1. Introduction

1.1 Introduction to the GUAVA package

This is the manual of the GAP package GUAVA that provides implementations of some routines designed for the construction and analysis of in the theory of error-correcting codes. This version of GUAVA requires GAP 4.4.5 or later.

The functions can be divided into three subcategories:

GUAVA is written in the GAP language, and runs on any system supporting GAP4.4 and above. Several algorithms that need the speed were integrated in the GAP kernel.

Good general references for error-correcting codes and the technical terms in this manual are MacWilliams and Sloane [MS83] Huffman and Pless [HP03].

1.2 Installing GUAVA

To install GUAVA (as a GAP 4 Package) unpack the archive file in a directory in the `pkg' hierarchy of your version of GAP 4.

1.3 Loading GUAVA

After starting up GAP, the GUAVA package needs to be loaded. Load GUAVA by typing at the GAP prompt:


gap> LoadPackage( "guava" );

If GUAVA isn't already in memory, it is loaded and the author information is displayed. If you are a frequent user of GUAVA, you might consider putting this line in your `.gaprc' file.




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