{TOC}
h5. Collective memory, a wiki for tools
Core of the OpenEarth philosophy on tools is that by systematically storing, maintaining and disseminating data routines, I/O routines, engines, applications and programs at a central location, slowly but surely a toolbox emerges that acts as a *{_}collective memory{_}* to which analysts and end users naturally gravitate regarding their basic information needs. The long term focus of the approach promotes collaboration and the exchange of ideas across the artificial boundaries of projects - and even companies - which is beneficial for the coastal/marine/hydraulic and environmental research and engineering community as a whole.
h5. History
The idea to collect, maintain and disseminate data, models and tools used by and developed at [Delft Hydraulics|http://www.wldelft.nl] was first put forward in 2003 by [Mark van Koningsveld|http://www.linkedin.com/in/markvankoningsveld] as quantitative support for, and in fact as an extension of, the [Frame of reference] method he developed during his [PhD research|Matching specialist knowledge with end user needs]. The initiative quickly merged with similar intiatives by Gerben de Boer and Fedor Baart that emerged at roughly that same time. Thir combination formed OpenEarthTools, that has since grown to accomodate contributions from over 150 user-developers, as is shown in this activity visualisation:
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h5. OpenEarth and other web-hosted tools collections
Related initiatives, which OpenEarth does not intend to compete with, come in a number of flavours: _general purpose_: [Sourceforge|http://sourceforge.net/], [github|https://github.com/], _dedicated to specific analysis languages_: [R-forge|http://r-forge.r-project.org/], [Matlab Central|http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/], [Python Package Index|https://pypi.python.org/pypi]. In contrast to these initiatives, openearthtools is a collection _dedicated to the application area of marine and coastal science and engineering_. OET currently mainly hosts Matlab and python code.
h5. Getting the OpenEarth tools
All openearthtools are stored in-the-cloud at the Deltares open source svn server [svn.oss.deltares.nl|https://svn.oss.deltares.nl/] that also host the open source numerical models [Deft3D|http://oss.deltares.nl/web/delft3d] and [Xbeach|http://oss.deltares.nl/web/xbeach/]. Access is free but requires registration at the associated OSS (Open Source SoftWare) portal first: [svn.oss.deltares.nl|https://svn.oss.deltares.nl/]. Here is some documentation on [Joining OpenEarth or Getting started|Getting started] with the OpenEarthTools svn tools collection.
* [SubVersion repository tutorial|^how_to_use_subversion.pps]
* [SubVersion migration manual|OpenEarth and XBeach migration manual]
[!OET:Google Earth^K030590M2_small.png|align=right,hspace=12!|KML Screenshots]
h5. Documentation, tutorials and tech notes
A huge collection of tools need proper discovery and documentation facilities. The remainder of this page links to the various sources of documentation on OpenEarth and its tools. There are separate tech notes for the three analysis languages that OpenEarth fosters and supports: [Matlab], [Python] and [R].
h6. [General OpenEarth documentation]
Various presentations and lectures on (the use of) OpenEarth. Also see our [agenda]
h6. [Tech Notes] and [Data tutorials]
Dedicated solutions for specific issues, focused on 3 languages and one GUI
* [Matlab]
* [Python]
* [R]
* [QGIS Tutorials|http://qgiswww.spatialthoughtsqgistutorials.com/en/]
** [Video module 1 the interface|http://vimeo.com/91238379]
** [Video module 2 creating a basic map|http://vimeo.com/91599332]
** [Video moduel 3 labels and legends|http://vimeo.com/92849785]
** [Video module 4 Printing maps|http://vimeo.com/93369678#t=0]
** [Video module 5 creating Vector data|http://vimeo.com/94646205#t=0]
* [PostgreSQL\Python tutorial|http://zetcode.com/db/postgresqlpythontutorial/]
* [netCDF-CF-OPeNDAP|netCDF-CF-OpeNDAP]
* [Geoserver Advanced Training Modules|http://geoserver.geo-solutions.it/edu/en/index.html]
h6. [Wiki tutorials]
Tutorials and presentations explaining how to use the OpenEarth wiki
h6. [Web application tutorials]
* How to set-up your own web application (with [HERON|http://www.justobjects.nl/jo/assets/presentation/bolsena-2011-heron/] for instance)?
* Web application infrastructure
* Create ISO/CF compatible netCDF files in a whoosh: [OET:netCDF kickstarter]
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