[GRASS-dev] Modules

[Brad Douglas]

On Wed, 2007-02-21 at 07:39 +0000, Glynn Clements wrote:
> Brad Douglas wrote:
> 
> > > > Glynn also mentioned that in order to do what we want on Windows,
> > > > one would have to purchase a QT license, which is not feasible, IMO.
> > > 
> > > This is not an issue in QT 4, which QGIS currently uses.
> > 
> > And who's to say that TrollTech won't make future versions of QT
> > unusable (licensing), locking us into QT 4?
> > 
> > I find any OSS project that bases their core around a commercial
> > development kit suspect at best.  QGIS has locked themselves into the
> > mercy of TrollTech.
> 
> Enough free software uses Qt that, should TrollTech stop releasing it
> under the GPL (or stop releasing it altogether), there won't be any
> lack of manpower to continue development independently.

I hadn't considered that until I had already sent the email.  I forgot
that it is the backbone of KDE.  But that doesn't prevent TrollTech from
omitting parts that may be critical for us that may not be so critical
for others in the GPL version.  I'm not saying it isn't the way to go,
but I did want to raise the possibility.

And if we are going with QGIS, then it would be extremely beneficial to
both projects to discuss possible merger or at least coordination.

> If you're concerned about the long-term viability of a GUI toolkit, Qt
> has a significantly brighter future than libraster.

I think Microsoft Bob has a brighter future than libraster. :-)


-- 
Brad Douglas <rez touchofmadness com>                    KB8UYR/6
Address: 37.493,-121.924 / WGS84    National Map Corps #TNMC-3785