# Jan Nieuwenhuizen

> Dutch programmer

**Wikidata**: [Q18602659](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18602659)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jan-nieuwenhuizen

## Summary
Jan Nieuwenhuizen is a Dutch programmer and software engineer born in 1968. He is best known as a member of the GNU Project and the creator of the software programs LilyPond and GNU Mes. He operates as a freelancer in the field of software development.

## Biography
*   **Born:** April 28, 1968
*   **Nationality:** Kingdom of the Netherlands
*   **Known for:** Creating LilyPond and GNU Mes; membership in the GNU Project
*   **Employer(s):** Freelancer
*   **Field(s):** Software Engineering, Programming
*   **Languages:** Dutch, English

## Contributions
Jan Nieuwenhuizen has made distinct contributions to the free software community through the creation and maintenance of specific technical tools. His primary notable works include **LilyPond**, a software project referenced in GNU Project records, and **GNU Mes**, a distinct software tool for which he is recognized as a speaker and developer.

In addition to these specific projects, Nieuwenhuizen serves as a **member of the GNU Project**, contributing to the broader ecosystem of free software. He maintains a professional profile as a freelancer, offering software engineering expertise. His work is documented across various academic and technical platforms, including DBLP and Semantic Scholar, and he maintains a personal website, *Joy of Source*, where his bio and professional history are hosted. He is also associated with the Dezyne project on GNU Savannah.

## FAQs

### Q: What is Jan Nieuwenhuizen best known for?
A: He is best known for developing **LilyPond** and **GNU Mes**. He is also a recognized member of the GNU Project.

### Q: What is Jan Nieuwenhuizen's professional background?
A: He is a Dutch programmer and software engineer who works as a freelancer.

### Q: What languages does Jan Nieuwenhuizen speak?
A: According to his profile data, he speaks and writes in **Dutch** and **English**.

## Why They Matter
Jan Nieuwenhuizen matters to the software engineering field due to his role in building and maintaining critical infrastructure within the free software landscape. As a member of the **GNU Project**, his work contributes to the foundation of the free software movement, which prioritizes user freedom to run, study, and modify software.

His development of **GNU Mes** is particularly significant in the context of bootstrapping and reducing binary sizes in free software distributions, though specific technical impacts are derived from the project's existence and his role as a speaker on the subject. Furthermore, his work on **LilyPond** provides a specialized tool for the community. His long-standing presence is verified by multiple academic and professional repositories, highlighting a sustained contribution to computer science and open-source development.

## Notable For
*   **Creator of LilyPond:** A notable work listed under his GNU Project membership.
*   **Creator of GNU Mes:** A recognized software project in the free software community.
*   **GNU Project Member:** Officially listed member contributing to free software.
*   **Freelance Software Engineer:** Operates independently in the tech industry.
*   **Cross-Platform Presence:** Recognized across Wikidata, DBLP, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

## Body

### Personal Background
Jan Nieuwenhuizen was born on April 28, 1968. He is a male citizen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is fluent in Dutch and English. He sometimes uses the aliases "janneke" or "Janneke Nieuwenhuizen."

### Professional Career
Nieuwenhuizen is identified professionally as a programmer, software engineer, and freelancer. He is a member of the **GNU Project**, a free software mass collaboration project. His professional affiliations and contributions are tracked on his official website, *Joy of Source*, and his LinkedIn profile.

### Key Projects
Nieuwenhuizen has developed two specific pieces of software noted for their significance:
*   **LilyPond:** Cited as a notable work in GNU Project records.
*   **GNU Mes:** Referenced as a notable work associated with his speaking appearances (e.g., FOSDEM 2019).

### Online Presence
He maintains an active digital footprint across several platforms:
*   **Websites:** joyofsource.com
*   **Code Repositories:** GitLab (username: janneke), GNU Savannah (username: janneke)
*   **Academic Profiles:** DBLP Author ID 299/1661, Semantic Scholar Author ID 2122654845, ResearchGate ID 2199199397.

## References

1. [Source](https://joyofsource.com/about.html)
2. [GNU's Who](https://www.gnu.org/people/people.html#j)
3. [Source](https://archive.fosdem.org/2019/schedule/speaker/jan_janneke_nieuwenhuizen/)
4. [Source](https://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/dezyne/)