> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.firela.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Beancount Basics

> Introduction to Beancount syntax for FIREla

# Beancount Basics

FIREla is built on [Beancount](http://furius.ca/beancount/), a plain text double-entry accounting system.

## What is Beancount?

Beancount is a text-based accounting format that:

* Uses plain text files you can edit with any text editor
* Supports double-entry bookkeeping
* Is version-control friendly (Git)
* Is human-readable and auditable

## Basic Syntax

### Account Declaration

```beancount theme={null}
1990-01-01 open Assets:Bank:Checking USD
1990-01-01 open Liabilities:CreditCard USD
1990-01-01 open Expenses:Food USD
1990-01-01 open Income:Salary USD
```

### Transactions

```beancount theme={null}
2024-01-15 * "Grocery shopping"
  Expenses:Food:Groceries    50.00 USD
  Assets:Bank:Checking      -50.00 USD
```

### Balance Assertions

```beancount theme={null}
2024-01-31 balance Assets:Bank:Checking 1000.00 USD
```

## Key Concepts

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Double Entry" icon="scale-balanced">
    Every transaction has equal debits and credits
  </Card>

  <Card title="Plain Text" icon="file-code">
    Your data is readable, portable, and version-controllable
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Learn More

* [Official Beancount Documentation](https://beancount.github.io/docs/)
* [Beancount Cheat Sheet](https://beancount.io/docs/Basics/cheatsheet)