[GRASS-dev] GRASS and QGIS on Win32, testing etc.

[Benjamin Ducke]

My experiences would be along the same lines: GRASS + QGIS is far easier
to teach to people as you don't have the whole burden of learning Unix
coming down on them at the same time they are struggling with basic GIS
principles.

Also, GRASS + QGIS can be run from e.g. a USB drive: no administration
privileges necessary = no need to bother with IT staff.

Of course, this does not speak against also providing an up-to-date
Cygwin version, but we cannot use that as an excuse to not try and get a
fully working GRASS + QGIS package out of the door as soon as possible
-- I think.

Benjamin

Michael Barton wrote:
> 
> 
> On 5/22/07 12:22 AM, "Hamish" <hamish_nospam at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
>> I can't help with negotiations with afraid-of-the-unknown IT staff, but
>> the Cygwin 6.2.1 package should be much easier to install than previous
>> versions, so try again if you haven't in a while. It's nothing like a
>> grass_setup.exe, but it is much smoother than it was.
>>
> 
> I agree with your sentiment about making a useable, stable version availble
> to people. GRASS under Cygwin is indeed a complete Linux version running
> under Windows.
> 
> However, in addition to the problem of Lab IT managers (not insubstantial if
> I want to use a university computer classroom to teach GIS), Cygwin seems to
> run into repeated permissions issues under  Windows. It is especially
> difficult if it is on a machine that more than one person uses (i.e.,
> multiple accounts). I've worked with very cooperative IT people who have yet
> to be able to solve this sufficiently.
> 
> Another issue is that the installation is fairly easy for a single user
> (though it remains complicated), but does not lend itself to installation on
> a bunch of lab workstations. If Cygwin and GRASS could come as a single
> *.exe file on a CD, it would be a LOT better for many users and lab
> managers.
> 
> Finally, using GRASS under Cygwin, puts the user into an unfamiliar
> environment. This is understandably confusing for many Windows users. GRASS
> may work just fine, but it is working under Linux/Unix, which simply offers
> a different user experience than stock Windows.
> 
> We definitely need to keep the Cygwin installation because it IS a
> full-featured version of GRASS that is EXACTLY the same as the *nix
> versions. However, there are a number of important reasons to place a high
> priority on getting a Windows-native version out the door too.
> 
> Michael
> 
> __________________________________________
> Michael Barton, Professor of Anthropology
> School of Human Evolution & Social Change
> Center for Social Dynamics & Complexity
> Arizona State University
> 
> phone: 480-965-6213
> fax: 480-965-7671
> www: http://www.public.asu.edu/~cmbarton
> 
> 
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> 

-- 
Benjamin Ducke, M.A.
Archäoinformatik
(Archaeoinformation Science)
Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte
(Inst. of Prehistoric and Historic Archaeology)
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Johanna-Mestorf-Straße 2-6
D 24098 Kiel
Germany

Tel.: ++49 (0)431 880-3378 / -3379
Fax : ++49 (0)431 880-7300
www.uni-kiel.de/ufg