LiE does not compute directly with elements of the Lie groups and algebras themselves; it rather computes with weights, roots, characters and similar objects. Some specialities of LiE are: tensor product decompositions, branching to subgroups, Weyl group orbits, reduced elements in Weyl groups, distinguished coset representatives and much more. These operations have been compiled into the program which results in fast execution: typically one or two orders of magnitude faster than similar programs written in a general purpose program.
The LiE programming language makes it possible to customise and extend the package with more mathematical functions. A user manual is provided containing many examples.
LiE establishes an interactive environment from which commands can be given that involve basic programming primitives and powerful built-in functions. These commands are read by an interpreter built into the package and passed to the core of the system. This core consists of programs representing some 100 mathematical functions. The interpreter offers on-line facilities which explain operations and functions, and which give background information about Lie group theoretical concepts and about currently valid definitions and values.
A more extensive description of LiE is availble as a dvi file.