MuseScore

Raised as a usability problem by 23 people on Hacker News over 10 years (2015–2024), in 13 threads.

People raised many different problems with MuseScore, but no single problem has yet been raised by 3 people in 3 different months and threads.

Unreviewed issues were grouped by machine: Claude Haiku labelled each comment as a usability complaint, named what it's about and summed up the problem in a line, and a small model grouped similar problems. Nobody has checked them by hand. Expect mistakes.

The newest 24 complaints

MusicXML import and export is badly broken and worse than the previous version2024-08-27
Strict timing rules make it hard to freely enter notes and text2024-02-24
Redesign broke the user's existing workflows, forcing a switch to another tool2023-11-12
Almost every interaction exposes some bug, making it hard to use2023-09-30
Website implies transposing needs the mobile app and pro account, hiding desktop option2023-08-15
Measure Properties dialog opens behind the main window, so users can't find it2023-08-15
Writing melody and harmony first then fixing timing is made difficult and fiddly2023-08-15
Downloads show 'PRO subscription required' while account says subscription is active, with support never replying2023-08-14
Inserting or deleting notes doesn't reflow bars, forcing workarounds in another app2023-08-14
Signup and subscription flow uses dark patterns that push people into paying unknowingly2023-08-14
Takes 10+ seconds to respond after a few phrases are entered2023-07-21
Each score opens in a separate window, and closing one score can quit others or leave an empty window2023-07-12
Typing notes has 100-200ms lag, making input feel unresponsive2023-07-12
Areas still in desperate need of a better UI/UX for regular users2023-07-12
Nothing works the way user expects; spends half the time fighting it inserting notes2023-07-12
Finds the website annoying; official scores can't be viewed without paying2022-12-14
Stuck in overwrite mode, so rhythm must be fixed first and inserting is obscure2022-12-14
Could only input one note from digital piano before it stopped recognizing input2021-01-18
Massive embellishment list must be scrolled through to find one2021-01-09
Works well but is fiddly to use for a beginner2020-11-05
Can't nudge a note sideways; must cut and paste, which is frustrating when a note is off by a quarter beat2020-06-15
UI is frustrating and gets in the way of simple notation2020-06-15
Significant UX issues, getting worse with each release2020-06-15
Visual WYSIWYG editing makes experienced users manually fuss with note positions, which becomes tedious2015-10-07