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Getting Started with GIS?
The Plan 9 Bunny asks: "A company I work for is just getting starting to work with GIS and they want me to get it up and running. However, I don't know a damn thing about it. There's a slew of information on the Internet -- of widely varying quality. If the software is from ESRI, what would be a satisfactory starting point when it comes to laying the latticework for learning GIS? A plethora of books have been written about it, but like any subject, some are better than others. Also, I'm interested to hear about GIS horror stories: what to avoid, what NOT to purchase, etc... The ultimate goal is to have the data available on a publicly accessible webserver so clients can access it without needing the $30,000 worth of hardware and software. Can this be done with a UNIX-based solution, or are we yet again stuck in an NT world?" Those interested in GIS may wish to check out the last article we did on the subject. Considering the question, this older article on GIS mapping may also be of interest.
This was my Ask Slashdot question, so here's the deal, just to put the kibosh on the usual round of pissing and moaning, and especially the "use Google" and "why do we have to do your work?"
One: You don't have to. There's a dozen other slashdot stories. It's a favor, and if you're not up for assisting, then don't.
Two: GIS is not some crazy fucking one-time use thing. There's a hell of a lot of people in the EXACT same place as the Plan 9 Bunny, and any collective knowledge that can be amassed in one particular forum will help the collective good. Google crawls this site like mad, and the results are usually high on its list. So it helps a lot of people by being easily searchable.
Three: Google has a shitload of information, but it is impossible to determine the validity of it. My question addressed this. Hell yes, I searched Google. Mostly, I found ESRI stuff -- the prime seller of GIS stuff. Do you think that ESRI themselves will admit to publishing a shitty book on GIS? However, maybe some slashdot reader has read the ESRI stuff and can comment on its utility and validity (or lack of), or perhaps recommend an alternate text.
Four: This is the best spot on the Internet for discovering Linux (and UN*X) alternatives to expensive, proprietary solutions. Google is scant in this respect. If a project is new, or relatively unknown, it won't be high on the Google list. GIS is exploding, so truly functional alternatives have to be new if they are to be on par with the commercial options.
Five: Here's a good place to start for your Pascal compiler project.
Six: Even at 19 replies currently, 18 if you don't count your irrational rant, at least half have been helpful and insightful. That's already well above what I found on Google -- and I trust this information. Anyone who is willing to donate their time to answer my questions is likely to Have a Clue.
This is really cool software which can either create and serve up images, or act as an interactive front end. It's open source, and very well engineered. Check it out