.. _index:

.. meta::
   :description: pycsw is an OGC CSW server implementation written in Python
   :keywords: pycsw, csw, catalogue, catalog, metadata, discovery, search, ogc, iso, fgdc, dif, ebrim, inspire

================
Welcome to pycsw
================

.. image:: ../_static/pycsw-logo.png
   :alt: pycsw
   :align: left

pycsw is an OGC CSW server implementation written in `Python`_.

pycsw implements clause 10 (HTTP protocol binding (Catalogue Services for the Web, CSW)) of the `OpenGIS Catalogue Service Implementation Specification`_, version 2.0.2.  Initial development started in 2010 (more formally announced in `2011`_).

pycsw allows for the publishing and discovery of geospatial metadata.  Existing repositories of geospatial metadata can be exposed via OGC:CSW 2.0.2.

pycsw is `Open Source`_, released under an MIT :ref:`license <license>`, and runs on all major platforms (Windows, Linux, Mac OS X).

Announcements
-------------

.. include:: ./announcements.inc

.. _`Python`: http://www.python.org/
.. _`OpenGIS Catalogue Service Implementation Specification`: http://www.opengeospatial.org/standards/cat
.. _`2011`: http://www.kralidis.ca/blog/2011/02/04/help-wanted-baking-a-csw-server-in-python/
.. _`Open Source`: http://www.opensource.org/