qgis

Open-source Geographic Information System

TLDR

Launch QGIS

$ qgis

Open a specific project file

$ qgis --project [path/to/project.qgs]

Open QGIS with specific layers

$ qgis [path/to/file.shp] [path/to/raster.tif]

Export a map snapshot to an image file

$ qgis --snapshot [output.png] --width [1024] --height [768] --project [project.qgs]

Launch without splash screen and without plugins

$ qgis --nologo --noplugins

Export project layers to DXF

$ qgis --dxf-export [output.dxf] --project [project.qgs]

Use a specific user profile

$ qgis --profile [profilename]

Run a Python script on startup

$ qgis --code [path/to/script.py]

QGIS is a cross-platform, free and open-source Geographic Information System licensed under the GNU GPLv2+. It supports viewing, editing, and analysis of geospatial data. Written primarily in C++ using the Qt framework, it features extensive Python plugin support.QGIS handles vector formats (Shapefiles, GeoJSON, GML, KML, GeoPackage, PostGIS, and all OGR-supported formats), raster formats (GeoTIFF, ERDAS IMG, and all GDAL-supported formats), and database sources. It integrates with GRASS GIS for advanced analytical functions and uses GDAL/OGR for data format translation. Features include map composition, spatial analysis, digitizing, geoprocessing, and a rich plugin ecosystem.For headless or batch processing, use the companion tool qgis_process instead.

PARAMETERS

-p, --project projectfile

Load the given QGIS project file.

-s, --snapshot filename

Emit a snapshot of loaded datasets to the given image file.

-w, --width width

Width of snapshot to emit.

-h, --height height

Height of snapshot to emit.

-e, --extent xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax

Set initial map extent.

-n, --nologo

Hide the splash screen on startup.

-V, --noversioncheck

Don't check for new version at startup.

-P, --noplugins

Don't restore plugins on startup.

--nopython

Disable Python support entirely.

-B, --skipbadlayers

Don't prompt for missing layers.

-C, --nocustomization

Don't apply GUI customization.

-z, --customizationfile path

Use given ini file as GUI customization.

-f, --code path

Run given Python file on load.

--profile name

Load a named profile from the profiles folder.

-S, --profiles-path path

Path to store user profile folders.

-l, --lang language

Use specified language for the interface.

-d, --defaultui

Reset user UI settings to default.

--hide-browser

Hide the browser widget.

--dxf-export filename.dxf

Emit DXF output of loaded datasets.

--dxf-extent xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax

Set extent for DXF export.

--dxf-symbology-mode mode

Symbology mode for DXF export: none, symbollayer, or feature.

-v, --version

Display version information and exit.

--help

Display help text.

CONFIGURATION

User settings stored in ~/.config/QGIS/qgis.conf. QGIS supports multiple user profiles, each with separate settings, plugins, and project templates. Use --profile to switch between profiles or --profiles-path to specify a custom profiles directory.

CAVEATS

QGIS is primarily a GUI application; command-line usage is limited to launching with options, taking snapshots, and DXF export. Python plugins may affect startup time; use --noplugins or --nopython for faster launches. Large projects with many layers can consume significant memory. The --configpath option from QGIS 2.x was replaced by --profiles-path in QGIS 3.x.

HISTORY

Development began in February 2002 by Gary Sherman as Quantum GIS, initially a simple PostGIS data viewer for Linux. The first public release came in July 2002. It became an OSGeo incubator project in 2007, and version 1.0 was released in January 2009. In September 2013, version 2.0 was released and the project was officially renamed from Quantum GIS to QGIS. Gary Sherman received the Sol Katz Award for open-source GIS contributions in 2014.