# LADSPA SDK v1.13 Overview

There is a large number of synthesis packages in use or development on the Linux platform at this time. The Linux Audio Developer's Simple Plugin API (LADSPA) attempts to give programmers the ability to write simple `plugin' audio processors in C/C++ and link them dynamically against a range of host applications.

Definitive technical documentation on LADSPA plugins for both host and plugin writers is contained within copious comments in the `ladspa.h` header file.

This SDK provides:

- The API header file.
- Ten simple example plugins that may be used as the basis for further development.
- A program (`analyseplugin') which analyses a plugin library and describes the plugins within it. This program may be used as the basis for further development.
- A simple host program (`applyplugin') which allows a chain of plugins to modify a Wave file. This host may be used as the basis for further development.
- A program (`listplugins') which searches directories on the `LADSPA_PATH` for LADSPA plugins. This program may be used as the basis for further development.