I hated the way GRASS started so I changed it
CC Attribution 3.0 Unported:
You are free to use, adapt and copy, distribute and transmit the work or content in adapted or unchanged form for any legal purpose as long as the work is attributed to the author in the manner specified by the author or licensor.
Kladivova, Linda
In the past, few people would have described GRASS GIS as intuitive. Therefore, it was even more surprising when I got this response from beginner students! Come and listen to a presentation talking about the new generation of GRASS GUI. You will be surprised by the intuitive start, convenient data organization, GRASS in dark theme mode, and many other pleasant functions which me and the development team have prepared for you. Stay tuned! This talk will highlight the major improvements of the GRASS GUI in version 8 which is much more user-friendly to existing users as well as to completely new ones. Authors and Affiliations – Linda Kladivova (1) Vaclav Petras (2) Anna Petrasova (2) The GRASS GIS Development Team (3) (1) Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic (2) Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, USA (3) Global Track – Software Topic – Software status / state of the art Level – 1 - Principiants. No required specific knowledge is needed. Language of the Presentation – English
 So, our first session today is by Linda Kadypova. Hi, Linda. Hello. Hello, guys. So, I'm Linda Kadypova and first probably I should first tell something about me. I'm a PhD student studying at Czech Technical University in Prague in the branch of Geometrics. And I'm particularly focused on big data and the processing in databases because besides my other interests like Gras, Gia and Gouy, I also work at the Czech Office for Surveying Map and Cadastral Building on databases for displaying cadastral data. But today we will not talk about databases, but we'll talk about a different thing which I've kind of fallen for and it's Gras, Gia and Gouy or let's say a new generation of Gras, Gia and Gouy. So, the table of contents is quite straightforward. We will talk basically about Gras, GIS, before changes and Gras, Gia and Gouy after changes. And to begin with, I have such a short story about a new potential user and an unfriendly start-up screen. So, let's have a look at it. So, here we have a scene one which is maybe quite familiar to many people who are going to start a new software, at least for my own experience, I'm always looking forward to start a new software to try something new. And then we have the scene number two where a new potential Gras user starts GIS, Gras GIS and suddenly sees the start-up screen. And as you can see, there's three strange places in this start-up screen, namely, select Gras, Gia's database directory, then select Gras location and select Gras mapset. And a new potential Gras user doesn't know anything about these data structure elements. And he needs to fill something. So, a new potential Gras user gets confused because he has no idea what database location and mapset mean. And then we have actually two options. The first option is a good one and it's an option where a new potential user starts searching for some information in the documentation and he will finally start to understand what to do. And then we have the second option, much sadder option, when a Gras potential user just remains potential. So, here I would like to say something about Gras before changes. How did it actually look like? Maybe those of you who know Gras, who were used to meet the start-up screen, each time Gras was started. And if I found that correctly, the start-up screen was part of Gras GIS already from the version 6. And then inside the Gras GIS, there was the pool data catalog. The data catalog having minimum management functions. And also, you can notice that it wasn't very important because it's the fourth tab basically. So, we had kind of paradox because on the one side we have quite confusing start-up screen, very unfriendly especially for first-time users. And on the other side, you had the data catalog with quite huge potential but so far, miserable functionality. So, how did it actually change? Last summer, I worked on the new start-up mechanism project. It was the project of the Google Summer of Code. And with help of all of other Gras developers, we finally managed to change it. To change it to the way that hopefully is much better for first-time users but I think as well for normal users, professional users. So, in this place, I would like to introduce you to the new generation of Gras GUI. Probably the most challenging thing we faced as developers was the existence of the start-up screen or rather the removal of the start-up screen. And in the new version, Gras 8, there's no start-up screen anymore. Instead of the start-up screen, all data management functions are the part of the data catalog. So, we can say that the data catalog is now a center point of Gras GIS. And it's true that there are still some, like, there's still the confusing or kind of confusing data structure hierarchy. But now, at first glance, you can see the structure in the data catalog. So, it's visually better represented. And I think it's also something valuable for professional users, not only for first-time users, but especially for first-time users. So, here, as I said, the data catalog nicely captures data here. And as the title of this slide says, basically, it's that the data catalog takes over the role of the start-up screen. And it offers even more. For example, there's the set of the basic functions that were also accessible through the start-up screen for creating, renaming, and deleting databases, locations, mapsets. But we have also some new functions. For example, adding multiple Gras databases or new management icons for quicker work, basically. And then there is, for instance, interesting thing called Mapset Access Info, which tell you the state of the mapset, basically. So, you can see that the mapset is in use or owned by a different user or that the mapset is current, for example. As you can see, the data catalog in new versions is much richer than it used to be. In this place, I would like to emphasize the difference between the data tab and the display tab. Earlier, it was called layers tab. You can see this here. Maybe some of you are confused now because you were used to have the layers or, let's say, display tab in the first place in the role. And now it's actually in the second place. But the display tab is still here and it takes care about individual map layers and their design, their symbology. Nothing has changed about it. Only the order of tabs has changed. Well, we move on a bit and as I mentioned somewhere in the beginning, I mentioned the colocation first-time user or newcomer. And we devoted to this topic how to enhance the first-time user experience in GrassGIS. And besides the removal of