Is tl;dr used very much outside of the computer programming community?

I read tl;dr a lot in computer articles. It is used to give a condensed version of a long report. (It may mean, "Too Long; Didn't Read.")

Is it safe to use that term or jargon in common writing outside the computer field, or should I use "Summary"?

Solution 1:

tl;dr is internet slang. It did indeed originate as "too long; didn't read" and effectively still means that.

It's common enough outside of computing. But it's not in any way formal English. You shouldn't use it except in places where internet slang is acceptable. Appropriate synonyms are "summary" and "abstract".

tl;dr - don't use it anywhere you wouldn't write 'LOL'