In this paper we introduce key features of a programming language for building DAI and other types of distributed applications requiring the transmission and manipulation of complex symbolic data. The language is high-level and yet also offers a simple and smooth interface to other programming languages such as ``C''. April is oriented to the implementation of multi-agent systems. However, April is NOT a `multi-agent applications language'. It does not directly offer high level features such as: planners, problem solvers and knowledge representation systems that a multi-agent applications language might be expected to include. April is more an object based concurrent language with objects as processes. This is a highly suitable base for extension to DAI and multi-agent application platforms.