Saving Modules

Learn how to export your compositions as reusable module files.

Saving Your Work

Quick Save

1. Click the Menu (☰) in the top bar
2. Click Save Module
3. A JSON file downloads to your computer

The filename includes a timestamp (e.g., module-2024-01-15-143022.json).

What Gets Saved

When you save a module, the JSON file contains:

Component	Description
baseNote	BaseNote properties (frequency, tempo, etc.)
notes	All notes with their expressions
measures	Measure bar positions (if any)

Expressions Are Preserved

The raw expressions are saved, not evaluated values:

{
  "frequency": "module.baseNote.getVariable('frequency').mul(new Fraction(3, 2))"
}

This means:

• Dependencies are preserved
• Loading in a different context works correctly
• Changing BaseNote after loading affects all notes

File Location

The saved file goes to your browser's default download location:

• Windows: Usually Downloads folder
• macOS: Usually Downloads folder
• Linux: Usually ~/Downloads

Adding to Module Bar

To make your module appear in the Module Bar:

Method 1: UI Upload

1. Open the Module Bar
2. Find the category where you want the module
3. Click the + placeholder
4. Select your saved JSON file
5. The module appears in that category

Method 2: Manual Installation (Local Development)

1. Copy your JSON file to a category folder:

   public/modules/custom/my-module.json

2. Edit the category's index.json:

   {
     "custom": [
       { "file": "my-module.json", "label": "My Module" }
     ]
   }

3. Restart the dev server or refresh

Best Practices

Naming

Choose descriptive names for your modules:

• ✓ major-seventh-chord.json
• ✓ chromatic-melody-dmaj.json
• ✗ test.json
• ✗ asdfasdf.json

Organization

Keep modules organized:

• Use categories meaningfully
• Group related modules together
• Delete old/unused modules

Documentation

Consider adding comments in your module (JSON doesn't support comments, but you can add a _description field):

{
  "_description": "A major seventh chord in just intonation",
  "baseNote": { ... },
  "notes": [ ... ]
}

Sharing Modules

Modules are portable JSON files that can be shared:

Email

Attach the JSON file to an email.

Cloud Storage

Upload to Google Drive, Dropbox, etc., and share the link.

GitHub

Create a repository of your modules for public sharing.

Direct Loading

Recipients can load your module via:

1. Menu > Load Module > Load from file
2. Or add to their Module Bar

No special software or account required - just the JSON file!

Versioning

For modules you iterate on:

1. Save with version numbers: my-song-v1.json, my-song-v2.json
2. Keep backups: Don't overwrite previous versions
3. Use git: Version control for serious module development

Export vs Save UI

Feature	Save Module	Save UI
Saves	Current composition	Module Bar layout
Format	Single module JSON	UI state JSON
Use case	Share/archive a piece	Preserve your library organization

Save Module: Exports what's in the workspace. Save UI: Exports your Module Bar organization.

Tips

1. Save frequently - There's no auto-save
2. Use descriptive names - You'll thank yourself later
3. Keep backups - Especially for important compositions
4. Test after saving - Load the file to verify it works
5. Simplify before sharing - Use "Evaluate to BaseNote" to reduce dependencies