Cmd+Return (Mac) or Ctrl+Return (Win/Linux) to evaluate it. Watch the Post Window — it will show the server starting up.
03
Run your first sound
Once the server is running, type { SinOsc.ar(440, 0, 0.3) }.play and evaluate it. You should hear a sine wave at 440 Hz.
04
Stop all sound
Press Cmd+. (Mac) or Ctrl+. (Win/Linux) to stop all audio immediately. This shortcut works at any time and is the most important one to memorise.
05
Quit the server
When you are done, evaluate s.quit to shut down the audio server, or simply close the application.
04 — Key shortcuts
Evaluate code blockSelect the lines to evaluate, or wrap your code in ( ) — place the cursor anywhere inside and press the shortcut to run the whole block.
MacCmd + Return
Win / LinuxCtrl + Return
Evaluate current line
MacShift + Return
Win / LinuxShift + Return
Stop all soundThe most important shortcut to know — and the most important to develop as a reflex. The fastest way to stop any sound that is playing.
MacCmd + .
Win / LinuxCtrl + .
Open documentationClick on a UGen or expression in the editor first, then press the shortcut to open its documentation page.
MacCmd + D
Win / LinuxCtrl + D