_why the lucky stiff was not only a programmer and writer — he was also a musician. He released music under several names, and the Poignant Guide had an associated soundtrack that readers could listen to while working through the book.
The Original Soundtrack
The original soundtrack to the Poignant Guide was released alongside the book. It was available for download from this domain until _why’s disappearance in 2009. The music has been preserved by community members and is available in multiple archives.
_why’s Music Projects
_why released music under various names and in various contexts throughout his time in the Ruby community. His musical output, like his code and writing, was characterized by unusual juxtapositions and a distinctly personal aesthetic. Some of his music is archived in the whymirror GitHub organization, which community members have used to preserve his work.
Whyday Music Tradition
Each year on August 19th — the anniversary of _why’s disappearance — programmers around the world observe Whyday by releasing creative, experimental, or absurd projects. Music has been a recurring part of these celebrations. whyday.org