I had a phone call on the Bat Phone the other day – “I don’t know what to use to install QGIS”. The user was a windows user so I sat around trying to explain it. So why not explain it up here.
I’m one of those people – a Linux User. I use Windows though – I have to as everyone of my clients but one is on windows.
When you go to the download page for QGIS on windows you’ve got more than one option. Options are awesome but can get confusing.
The first thing you need to know: Are you running a 64 bit operating system or a 32 bit operating system. If you track down your system settings you’ll find it (muck around in your control panel).
Now that you have that figured out there are two versions of QGIS out at any one point. One is a Long Term Release and it’s good for a year (with updates). There is also a current release that will be a few versions ahead of the LTR (long term release). What is special about the LTR? It gets bug fixes and small improvements for a year. So if you are in one of those corporate environments that just makes upgrading and installing new software a pain – run with the LTR. If not and you like running something a bit newer – go with the latest release.
Now that you have that part figured out – How do you get it installed? You have two choices: Standalone and a Network installer.
- The standalone installer is a “typical” installer. You download a 300 something megabyte file and you install QGIS. It’s easy. It’s boring. It doesn’t take very long at all. When a new version comes out you download another installer and run it. If you’re in a corporate environment or you’re teaching students – this is the safest thing to do.
- The Network installer. This one is my favorite. You download a very small file network installer file.
Choose Express Desktop and let it run. It actually goes out in the internet and grabs the current available packages.
Current Available? Yes – so lets say you have an update shortly after the standalone installer comes out. This update will make it into this install almost immediately. The update goes into the standalone installer during the next update. If you go the network installer route you’re more or less installing a “rolling release”. What do I mean by that? – you can update this as often as you want thanks to a menu pick called Setup under the OSGEO menu pick. You get almost (if I understand this correctly) bug fixes as they are made available. You can install multiple copies of QGIS. Maybe you want to install the bleeding edge and help test the software for your fellow users. The whole “grabbing installation packages” from the internet probably will panic your IT administrator (if you have one).
It’s a lot of choice I know. ArcGIS has one option. Then you’re done until the next service pack/bug fix. Here you’ve got 6 options. Knowing your operating system takes that down to 3. Knowing your situation for work/school/life takes that down to 2 options.
My only rant on the LTR – Just because it’s good for one year doesn’t mean you can install it and walk away for a year. Watch for updates. Install those updates. They are important or they wouldn’t be getting released.
