[Qgis-user] Why no proper QGis Windows installer yet?

[Agustin Lobo]

I personally use linux but have had to pay attention to Qgis running on
Windows
(and recently on Mac) because most students are using Windows (and, even
worse, vista).
But I must say that I feel a bit guilty for this. Somehow I feel that there
is a lot
of very good brain time being devoted to deal with windows-related problems
that could be much better invested on other things (including beach time).
Therefore, I would prefer being able to push more my students towards linux,
and this
would be a good time as they are having so many problems with vista. I'm
also teching
people from many different countries (Brazil, Korea, India, USA...), so the
impact would
be no-negligeable.
Nevertheless, I cannot do it. Why? because we still do not have ecw/mrsid
support for
binary linux installations of qgis, therefore cannot really tell my students
that installing qgis for linux is going to be better than installing qgis
for windows.
I've said in this list many times that having ecw/mrsid support for
binary linux installations of qgis is a major issue, perhaps not a sexy one
for developpers, I can understand it. But, don't know, I must be wrong.

Agus



2009/3/25 Werner Macho <werner.macho at gmail.com>

> Hi Mats!
> First of all I'd like to invite you to join us and help building the
> Windows Installer.
> I'm sure a lot of people are currently working on an stand alone installer
> but - on the other side - just as a question - why does it windows make so
> hard for us to create a installer?
> From my point of view the OSGeo4W Installer works pretty well and gives you
> all what you need.
> I agree with you - Open Source should not be restricted to non-windows..
> But fact is that windows always needs extra attention and extra time. We're
> all working voluntarily on QGIS and sometimes there are more important
> things to do.
> Believe me - QGIS IS user friendly but why is Windows not "Open Source
> Developer friendly"?
> I dont blame Windows for all things that are happening - I just dont use
> it..;)
> And now to be honest - of course I have to use windows in some situations
> too and unfortunately there are still tools existing only under windows but
> whenever i have the chance i jump to a more stable base that let me the
> freedom i can do with it whatever I want.
> Back to your question: Naturally there IS improvement in sight .. It's just
> a question of time.
> Beside saying that - there is always a chance to pay a QGIS Developer for
> fixing some bugs or implementing some new features (like the windows
> installer) - that usually speed up the things enormous.. :)
>
> regards
> Werner
>
> Mats Elfström schrieb:
>
>> Hi List!
>>
>> I take the liberty to start a new thread on this subject. I am currently
>> having serious trouble using QGis because of the poor Windows support.
>> I was happily using the second preview when I decided to upgrade to Kore.
>> Then the trouble began.
>> As described on the QGis forum, the so-called installer leaves out
>> important components in the Express installation, and renders an unusable
>> system if an Advanced installation is attempted.
>> Why is this so? Open Source should not be restricted to non-windows
>> operating systems. I think that's unfair, because many users are not at
>> liberty to choose their operating system. The front page of the QGis.org
>> site labels QGis /a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information
>> System/.
>> That is not true, if installing the program on Windows requires a manual
>> assembly of bits and pieces from all over, tweaks here and there, with still
>> no guarantee of a stable and functioning system.
>> Would anybody care to explain what's going on, and if any improvement is
>> in sight?
>>
>> Regards, Mats.E
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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