<!--  vim: set sw=2 sts=2 et ft=docbk:

  Part of the A-A-P recipe executive: Getting started

  Copyright (C) 2002-2003 Stichting NLnet Labs
  Permission to copy and use this file is specified in the file COPYING.
  If this file is missing you can find it here: http://www.a-a-p.org/COPYING

-->

<para>
&Aap; is a program that builds (compiles and links) other
programs, much like the venerable make(1) program.
However, &Aap; uses the power of Python to make
the "recipes" (instructions on how to build a program)
more readable and more flexible.
&Aap; can also replace the age-old
autotools and make toolchain.
</para>

<para>
&Aap; does not trade power for complexity.
For many programs, you need only list the name
of the program, the sources and libraries it needs,
and &Aap; does the rest.
A powerful module system makes adding new programming languages
to &Aap;'s repertoire fairly straightforward.
</para>

<para>
&Aap; supports C, C++, D, Qt's moc, KDE's dcopidl, and libtool.
</para>


<bridgehead>Installation</bridgehead>


<para>
To start using &Aap; you must have two applications:
<itemizedlist>
  <listitem><para>Python version 1.5 or later</para></listitem>
  <listitem><para>&Aap;</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>

<para>
Python is often installed already.  Try this:
<literallayout>    <userinput>python -V</userinput>
</literallayout>
If you get a "Command not found" error you still need to install Python.
Help for this can be found on the Python web site:
<ulink url="http://www.python.org/download/">www.python.org/download/</ulink>.
</para>

<para>
For obtaining and installing &Aap; look here:
<ulink url="http://www.a-a-p.org/download.html">www.a-a-p.org/download.html</ulink>.
</para>

<para>
  A summary for the impatient:
<itemizedlist>
  <listitem><para>Create a directory called "aap/Exec".</para></listitem>
  <listitem><para>Download the latest &Aap; zip archive and unpack it in the
      new directory.</para></listitem>
  <listitem><para>Run "./aap install" or "aap install".</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>

<para>
To check if your &Aap; program is working, type this command:
<literallayout>    <userinput>aap --help</userinput>
</literallayout>
You should get a list of the command line arguments.
Note that there are two dashes before "help".
You can read details about the command line arguments in
<xref linkend="ref-arguments"/>.
</para>
