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3 Installation of GRASS

Three different variants can be chosen when deciding to install GRASS GIS on your computer. Although this book is an introduction into GRASS version 6.0, installation of the version 5.4 will be discussed briefly. The choice of which version to install depends on the requirements of the user and the applications that are necessary for the project work with GRASS GIS. The GRASS versions can be described as follows:

• GRASS 5.4 : This version finishes the development of the official GRASS 5.x series. It is used for production work in companies for many years now. It can surely be considered as a very robust and stable version. GRASS 5.4all raster functionality of GRASS 6.0.0, but not the new vector functionalities. For users who only need raster functionalities, GRASS 5.4a save choice.
• GRASS 6.0 : This GRASS version is the most recent GRASS version, which is released early 2005. It is based on the development version 5.7 and includes all known raster functionalities of version 5.4the newly developed vector library. The development of GRASS is continuing on the basis of GRASS 6.0. Therefor we like to encourage the users to use and test the version 6.0; this is necessary for further development.
  The GDF Hannover bRuses this version for its work.

Figure: Innovations between GRASS 5.46.0

The following descriptions are related to the installation on GNU/Linux systems. Thus, they are accordingly modified transmissible on other platforms. Each stables version will shortly be described.