QGIS 2.18 is out and about. What’s exciting about this one? First off learn a little bit of Geography with the release name of Las Palmas.
Second – it’s the last (**I think**) of the 2 releases before 3 comes out. This one will probably be with us a bit longer than normal as the developers work on pushing QGIS into python 3 and QT5. That’s pretty exciting in and of itself.
What does the new release bring?
- Color picker is now embedded in layer style panel
- Substitution list support for labeling
- Improved line label placement algorithm
- Label polygons using curved labels along perimeter
- Preview of raster tiles (WMTS and XYZ layers) (yes – faster rendering for these tiles)
- Point on surface algorithm added
- and a whole lot more – check the changelog link above for all the news.
If you’re on 2.16 I would upgrade to 2.18. If you are on 2.14, the Long Term Release, I would encourage to load one copy of 2.18 just for general testing and playing around. There is (IMO) a lot of different between 2.14 and 2.18 – enough you should start to familiarize yourself with it. I’ve got clients on 2.14 and my official stance is stick with the LTR – but it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at 2.18.
