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Ask Slashdot: Open Source vs Proprietary GIS Solution?

Posted by Unknown on from the postgis-to-the-rescue dept.

New submitter rnmartinez writes "As the Project Manager for a non-profit looking to implement a tech project, I am running into a few dilemmas, and as a casual Slashdotter I could really use some help. I'll start with a brief explanation of the project. We research issues in Canadian Immigrants, and found that there was a lack of recent, unaggregated information. As we dug further, we found that some data was available, but there was no central repository. Therefore, we are building a web based service to collect this data, with the intent of having it display in Google Maps and then be downloadable as a CSV file that is readable in GIS software such as ESRI Arcsoft, so that data may be visualized." The dilemma: "...It seems that MS SQL offers more functions with regards to geometry built in then MySQL, and my developers (good guys, but MS guys at heart) want me to switch to .net NUKE/MSSQL and ditch the open source stuff." Read on for further details. "To date, we have relied on a LAMP box with Drupal as the frontend to help provide a more social experience. However, it seems that MS SQL offers more functions with regards to geometry built in then MySQL, and my developers (good guys, but MS guys at heart) want me to switch to .net NUKE/MSSQL and ditch the open source stuff. As a believer in open source and as a non-profit, I am having some moral issues with this (I try and run Linux and open source on everything I reasonably can)."

"So here is my dilemma: do I dump $20K into moving everything to an MS solution that in the short-medium term might make the geometry functions (i.e. show me all the hospitals within a 20km radius of this cluster of immigrants) or do I get him to spend the same amount writing something similar for MySQL? The only issue there, is that I am not too fond of Oracle having ownership of MySQL. Should I be directing $20K into replicating these functions into something like MariaDB? Might be a longshot but again, as a non-profit I'd like to see something go back to everyone, not just my group."

"Really, I am open to any flexible, creative open and reliable solutions. Sorry if my knowledge is limited or if I am grasping at straws, and if I am being terribly biased, but I trust Oracle with open source about as much as I trust MS."

MySQL might fare poorly against MSSQL's geometry support, but how does PostgreGIS stack up?

4 of 316 comments (clear)

  1. Obvious answer by TechGuys · · Score: -1, Troll

    This is a stupid question. Of course you are going to buy product that is ready to do what you want. Writing custom code is always hundreds of times more costly. These commercial products can sell them cheaper because they sell thousands, even millions of them. But if you need someone to write that code for you (which you will be doing regardless of putting it open source), it will cost.

    So take the product that is required to get the job done, right now. Don't waste the money on getting some expensive coders on other product. You would also have headaches with testing and bugs. All that is done for you with MSSQL. Take it.

    1. Re:Obvious answer by mrclisdue · · Score: 0, Troll

      Thanks for taking a minute of your time to first-post your seemingly ubiquitous pro-MS anti-Google (mostly, followed by foss, apple) *viewpoints* under your umpteenth alias of the past few months (or has it been seconds? eons? whatever....)

      You failed to answer my query in a previous thread as to how you omitted Microsoft from a first-post-same-timestamp-as-story rant regarding patents. Allow me to refresh:

      You said:

      Jeez. Companies like Google and Apple are collectively abusing the system and patenting every single thing they can think of, most of which are outright obvious

      I asked you why you omitted Microsoft. May I ask you again? You are aware that Microsoft boasts of having *licensing agreements* with, oh, didn't I read somewhere around 85% of Android phone manufacturers? Would patents be involved?

      Why do you troll here? Why do you need more than one user account? Why do you need to first-post?

      And why didn't you provide an answer to the submitter, rather than troll?

  2. Re:Checkout PostGIS by Grishnakh · · Score: 0, Troll

    It's easy: just offer them the choice between MS tech and something else. With the latter, they keep their current paychecks, and maybe get a raise if they do a good job. If they choose the former, then they get a giant pay cut to pay for the MS licenses. Ask them where their loyalty lies: if they like MS so much, then they should be happy to give part of their pay to them.

    And if you, the boss, prefers open-source solutions, maybe you need to do a better job in hiring people that agree with you.

  3. Re:The Obvious answer by mrclisdue · · Score: -1, Troll

    Oh! Oh! I have an answer. Pick me!

    It's because you're trolling just as hard!....Yay! I solved the puzzle. I'll take the cupcake for $10 and the rest on a gift certificate Pat...blah, blah, blah

    bzzzzt.

    You fail.

    For your answer to have been correct, the OP would need the ability to foresee the future.

    Nice try, tho', thanks for playing.