[Gvsig_english] gvSIG 1.9.1

[Gismael]

Ben,

getting funny questions answered in zero time is the most convincing reason
to consider os.
So after seeing our current sw provider taking weeks of time answering
serious questions, the fundamental direction is sorted out already.

Without having gotten into details, I estimate that the spanish authority
which has launched gvSIG has made use of EU funding for its project
accepting to make the outcome open source. What gives me the frown is to see
it half way between completely community-developped Qgis and lets say uDIG,
thus being forced to make it available to the public but also forging it
into the preferred direction.

Keep  it open, make it lively and give me plugin repositories that overwhelm
me.

By the way: explaining that in comes from Spain, is available in about 15
languages, having a British developped branch with the best German
translation available made sceptics somewhat interested.

Gismael


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: gvsig_internacional-bounces at listserv.gva.es
[mailto:gvsig_internacional-bounces at listserv.gva.es] Im Auftrag von Benjamin
Ducke
Gesendet: Montag, 29. März 2010 23:38
An: Users and Developers mailing list
Betreff: Re: [Gvsig_english] gvSIG 1.9.1


Hi Gismael

If you compare QGIS to gvSIG feature-wise, you will
probably find, like we at OA did, that gvSIG is by
far the more advanced and closest to "ArcView killer"
of any open source desktop GIS projects.

There are many strong open source GIS projects, but
none as complete when it comes to interactive 
functionality.

Now, there have been some arguments about directions here,
but nobody is willing to just walk away and feel offended.
We WILL work this out.

On April 1st, I will start feeding my modifications for
gvSIG OADE back into the main SVN, most important bug
fixes first. This will start the re-consolidation of the
two code lines. Let's see how it goes. If there are no
major issues, then version 1.9.1 will be a common code
base again. If not, differences will be minor and it
will be largely a matter of personal preference whether
you go with the official gvSIG, OADE or any of the other distributions that
may be around by then. I don't think choice has ever been a bad thing for
customers (users).

One last note: I am sure every closed source project has the 
exact  same quarrels going on - behind closed doors. If those 
go badly, then you will find out from the morning newspaper that your GIS
vendor just folded. Just because you don't see it, does not mean things
never get ugly at ESRI or MapInfo Corp.

In an open source culture, we have the chance to discuss such things
frankly, with no risks involved, and make sure to resolve issues before they
get to breaking point; keeping everyone in the loop about progress being
made.

Isn't that preferable from the point of view of an investor looking for a
sustainable option?

Cheers,

Ben

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gismael" <gisme at lavabit.com>
To: "Users and Developers mailing list"
<gvsig_internacional at listserv.gva.es>
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 10:35:08 PM GMT +01:00 Amsterdam / Berlin /
Bern / Rome / Stockholm / Vienna
Subject: Re: [Gvsig_english] gvSIG 1.9.1

Guys,

I'm just a end user without programming skills or ambitions. But right now
I'm evaluating gvSIG vs. QGis for use in a real world productive
environment.

My proposal to change from GeoMedia to open source gave my bosses quite a
shiver. Monitoring this list without any insight but mere curiosity and to
get an idea what's going on in this project to help me find a decision has
first let me think "hey, some public activity, at last" and then made shake
my head realising that there seems to be some tribal ambush going on.

Don't you think that if other potential users get this impression, too, it
might scare them off and confirm prejudices against open source software?

Even if I take into account that who pays the bill has undeniable privileges
concerning the development of his project, I'd like to see some more ample
based contribution to gvSIG, which (the contribution), by now, to me seems
to be inferior to the above mentioned Qgis.