Geometric computing with chain complexes allows for the computation of the whole chain of linear spaces and (co)boundary operators generated by a space decomposition into a cell complex. The space decomposition is stored and handled with LAR (Linear Algebraic Representation), i.e. with sparse integer arrays, and allows for using cells of a very general type, even non convex and with internal holes. In this paper we discuss the features and the merits of this approach, and describe the goals and ...