GAP (Groups, Algorithms and Programming) is a computer algebra system for computational discrete algebra with particular emphasis on, but not restricted to computational group theory. GAP was developed at Lehrstuhl D für Mathematik (LDFM), RWTH Aachen, Germany from 1986 to 1997. After the retirement of J. Neubüser from the chair of LDFM, the development and maintenance of GAP is coordinated by the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Several users have contributed to the system via share packages which can be used in the same form as the main library. There are presently (Jul. '99) two versions in distribution:
- Version 4 .3 (GAP 4r3), incorporates several new basic features developed over the last years. In particular it provides much improved possibilities for defining mathematical structures of your own special interest.
- Version 3.4, patchlevel 4, (GAP 3.4.4) released April 1997 is still available as some of its features and share packages are not yet available for GAP 4. However it is not developed further any longer.