Hi all, I partly agree that different users request diverse methods for working with data, applications and outputs. But there is no war between coding and clicking! Some software like AutoCAD are good example of interactive combination of scripts and GUI. Of course, you can develop more when you use LISP or VBA. Why such an application for Geostatistics seems to be unavailable? >From my point of view, there is no obstacle to do this. When I use Matlab for the purpose, I've paid much money! Unfortunately that is so slow because of script-based compiling. Although, I am sure the structure of the auto-debugging system for every part of code (say toolboxes) is so old, weak, time wasting, and un-optimized choice! That is a fundamental weakness, which some software companies try to stay behind the CPU speed! As a summary, there are many applications which have showed us a fully matched combination of command line and clicks. And all of users, novices to super-professionals have enjoyed from using them. Usage of R is so easy, when you can memorize some keywords, initially with the knowledge of the basics of programming. The same path is for using Matlab, Fortran and most of scientific programming languages. Open MS Office and start typing; you will find anything you need easy to learn and use. Do you really think the calculation of variogram, for example, is so complex than managing of typing? I don't think so! Please don't say there are thousands of thousands staff and professional working on each aspect of that performance! I cannot accept this as a definite reason for success! Performance checking based on student’s feedback is a rough understanding of the problem, due to anything you choose, most of times, there is no choice for students! Obviously, you can describe so better and natively visual some of problems, say, distance understanding, with ArcGIS than R. Using ModelBuilder in ArcGIS improves your understanding module-by-module not step by step! For this R is so better! There is no free application if you measure the invaluable time that you are spending for 1) finding cheap or free apps, 2) matching yourselves and your problems with all strange restrictions of freeware apps, 3) accepting weak, unprofessional and not-usable outputs. Anyway, professional users have no difficulty with using any software, due to their ability to code their ideas even by e.g. Windows Scripts! Finally, I should say, there is no problem to create from the scratch such an application, beautiful high performance user-friendly such as Office, powerful and comprehensive such as Matlab, fast and reliable such as Photoshop, light such as Surfer, ... for geostatistical analysis. That application will be completely customizable (menus, dialogs), improvable (plug-ins, add-ons), fully integrated (no jumping/flying forms!), fast as can be (no respect to old methods, well-known but too weak algorithms), and ... (may you wish to add some ideas! Regards, Younes
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