Artem Pavlenko wrote:
On 22 Feb 2008, at 11:13, Mateusz Loskot wrote:
>>
Just an example, can you find easily how to start using GEOS
(http://geos.refractions.net) in your application?
Let's compare GIS stuff to Boost libraries. The latter does a lot of
very complex things and it's not a single but a set of libs,
so IMHO it's comparable to FOSS GIS libraries.
Now, check the Boost documentation:
http://boost.org/more/getting_started.html
http://boost.org/libs/libraries.htm
and show me equivalently well written docs for existing FOSS GIS
library(ies). :-)
To make the story short, IMHO we have almost *no* good documentation for
FOSS GIS. It's a fun to hack the software but documenting it is boring,
so nobody wants to do it, but we are in a bloody need for it ;-)
I don't think documenting GEOS will make it any better or easier to use,
but it will certainly highlight some serious design flaws.
Artem,
I agree but GEOS design wasn't the subject of my comment.
I used GEOS as an example of a library providing users with
implementation of complex algorithms, but without a word of good
documentation about requirements, assertions, exceptions, implications,
not to mention input and output parameters.
I agree that if the design rationale of GEOS is documented it would
present its flaws, but that's another story.
Boost is not just a good documentation, it is also very elegant
beautiful code ;)
Yes, but again, we are discussing not design but purpose of documenting
software. Even crappy design can be well documented.
Stephen, you are spot on !
+1
Too many managers, not enough workers. Nobody wants to be the
workers, so they set up committees, set up conferences, write
articles, and never actually pull their finger out and set finger to
keyboard (yeergh) for code.
Actually, I have completely opposite observations.
Hmm... Any stats ?
No stats, just an observation. I'm a blind man perhaps, but:
I don't see any throng willing to join the FOSS4G conference
organization team.
I don't see number of articles of FOSS GIS articles waiting
in the queue for next 2-3 issues.
I don't see many serious tech-level writing about FOSS GIS,
except a lot of blogging.
Where are these managers fighting in the line to volunteer in leading
branches of the FOSS GIS communities and advocate FOSS GIS on the
market? (what I see is lack of people willing to help in this area).
:-)
Greetings
--
Mateusz Loskot
http://mateusz.loskot.net
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