[GRASS-SVN] r42821 - grass-web/trunk/announces

[svn_grass at osgeo.org]

Author: hamish
Date: 2010-07-17 22:50:24 +0000 (Sat, 17 Jul 2010)
New Revision: 42821

Modified:
   grass-web/trunk/announces/abstract_grass640.txt
Log:
merge in short version and then make it even shorter

Modified: grass-web/trunk/announces/abstract_grass640.txt
===================================================================
--- grass-web/trunk/announces/abstract_grass640.txt	2010-07-17 21:49:12 UTC (rev 42820)
+++ grass-web/trunk/announces/abstract_grass640.txt	2010-07-17 22:50:24 UTC (rev 42821)
@@ -1,59 +1,29 @@
-GRASS GIS releases version 6.4.0
+GRASS GIS 6.4.0 released
 [DATE]
 http://grass.osgeo.org
 
-GRASS 6.4 XXXXXXXXXXXXXX....XXX release, the first beta on the
-path to GRASS 6.4-stable, and also marks the start of work on GRASS 7.
-As such GRASS 6.3.0 is not intended to be a stable release with ongoing
-support, but after five months of quality-assurance review users can be
-confident to use this version for their day to day work, indeed due to
-the open development model many already do.
 
-This release brings hundreds of new module features, supported data
-formats, and language translations, as well as a number of exciting
-enhancements to the GIS. A prototype of the new wxPython user interface
-is debuted, and for the the first since its inception with a port from 
-the VAX 11/780 in 1983, GRASS will run on a non-UNIX based platform:
-MS-Windows. This is currently still in an experimental state and we hope
-that widespread testing of 6.3.0 will mean the 6.4 release of WinGRASS
-will be fully functional and robust. Existing users will be happy to
-know that these new features do not disrupt the base GIS which remains
-as solid as ever and fully backwards compatible with earlier GRASS 6.0
-and GRASS 6.2 releases.
+We are pleased to announce the new stable version of GRASS GIS. As a
+stable release GRASS 6.4 will enjoy long term support. While active
+development has continued in the background, due to our highly
+conservative stabilization policy this is the first official release of
+GRASS to introduce new features since October 2006. It supersedes the
+previous stable GRASS 6.2 line while remaining backward-compatible with
+all previous releases since 6.0. As such there are a host of new features
+to explore and it incorporates many structural improvements.
 
-Several infrastructure changes accompany this release with the project
-becoming a founding member of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation
-(OSGeo). This includes a new home for the website, the Wiki help system,
-source code repository, community add-on module repository, integrated
-bug tracking system, and formal membership for the project in a non-profit
-legal entity. We hope that these changes will guarantee that the GRASS
-community will be well supported and vibrant well into the future.
+GRASS 6.4 debuts our new and improved wxPython user interface; Python is
+now a fully supported scripting language; and for the first time since its
+inception with a port from the VAX 11/780 in 1983, GRASS now runs natively
+on a non-UNIX based platform: MS-Windows. GRASS has been translated into
+twenty languages and supports a wide array of popular data formats.
 
+GRASS differs from many other GIS software packages used in the academic
+and professional worlds in that it is developed and distributed by users
+for users, mostly on a volunteer basis, in the open, and is given away for
+free. The source code is also freely available, allowing for immediate
+customization, examination of the underlying algorithms, addition of new
+features, and faster patching of bugs.
 
-The Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) is a Geographic
-Information System (GIS) used for spatial modeling, visualization of
-both raster and vector data, geospatial data management and analysis,
-processing of satellite and aerial imagery, and production of
-sophisticated presentation graphics and hardcopy maps. GRASS combines
-powerful raster, vector, and geospatial processing engines into a
-single integrated software package.
 
-The GRASS GIS project is developed under the terms of the GNU General
-Public License (the GPL) by volunteers the world over. GRASS differs
-from many other GIS software packages used in the professional world
-in that it is developed and distributed by users for users, mostly on
-a volunteer basis, in the open, and is given away for free. Emphasis
-is placed on interoperability and unlimited access to data as well as
-on software flexibility and evolution rate. The source code is freely
-available allowing for immediate customization, examination of the
-underlying algorithms, addition of new features, and fast bug fixing.
-
-GRASS is currently used around the world in academic and commercial
-settings as well as by many governmental agencies and environmental
-consulting companies.
-
-
-Software download at http://grass.osgeo.org/download/ and numerous
-mirror sites.
-
 Full story at http://grass.osgeo.org/announces/announce_grass640.html