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Posted by dananrg on December 29, 2007, 11:09 am
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Has anyone gotten round to creating a free, open source equivalent of
ArcCatalog. Seems to me that GIS data browsing, without first having
to add a data layer to a map, is basic functionality. Haven't looked
real closely at ESRI's closed-source-yet-free-of-charge GIS client
offerings to see if they have ArcCatalog-like browsing capabilities.
Looks like QGIS has been steadily improving (I need to check the
latest release). But without a really great FOSS GIS client, FOSS GIS
may remain obscure. I'd love to see the FOSS GIS community produce a
GIS client that gives commercial GIS software some serious
competition.
QGIS being able to interface with GRASS is a nice start. Never saw
stand-alone GRASS being usable by less tech savvy people, guaranteeing
narrow adoption by the wider GIS community (and a whole generation
unfamiliar with command-line interfaces).
When small parcel mapping shops begin to favor FOSS GIS clients for
data editing, browsing, cartography, and analysis, that's when we'll
know FOSS GIS has arrived.
Seems that FOSS GIS user-friendly clients have a long way to way
toward maturity. Is it just me, or are commercial competitors light
years ahead in the client area?
I'm surprised a corporation with deep pockets like Oracle hasn't been
more active in sponsoring open source GIS client development.
Which FOSS GIS client has the most potential for giving the commercial
guys a run for their development money?
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