GRASS and Python

Python extensions for GRASS GIS

Python-SWIG-GRASS interface

There is a prototype GRASS-SWIG interface available (thanks to Sajith VK), find it in GRASS 6-CVS: swig/python/

Background: SWIG (Simplified Wrapper and Interface Generator) is:

• A compiler that turns ANSI C/C++ declarations into scripting language interfaces.
• Completely automated (produces a fully working Python extension module).
• Language neutral. SWIG can also target Tcl, Perl, Guile, MATLAB, etc...
• Attempts to eliminate the tedium of writing extension modules.

TODO: Implement modules support in a Python class using --interface-description and a Python-XML parser. This should be a generic class with module's name as parameter, returning back an object which describes the module (description, flags, parameters, status of not/required). See GRASS 6 wxPython interface for inspiration. Important is to auto-generate the GRASS-Python class at compile time with a Python script.

Python-GRASS add-ons

Stand-alone addons:

1. Jáchym Čepický's G-ps.map, a GUI to typeset printable maps with ps.map (http://les-ejk.cz/?cat=gpsmap)
2. Jáchym Čepický's v.pydigit, a GUI to v.edit (http://les-ejk.cz/?cat=vpydigit)
3. Jáchym Čepický's PyWPS, GRASS-Web Processing Service (http://les-ejk.cz/?cat=pywps)

Links

• GRASS-SWIG interface http://mpa.itc.it/markus/grass61progman/swig/
• SWIG http://www.swig.org/
• SIP (C/C++ bindings generator) http://directory.fsf.org/all/Python-SIP.html
• Python and GDAL/OGR:
  • Open Source Python GIS Hacks Mum'03
  • http://hobu.biz/software/OSGIS_Hacks - Python OSGIS Hacks '05
  • http://zcologia.com/news/categorylist_html?cat_id=8
  • http://www.perrygeo.net/wordpress/?p=4
• Python bindings to PROJ:
  • http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/people/jeffrey.s.whitaker/python/pyproj.html
• Other external projects
  • Scientific Python: http://www.scipy.org/