                             The FR package

This is the README file for the GAP package "FR",
version $Id: README,v 1.7 2008/08/25 09:13:56 gap Exp $

This package implements Functionally Recursive and Mealy automata in
GAP. These objects can be manipulated as group elements, and various
specific commands allow their manipulation as automorphisms of infinite
rooted trees. Permutation quotients can also be created and manipulated
as standard GAP groups or semigroups.

This release (0.857142) only contains algorithms for only the most simple
operations. It is planned  to implement in this package all algorithmic
progress (compute a presentation, ...) in the future.

The package is distributed in source form, and does not require anything
else than a running GAP 4.4 or later. For updates, check

     http://mad.epfl.ch/~laurent/FR/
  
To use the package, start GAP and type

LoadPackage("FR");

The "FR" package banner should appear on the screen.

For details on how to use the FR package, please consult the documentation.
It should be compiled, after the command `LoadPackage("FR")', by invoking

FR_LOCAL.DOC();

The documentation will then be available in the `doc' subdirectory
(view either `manual.dvi' via `xdvi' or or `manual.pdf' via a PDF
viewer).

Roots of complex polynomials may be computed to machine precision,
through a DLL connection to an external C module. This module is only
needed for experimental code dealing with complex dynamics and iterated
monodromy groups; it is not necessary for main FR functionality. To compile it:
- Edit Makefile so that the first two lines, GAPPATH and LOCALBIN, point
  respectively to the location of the root of your GAP distribution and
  the location of binaries within that distribution; typically,
  GAPPATH=/usr/local/lib/gap4r4
  LOCALBIN=bin/i686-pc-linux-gnu-gcc
- run 'make' in FR's root directory.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or any
later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program, in the file COPYING.  If not, see
<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

  Laurent Bartholdi, Lausanne, $Date: 2008/08/25 09:13:56 $
