Cameron analysis is clear and well centered to me.
With others, we've started trying to do something in this direction
since one year ago.
it is clear to us that if we base the development of such a platform on
volunteers, we will need a long time to succeed. loooong time.
If we want something for the next year, an investment in time and money
is needed.
I know geeks capable to do the technical part (see: Luca, Jachym and
Frankie) but I don't know who's interested to invest enough money on
such a project.
with Luca, as a challenge, we've decided to make a donation program for
our liveCd. In one year we've collected around 500€ (200 are mine) and
we barely pay bandwidth, for the external host. This is just an example,
we are not the only ones, but it's clear that without investments there
will be poor future for such a thing.
from the other side, downloads are growing continuously.
try to search for "GIS live Cd" on google, and try to list projects that
made more then one distro for longer then a year. Please, don't stop
reading google list, go and see those pages, most of projects barely
have a home page or are off since long.
ciao
Lorenzo
Cameron Shorter wrote:
Gavin, I think the time is ripe to consolidate upon this goal.
I'd like to expand the goal a bit and then break it down into
achievable steps.
*The goal:*
Powerful, Simple, Used, Integrated, Open Source Geospatial Applications
*Current status*
We already have powerful applications, but we still need geeks if you
want to install and then use a full stack of OSGeo software.
Our applications are often easy to install by themselves, but project
release schedules are independent of each other and it is hard to keep
up with which versions of software work with each other.
Documentation and training material is still in an early phase. This
material needs to be cross project, and matched to the software
versions too.
*Key Steps*
*Set up project version dependency table*
A table which lists for each project version, the other project
versions it depends upon.
This dependency table can be used by UbuntuGIS, DebianGIS, liveCD, a
windows packager etc.
For this we should be able to tap into expertise from liveCD and linux
distribution communities.
Once this dependency table exists, the onus on maintaining it will
become the responsibility of projects (and become an entry criteria
for OSGeo projects).
For efficiency, it would probably help to set a release timetable for
snap shots of the dependency list, which should be timed to link with
with other distributions.
*OSGeo Workshops & Tutorials*
* I see an immediate opportunity to present OSGeo Workshops at
Geospatial Conferences. Agencies want to learn about OSGeo, and
workshops are a great advertising tool for companies looking for OSGeo
work.
* Together we can collectively build some quality documentation here,
and we have the resources (potential presenters) to develop the
documentation.
* These workshops require a stable set of software, so should be able
to seed the dependency table as well.
*Further documentation*
Comprehensive documentation which has already started in the education
committee should be able to tap into and get a boost from the
workshops and tutorials. I'll let others comment on the path this
should take.
Gavin Fleming wrote:
While Venka is on the topic of packaging FOSS GIS for Ubuntu, I'd like
to put a niche request / challenge to the community.
High schools in South Africa and elsewhere need a FOSS alternative to
use and teach GIS, which is a compulsory part of the syllabus from this
year. FOSS GIS at present is too inaccessible. My challenge is to have a
packaged CD for Ubuntu to launch at FOSS4G2008 in Cape Town. This CD (or
DVD) would have:
-one-click installation for Linux, Windows or Mac.
-Integrated software stack so teachers and learners have to launch a
minimal number of applications
-Simplified and customised GUIs to lower the entry threshold.
-for teachers to teach curriculum requirements of GIS
-for teachers to use GIS to teach geography and other subjects
-for learners to use for hands-on work
-Free, integrated global and local data package
-excellent documentation
-framework for local contributors to structure and contribute exercises,
lessons, etc. -central website for resources -possible advanced
options for network deployment, more sophisticated
users, 'computer studies' learners (i.e. developers), school web map
services, etc.
Any takers?
Gavin
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