On 3/12/10 3:55 PM, grass-user-request@lists.osgeo.org wrote:
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2010 15:23:49 -0800 (PST)
From: Catlike<cogreg@gmail.com>
Subject: [GRASS-user] What scripting language should I learn?
To:grass-user@lists.osgeo.org
Message-ID:<1291332229750-5798051.post@n2.nabble.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I am brand new to GRASS. I am just learning QGIS now, and GRASS seems (from
the forum posts) to be useful if not quite essential with QGIS.
I have no idea what most of the answers (or the questions!) mean on these
fora, QGIS nor GRASS. It looks like I need to learn how to write computer
scripts. OK -- resources being limited, which language do you think I should
focus on learning? I hear about Python (in QGIS), R, SQL, ... Can't learn
them all! So I need to choose one, right?
My GIS experience is limited. I got a 24-semester-unit, two-year GIS
certificate, but that was six years ago, the program was not too good, and I
haven't used it at all since. (It was 95% ESRI-based, the rest TNTmips.)
Thank you.
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Catlike,
If you're using either OSX or Linux, bash scripting is a wonderful entry to learning how to automate tasks.
However, before you get to scripting, I suggest you spend some time learning how to use the Grass-GIS commands at the command line. That way, you'll be familiar with how the commands work before you try to script them.
I'm very nervous of the day when I'll have to try to learn Python to write scripts!
It is also very valuable to learn MySQL for querying linked tables.
Although Grass-GIS can be daunting, it can be learned. When I started using Grass-GIS in 2006, I had zero GIS experience!
Thank you.
Sad to say I am a Windows user. Your phrase "... at the command line..."
puts fear in my heart. I had a DOS class in 1985...
How would you recommend I start learning to use a command line? Is there a
tutorial or set of lessons you recommend?
And by the way -- what is your favorite operating system for working with
GRASS?
Again, thanks.
--
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Sent from the Grass - Users mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
At first - get clear Your goals. Why You are playing around with GIS
tools? Depending on Your tasks, You might need Shell, Python, SQL, R,
C, Java etc. Those languages cover different GIS use cases and thus
it's impossible to say "pick one". Most likely You will need to be
familiar with SQL (data management in databases) unless You don't plan
to work with vector data at all. Python as scripting language is a
good choice as GRASS and QGIS both provide access to GIS functionality
within Python.
Second - "command line" is highly powerfull tool and easy to use (one
can send instructions via email or print in a book without tens of
screenchots). Still You have to know WHAT You going to do. No "let's
just click this or that". Take a look at GRASS analysis module help
pages - they all contain ready to use (copy/paste) examples for
different use cases + You can search GRASS wiki for more examples.
Third - if You have computer with 64bit CPU, install some 64bit
GNU/Linux. You can have a dualboot system without problems. Ubuntu for
beginner will be just fine. GNU/Linux will have lots of good and free
development tools, also GRASS, QGIS are mainy developed on Linuxes and
thus have less problems running than on windows. Keep in mind -
standard Windows shell (one You get with CMD) is a joke in comparison
with Linux shells and terminal emulators.
