(Homemade definition) Open Source software, i.e. software created by a community of users and developers worldwide, which are free, with the details of the program available so keen programmers can even modify, customize and improve the software for their own purpose and the community.
It was clear from the start of this journey, that I would need free Open Source Software... Let’s be honest, I am a recently reformed student (synonym of being skint), a free and legal software would fit me like a glove (yes I am experimenting with English idioms here). Another reason is that, despite that a off-the-shelf GIS software (polished, user-friendly, mostly without bugs, but well, expensive) would be fit for a king, choosing OpenSource tools, means encouraging a worldwide community of shared knowledge, an central idea to the enlightenment movement in XVIII c. with enterprise like L’Encyclopédie de Diderot et d’Alembert. And since we are following the GIS path of Reason, well we better follow it to the end...
OpenSource software, yes... But now what?
If you are light me interested to the shine of GIS technology, there are quite a few good sites which gives you listings of software both desktop and web-based, to help you to make a more appropriate choice for what you want to achieve with GIS. Here are a few.
http://www.osgeo.org/ one of the main organisations for the promotion of GIS, on the right-hand side there is a menu “OSGeo projects” which are the list of software they are involved in creating... It is a good way to start as they indicate a quick summary of what each software do and its main features.
http://freegis.org/database/?cat=0&_ZopeId=16454070A41D88t652Y interesting list of softwares and dataset, you can use the top criteria for a more accurate research, note. Some of the links are dated.
http://www.maptools.org/ good and clear website with application divided in sections for easier research.
http://gislounge.com/free-gis-applications/ other interesting links with descriptions.
Unfortunately, as I started exploring this labyrinth of numerous options, I had a fit of pique... because I do not understand yet half of what they are on about!! Still gobbledy googly gook (I intend to use this expression in every single post I write) to me...
My final choice, approved by my employer at Spatial Consultants, was for now Quantum GIS (also known as QGIS), an OSGeo tool, chosen for two words: USER-FRIENDLY, which the poor neophyte that I am, is desperately in need of. Other important favourable points are that it links with the powerful GIS software GRASS, has a series of plugins, and some useful written user manuals and tutorials (for useful list of some manuals, consult http://www.qgis.org/en/documentation/manuals.html and http://www.qgis.org/en/documentation/workshops.html and http://www.qgis.org/wiki/Users_Corner
Now armed with these hefty manuals and tutorials, as I am fit as a fiddle, I embark on the arduous path of taming QuantumGIS.
Wish me luck... Et swing la bacaisse dans l’fond d’la boîte à bois...
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