2017-10-14, 05:59 AM
What does integration involve? It would seem that mostly means some accommodations on either side for support in the flavors of NMEA sentences each prefers -- or better yet, qtVlm becoming one of the first chart plotters to support SignalK. That would all be great to happen, and it should work whether qtVlm is running locally on Raspian, or on a Windows or mobile device elsewhere on the boat. Making the irridium API an optional plugin as someone else suggestion might be popular not just with Openplotter's standards but with other projects they might collaborate with.
I think that is not the argument, but whether it ships on the image. Really (the open source matter regarding irridium aside) I have the same questions about OpenCPN, as so many people will run a lean and headless Openplotter and won't use it. I can see there being a minimalist image at some point and a screen to check off which additional applications to install. But a big fat image containing a full box of toys may suit other people better. We all use Openplotter somewhat differently.
I suppose I am a yes vote, if it is a small effort, but there are a lot of other really great things in progress that are also exciting and we would all vote yes on those too. Pypilot. Tank level sensors. Counting pulses like paddlewheels and anemometers and engine RPMs. But striking up friendships with qtVlm and other projects yields great things.
I think that is not the argument, but whether it ships on the image. Really (the open source matter regarding irridium aside) I have the same questions about OpenCPN, as so many people will run a lean and headless Openplotter and won't use it. I can see there being a minimalist image at some point and a screen to check off which additional applications to install. But a big fat image containing a full box of toys may suit other people better. We all use Openplotter somewhat differently.
I suppose I am a yes vote, if it is a small effort, but there are a lot of other really great things in progress that are also exciting and we would all vote yes on those too. Pypilot. Tank level sensors. Counting pulses like paddlewheels and anemometers and engine RPMs. But striking up friendships with qtVlm and other projects yields great things.