GRASSLAND FAQ

[Simon Cox]

At 7:47 AM 18/1/96, Ronald Thomas wrote:
>and, less ads posted to newsgroups, poorly disquised as FAQ's.
>A simple pointer to a web site would be more appropriate.
>
>RT
>Estes Park, Colorado

I don't think that is quite fair Ron.
I have recently been informed by people at CERL that they will
no longer be supporting GRASS after the next release.  This has
the potential to leave our community in some kind of "limbo",
though clearly an awful lot of support is performed by the
community on an informal basis.  However, I think we _will_
notice the absence of a coordinating group.

LAS have the potential to fill that role.  They have recognised
the unix/public domain history of GRASS by committing themselves
to continue to supply Unix versions of their product at no charge.
They are also continuing the support of independent developers by
making new programming libraries available.  This much I gleaned
from the FAQ that you didn't like.   LAS have been involved in GRASS
development for a couple of years now, and have (itermittently)
kept grassu up-to-date on progress.  I believe they should be
encouraged, not vilified.  Yes, you may see creeping commercialism.
But if the US Govt (via CERL) will no longer subsidise us, then
the reality is that someone else will probably have to make money
from the product in order to continue to provide the service.  I, for
one, have no problem with the intent and bona-fides of LAS and was very
interested to read the FAQ.

Simon Cox

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