Hello.
I am aware of the discussion raging on these lists in regard to
XGRASS and feel that a statement of CERL intent is required. I
also feel that it is necessary to preamble this discussion with a
bit of history (a typical move made by political candidates...).
HISTORY:
XGRASS was a product of a CERL R&D work effort that was focusing
on issues larger than (but included) user interface. This work
was designed to provide a set of tools for application developers
that would enable more focused application integration. This is
why XGRASS included a configurable menu system interface and the
XCLIP tool.
This effort was defunded due to political pressures that have
nothing to do with the GRASS community (other than causing the
current uncertainty).
Tcl/Tk GRASS was developed by LAS, Inc. and mirrors the
functionality of XGRASS, adding some functionality not found in
the original.
INTENT:
CERL would like, very much, to continue the XGRASS development.
The problem is that we don't currently have the funds needed to
do so. We have been working to find a better funding stream and
support for GRASS, but have not been successful to date. If and
when we do find funding sufficient to continue the XGRASS effort,
it is likely that we will base further developments on the Tcl/Tk
side for the following reasons.
1) Tcl/Tk is also public domain software (meaning that users will
be free from the licensing restrictions/costs of Motif).
2) Tcl/Tk is a higher level development and execution environment
(meaning that making tools interoperable is *much* easier and
less costly).
3) LAS has taken tcltkgrass farther than XGRASS in some areas;
why reinvent the wheel?
So, to summarize. CERL will continue to pursue funding for
improved GUI technologies for GRASS. If successful, CERL will
proceed in the Tcl/Tk direction, barring objection from funding
partners (ala, SCS, NPS, USGS, etc.).
Hope this helps,
Kurt
PS: If anyone in the community has $$ or programming cycles to
help forward the GUI effort, please email me directly at
kurt@zorro.cecer.army.mil
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Kurt Buehler, Principal Investigator
USACERL
ATTN: CECER-EC-S (Buehler)
PO Box 9005 (or 2902 Newmark Dr.)
Champaign, IL 61826-9005
email: kurt@zorro.cecer.army.mil
phone: +1-800-USA-CERL x6713 or
+1-217-373-6713
fax: +1-217-373-7222
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