the startup screen, we also implemented a set of infobars. So you can see here the example of infobars used for the default location. I will talk about it now. So when you start GrassGIS for the first time, you will be redirected straight to the default location. You can imagine the default location as the example of the project in GrassGIS. And this default location contains the vector world map and it uses the coordinate system EPCG 4326. So you are advised by the infobar to change this coordinate system because likely you will need different coordinate system for your analysis, according to your data. So then we have the second option, how GrassGIS can start and it's probably the most common option. It's the option when GrassGIS starts to last-use mapset. And there's one condition if it's possible. If it's not possible, we have special cases when the last-use mapset is not found or is slot by another session or owned by a different user. And then GrassGIS starts to an empty temporary location. And as you will see, again, you're advised how to move on in this case. So it was something... I thought I'd use something about the new starter mechanism. And then I would like to show you the so-called dark mode, how it looks like in GrassGIS. So personally, I think it looks quite nice. If you think the same, you can try it out. It's very easy to try it. You just need to change your settings of your operational system. So for example, I use Ubuntu and to change the mode, I use the utility called NOMTWIX. Well, and we are heading now to the last topic. It's the single window GUI topic. And it's something in the process of implementation, but it should be soon accessible through the development version. And probably it will be accessible in the version 8.2 of GrassGIS. So it's something I've implemented through the Google Summer of Code this year. And I implemented just first steps, so it's something which needs many improvements. But you can at least see some brand new screenshots, how it could look like. So it's built on the notion, I would say, of dockable paints. So all tabs, as you know them, will be in the form of dockable paints. So here you can see some examples. So for example, you will be given the option for minimizing the paints. So here the data tab is minimized. All paints can be minimized. Also you can split the center map display notebook. So here you can see the example. Yeah, and it's everything basically. So I would like to thank you. I and the GrassGIS hungry cow, which I borrowed from my Google Summer of Code mentor, Vasek Petrasz. So we both thank you very much for your attention. And please, if you have any questions, don't hesitate and ask. Thank you very much for your talk, Linda. The grass looks amazing right now. And we have a question for you. If I add new mapsets or locations via the command line, will the UI pick them up automatically? Yes, yeah. It will add automatically. All right. And so far no more questions. Maria is telling that they are going to miss the startup. Oh, once more, sorry. Can I see some of the questions? Come again? Ah, okay, I can. You can see the chat in menu less as well, but I don't know more questions. If it's fine with you, we can end here and we can start set up the next talk. Okay. So thank you very much for your attention again. Thank you very much, Linda. Bye bye.
 So, our first session today is by Linda Kadypova.  Hi, Linda.  Hello.  Hello, guys.  So, I'm Linda Kadypova and first probably I should first tell something about me.  I'm a PhD student studying at Czech Technical University in Prague in the branch of Geometrics.  And I'm particularly focused on big data and the processing in databases because besides my other interests like Gras, Gia and Gouy,  I also work at the Czech Office for Surveying Map and Cadastral Building on databases for displaying cadastral data.  But today we will not talk about databases, but we'll talk about a different thing which I've kind of fallen for  and it's Gras, Gia and Gouy or let's say a new generation of Gras, Gia and Gouy.  So, the table of contents is quite straightforward.  We will talk basically about Gras, GIS, before changes and Gras, Gia and Gouy after changes.  And to begin with, I have such a short story about a new potential user and an unfriendly start-up screen.  So, let's have a look at it.  So, here we have a scene one which is maybe quite familiar to many people who are going to start a new software,  at least for my own experience, I'm always looking forward to start a new software to try something new.  And then we have the scene number two where a new potential Gras user starts GIS, Gras GIS and suddenly sees the start-up screen.  And as you can see, there's three strange places in this start-up screen,  namely, select Gras, Gia's database directory, then select Gras location and select Gras mapset.  And a new potential Gras user doesn't know anything about these data structure elements.  And he needs to fill something.  So, a new potential Gras user gets confused because he has no idea what database location and mapset mean.  And then we have actually two options.  The first option is a good one and it's an option where a new potential user starts searching for some information in the documentation and he will finally start to understand what to do.  And then we have the second option, much sadder option, when a Gras potential user just remains potential.  So, here I would like to say something about Gras before changes.  How did it actually look like?  Maybe those of you who know Gras, who were used to meet the start-up screen, each time Gras was started.  And if I found that correctly, the start-up screen was part of Gras GIS already from the version 6.  And then inside the Gras GIS, there was the pool data catalog.  The data catalog having minimum management functions.  And also, you can notice that it wasn't very important because it's the fourth tab basically.  So, we had kind of paradox because on the one side we have quite confusing start-up screen, very unfriendly especially for first-time users.  And on the other side, you had the data catalog with quite huge potential but so far, miserable functionality.  So, how did it actually change?  Last summer, I worked on the new start-up mechanism project.  It was the project of the Google Summer of Code.  And with help of all of other Gras developers, we finally managed to change it.  To change it to the way that hopefully is much better for first-time users but I think as well for normal users, professional users.  So, in this place, I would like to introduce you to the new generation of Gras GUI.  Probably the most challenging thing we faced as developers was the existence of the start-up screen or rather the removal of the start-up screen.  And in the new version, Gras 8, there's no start-up screen anymore.  Instead of the start-up screen, all data management functions are the part of the data catalog.  