Geoprocessing with Python

Chapter 2. Python basics

This chapter covers

• Using the Python interpreter vs. writing scripts
• Using the core Python data types
• Controlling the order of code execution

You can do many things with desktop GIS software such as QGIS, but if you work with spatial data for long, you’ll inevitably want to do something that isn’t available through the software’s interface. If you know how to program, and are clever enough, you can write code that does exactly what you need. Another common scenario is the need to automate a repetitive processing task instead of using the point-and-click method over and over again. Not only is coding more fun and intellectually stimulating than pointing and clicking, but it’s also much more efficient when it comes ...