* A-A-P is portable over many systems. At least most Unix variants, MS-Windows and possibly the Macintosh. * A-A-P is open source, free software. Most of it is under the GNU GPL. Interfaces and libraries are more free. * A-A-P is not a monolitic program. It is made out of separate modules with clear interfaces. Most of the work is done by existing tools. * Since network connections are slow and unreliable - and when using a laptop - a local copy of a file is often required. A-A-P caches files, obtains a new version when available and cleans up files that have not been used recently. * The more alternatives there are, the more choices a developer has to make. Making all these choices slows down development. Therefore A-A-P provides a preferred set of modules. Many people will be satisfied with most of these modules, but will still be able to use a different module where they have a preference. * A-A-P is available in a command-line version and in a GUI version. The command-line version works on a console and over a telnet connection. The GUI version is easier to use, but requires a windowing system. * A-A-P maintains a set of preferences. These are global to all projects but local to the user or system. This specifies where specific tools, libraries, documentation files, etc. can be found. This greatly reduces the need to configure a package when building or installing it. * English is used in the original code. Provisions are made to add translations through the use of message files. * Reliability is considered more important than fancy features. A-A-P is a tool you can rely on.

* Version control and workspace management * Provides controlled access to software assets, including requirements, design documents, models, test plans and test results. * Manages and controls source code, libraries, documentation, binaries, web artifacts and virtually any project artifact that can be represented as digital content. * Supports thousands of users, working at dozens of sites, managing terabytes of data. Provides development and integration models, private workspaces and public integration areas that allow you to work independently, yet collaborate effectively with the team. * Allows you to delete previous versions, create and delete branches, list version histories, and compare and merge versions. * Advanced parallel development * Facilitates more effective configuration management with improvements in performance, security, usability, integration and deployment. * Increases productivity with parallel development support, automated workspace management, asset reuse and activity-based change management. * Provides extensive support for parallel development, enabling developers to work on the same code base or release, more easily resolve conflicts and reduce confusion. * Isolates specific changes or versions, allowing multiple developers on the same and different teams to work independently from the same code base. * Creates applications more rapidly using parallel development support, automated workspace management and baseline management. * Effective IP security * Helps ensure high-quality code with security-rich version management and reliable build auditing. * Shows user authentication and audit trails to help your organization meet compliance requirements with minimal administrative hassle. * Provides a robust centralized repository where development assets are captured and versioned in a security-rich way. * Uses access control to help ensure that only authorized individuals make changes. * Provides access virtually anytime, anywhere to give you the freedom to work efficiently where and when needed. * Authoritative build auditing * Helps to prevent mistakes, reduce bugs and identify errors earlier in the delivery cycle to resolve issues more quickly. * Provides dynamic views for transparent access to versions of elements on the network. * Provides snapshot views to use local copies of file versions while disconnected from the network.