[GRASS-dev] GsoC2012: High level map interaction with python

[Pietro]

Hi Sören,

2012/4/5 Sören Gebbert <soerengebbert at googlemail.com>:
... [snip]
>> Would you be interested in being my mentor?
>
> I would like to be your Mentor in this project. But actually i do not
> know the GSoC procedure in detail, maybe an
> experienced mentor may help me with this?
>
> But i have to warn you, in my opinion the Python interface should use
> the C-library function using the ctype-wrapper
> to implement higher level functionality. That means you need to have a
> deep understanding about the core libraries
> and how to use the library functions, since the ctype interface simply
> wraps the C-library functions. But don't worry,
> i have some knowledge about this and can help you in deep detail.

I'm happy to learn and to understand more on C-library functions!
:-)


> I would suggest to focus first on the core and raster libraries and
> all of its features. That means to create Python classes
> for important concepts like modules, raster maps, rows, regions,
> categories, color, segmentation and so on.
> Covering this we can think about the Pythonization of these concepts.

We are going to implement something new, therefore I would like to be
consistent, or at least more consistent that we can with GRASS and
Python.
I think that using API examples to make test/doctest is one of the
best tool to highlight weakness and limits of the implementation.
Furthermore we can use this material as a starting point for the
development.


> Very simple example:
...[snip]
> slap = obj.module("r.slope.aspect")
> slap.in.elevation = "elevation"  # string
> slap.out.slope = "tmp"            # string
> slap.flag.a = True                   # boolean
> slap.flag.overwrite = True       # boolean
> slap.run()

I like your example, I think is clearer than what I wrote in the wikipage!
The only thing that I would like to make it different is the part on
the `module`
your idea it seems to be easier to implement, but it is more verbose...
But perhaps there is not a better solution...


> With the focus on core and raster functionality i would say this is
> doable in a GSoC project.

Ok I'm going to modify the project page on melange to follow your advice.


> What do you think?

I  think that you are pushing the idea forward and in the right direction.
Thanks

Best regards

Pietro