QGIS is a popular desktop GIS software, and considered a free and open source software (FOSS) with a very active development community.

QGIS Advantages ⇡

• Free and open source
• Runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
• Extensive online documentation
• Intuitive interface
• Active development and user communities, meaning people are constantly posing and answering questions on platforms such as Reddit and StackExchange. This makes troubleshooting a whole lot easier.
• Robust plugin repository for extended functionality

QGIS Disadvantages ⇣

• Most recent features can be buggy, which is why we recommend always downloading the latest Long Term Release, often small hyperlink below main download button.
• Plugins lack standardized documentation as they are largely user-community developed and contributed
• Troubleshooting often amounts to searching the web, though this is an important skill to have as a cartographer.

QGIS Resources

• UBC Research Commons has two workshops to get you started: Intro to Map Production with QGIS, Tools and Workflows in QGIS, and Plugins in QGIS.
• QGIS itself has extensive online documentation. User Guide and Training Manual. QGIS also has a vibrant user community, with answers to nearly any question you might have only a web search away. Many helpful tutorial demonstrations can be found on Youtube. CWU Geography offers especially clear and helpful content.