== GRASS 8 planning: ideas ==

''For now just a brainstorming zone...''

=== Raster library ===

 * organization of raster file storage layout: have one raster folder per map like for vector data or raster3D
   * for fp maps: move fcell to cell, eliminating empty cell file
 * implement GRASS_RASTER_TMPDIR_MAPSET like it exists for vector data (GRASS_VECTOR_TMPDIR_MAPSET), i.e. change all .tmp/ to variable in source code in init/grass.py, gis/open.c, gis/file_name.c, raster library
 * maintain history as it is already for vector maps
 * synchronize metadata between raster and vector maps
 * keep track of open raster maps (already done in the R__ structure)
 * Storage in tiles instead of by row (See [wiki:Grass7/RasterLib])
 * Merge NULL file into main data array  (See [wiki:Grass7/RasterLib])
 * save more raster metadata like number of non-null cells, mean and stddev (see GDAL)
 * MASK: add support for writing raster data (not only reading)

Discussions at Aug 2017:
 * add **tile support** for better large map support (Sentinel, global data, ...), supporting massive parallel computations
  * tiles could then be even stored on different nodes for speed optimization
  * e.g. develop a new virtual raster mapset "VRT" (special like PERMANENT)
   * reading:
    * or add tile support deeply into raster lib (Rast_get_row()
    * use name scheme? make use of segment library
    * problem: due to row compression always whole row is read even if computation region is smaller
   * writing:
    * it is more complex

=== Imagery library ===
 * get rid of subgroups. No real need for that... (but overcomplication of usage)
  * or strengthen subgroups. One of options could be auto creating some "magic" subgroups as i.e. "_all" - all raster maps in a group (aka if subgroup is not set, use all maps from group); "_initial" - only imported remote sensing layers (equals "_all" if no new maps are added later); "RGB" - if source is RGB or RGB can be defined (I would love to be able to have an option to choose a group in d.rgb and get RGB subgroup selected as a default instead of searching for separate channels); "MLC" subgroup - see  #2483.

=== Vector library ===

 * keep track of opened vector maps
 * keep track of dblinks to not remove table connected to multiple vector maps
 * get rid of dbf as database backend
 * ...

=== Python library ===

 * finalize/stabilize Python 3 support
 * simplify the startup from Python script (i.e. less steps to start session from Python, possibly includes change in distribution/installation)
 * remove deprecated Python functions: https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/changeset/67669

=== GUI ===

 * review (again) startup window, setting database/location/mapset, initial (default) location
 * single window interface as an option (first step: moving code to controller classes and panels)
 * avoid the need for setting up path to packaged before imports (now we need to mix code and imports), e.g. grassgui package next to grass package
 * integrated Addon and GUI toolboxes

=== Manual pages ===

 * generate Sphinx manuals (rst converter is already in man/)

=== Bug reports ===

==== Blockers ====

[[TicketQuery(status=new&status=assigned&status=reopened&group=type&order=priority&priority=blocker&milestone=8.0.0)]]

==== Critical issues ====

[[TicketQuery(status=new&status=assigned&status=reopened&group=type&order=priority&priority=critical&milestone=8.0.0)]]

==== Further issues ====

 * Check overview in: https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/milestone/8.0.0