So What Did We Learn?
Given that I’ve let everyone let off a little steam in my comments in regards to Manifold vs Open Source vs ArcGIS, what can we glean from what transpired?
Plain and simple, all software sucks (and I say this as a software developer). On top of that, life is too short to get worked up about software (because it sucks remember) even if you get paid to push it or develop it.
Interesting thoughts James. I’ve personally always said “doing GIS” involves using programs that are not designed to do what you want. Most every GIS package I’ve used requires you to do some crazy things to get your products to look like you want.
Love the graphic, I guess it is all about being loud and not about just working hard. Guess that is why we have marketing people – to do marketing.
Think of a world without them (oh and lawyers too). Ah!
Orthogonal software (software that can be used in multiple different ways for purposes that are logically correct but are not necessarialy the intended purpose) sometimes truly sucks. It can be a pain to write, a pain to use and frequently lacks one seemingly obvious feature that would make it complete. Add on the abundance of geographic data, the limits of computers, limits of what computer science knows, and the fact that most places have a workflow that doesn’t quite fit the mold and sometimes it is downright exhausting.
But it’s also fun
[...] When I first started blogging I thought I’d write only about how a GIS developer might go about programming applications. But in reading recent blog posts, I realized I’m missing half the story. So, here are some thoughts on how GIS developers get programmed. [...]
[...] After stirring the pot a little, James Fee asked, so what did we learn? Here are my sweeping generalisations: [...]
What did we learn? That you can start better flame wars than I can
Not sure that is what you WANTED to have though
Honestly no, I didn’t really want all this stuff to explode like it did. I didn’t do anything to stop it because I was so busy at work with some proposal work that by the time I checked the blog it had exploded.
What amazes me is that everything has pretty much been said but people just can’t seem to stop. As I’m writing this I see via email two more people have posted on one of the manifold threads. I’ve only ever closed one other post to new comments and I don’t want to have to resort to that ever again.
I did get an IM from an ESRI developer who said they were happy to see I wasn’t being critical of ESRI the last couple days. Interesting how all this is intertwined. On one end ESRI supporters said I’m a ESRI hater and on the other end I have Manifold users saying I’m a Manifold hater. Same thing happens with Google Earth.
I see your blog is one of the top results for “Manifold Blog”. A couple more days and I think it would be #1. Imagine all those folks searching for info on Manifold and getting this Sh*t storm.
Yep, such a tangled web we weave sometimes.
I don’t use ESRI or Manifold. I can’t afford either not the training. So I am using open source tools to learn / do what I need to do. And for my stance.. qGIS all I need at this time.
Both the other tools look good and both have their high and low points.. but they just honestly have put themselves out of touch / reach of the hobby users / beginners.