Instructions for Downloading GAP

Read everything before you start!

  1. Go to http://www.gap-system.org/Download/ (link opens a new window)
  2. Scroll down to "The Basic Steps of GAP Installation", and follow the directions.
  3. NOTE: Right below the aforementioned heading, there are alternate installation options for Linux and Windows. The Windows installer includes step-by-step instructions with screen pictures, especially handy for those of us who are computer-challenged and not hip enough to have Macs.
  4. See the bottom of the webpage for "When Things Go Wrong" as needed; a local systems administrator can also help out, and you are welcome to also try to contact the organizers for assistance (when we will turn around and ask our techie). Experienced users willing to help out will also be available at the workshop.
  5. The very bottom of the webpage provides a link to a very basic GAP tutorial to check out, or go directly to http://www.gap-system.org/Manuals/doc/htm/tut/chapters.htm Further documentation, including reference manuals and other tutorial materials and links of interest are available at http://www.gap-system.org/Doc/doc.html and http://euler.slu.edu/Dept/Faculty/rainbolt/PREPtutorial.pdf
  6. Beyond the core package, a list of additional GAP packages that may be of interest (e.g., QuaGroups for computing with quantum groups) and links to downloading them appear at http://www.gap-system.org/Packages/packages.html

Note from Frank Luebeck

Here is a small clarification for the instructions above:

If you follow "The Basic Steps of GAP Installation" you have already installed all current "additional GAP packages". We don't recommend (and don't mention this possibility in our installation instructions) to not install the packages.

The packages can be updated by the respective authors independently of the core GAP system, and the download links under http://www.gap-system.org/Packages/packages.html are for users who want to upgrade single packages.

For Linux users the shortly mentioned "alternate installation option" is very convenient, since all the packages are readily installed (a non-trivial task).

Best regards,

Frank