So, we can say that the data catalog is now a center point of Gras GIS.  And it's true that there are still some, like, there's still the confusing or kind of confusing data structure hierarchy.  But now, at first glance, you can see the structure in the data catalog.  So, it's visually better represented.  And I think it's also something valuable for professional users, not only for first-time users, but especially for first-time users.  So, here, as I said, the data catalog nicely captures data here.  And as the title of this slide says, basically, it's that the data catalog takes over the role of the start-up screen.  And it offers even more.  For example, there's the set of the basic functions that were also accessible through the start-up screen for creating, renaming, and deleting databases, locations, mapsets.  But we have also some new functions.  For example, adding multiple Gras databases or new management icons for quicker work, basically.  And then there is, for instance, interesting thing called Mapset Access Info, which tell you the state of the mapset, basically.  So, you can see that the mapset is in use or owned by a different user or that the mapset is current, for example.  As you can see, the data catalog in new versions is much richer than it used to be.  In this place, I would like to emphasize the difference between the data tab and the display tab.  Earlier, it was called layers tab. You can see this here.  Maybe some of you are confused now because you were used to have the layers or, let's say, display tab in the first place in the role.  And now it's actually in the second place.  But the display tab is still here and it takes care about individual map layers and their design, their symbology.  Nothing has changed about it. Only the order of tabs has changed.  Well, we move on a bit and as I mentioned somewhere in the beginning, I mentioned the colocation first-time user or newcomer.  And we devoted to this topic how to enhance the first-time user experience in GrassGIS.  And besides the removal of the startup screen, we also implemented a set of infobars.  So you can see here the example of infobars used for the default location. I will talk about it now.  So when you start GrassGIS for the first time, you will be redirected straight to the default location.  You can imagine the default location as the example of the project in GrassGIS.  And this default location contains the vector world map and it uses the coordinate system EPCG 4326.  So you are advised by the infobar to change this coordinate system because likely you will need different coordinate system for your analysis, according to your data.  So then we have the second option, how GrassGIS can start and it's probably the most common option.  It's the option when GrassGIS starts to last-use mapset.  And there's one condition if it's possible. If it's not possible, we have special cases  when the last-use mapset is not found or is slot by another session or owned by a different user.  And then GrassGIS starts to an empty temporary location.  And as you will see, again, you're advised how to move on in this case.  So it was something... I thought I'd use something about the new starter mechanism.  And then I would like to show you the so-called dark mode, how it looks like in GrassGIS.  So personally, I think it looks quite nice.  If you think the same, you can try it out. It's very easy to try it.  You just need to change your settings of your operational system.  So for example, I use Ubuntu and to change the mode, I use the utility called NOMTWIX.  Well, and we are heading now to the last topic.  It's the single window GUI topic.  And it's something in the process of implementation, but it should be soon accessible through the development version.  And probably it will be accessible in the version 8.2 of GrassGIS.  So it's something I've implemented through the Google Summer of Code this year.  And I implemented just first steps, so it's something which needs many improvements.  But you can at least see some brand new screenshots, how it could look like.  So it's built on the notion, I would say, of dockable paints.  So all tabs, as you know them, will be in the form of dockable paints.  So here you can see some examples.  So for example, you will be given the option for minimizing the paints.  So here the data tab is minimized. All paints can be minimized.  Also you can split the center map display notebook.  So here you can see the example.  Yeah, and it's everything basically.  So I would like to thank you. I and the GrassGIS hungry cow, which I borrowed from my Google Summer of Code mentor, Vasek Petrasz.  So we both thank you very much for your attention.  And please, if you have any questions, don't hesitate and ask.  Thank you very much for your talk, Linda.  The grass looks amazing right now.  And we have a question for you.  If I add new mapsets or locations via the command line, will the UI pick them up automatically?  Yes, yeah.  It will add automatically.  All right. And so far no more questions.  Maria is telling that they are going to miss the startup.  Oh, once more, sorry.  Can I see some of the questions?  Come again?  Ah, okay, I can.  You can see the chat in menu less as well, but I don't know more questions.  If it's fine with you, we can end here and we can start set up the next talk.  Okay. So thank you very much for your attention again.  Thank you very much, Linda.  Bye bye.
FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_0_359.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_360_443.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_444_1727.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_1728_4667.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_4668_5963.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_5964_6995.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_6996_9767.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_9768_10103.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_10104_12239.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_12240_12347.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_12348_15707.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_15708_16943.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_16944_20135.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_20136_21491.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_21492_23087.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_23088_25499.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_25500_26027.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_26028_26291.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_26292_26339.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_26340_26423.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_26424_29351.png FOSS4G_2021_-_I_hated_the_way_GRASS_started_so_I_c_pF0hrebqdtA_29352_29727.png