[Geomoose-users] Why GeoMoose? (and article request)

[Richard Marsden]

Hello!

I own/operate the GeoWebGuru site at http://www.geowebguru.com

Over the past few months, I've been writing a series of introductory 
"Technical Overview" articles for a whole series of different online 
mapping technologies and products. I would like to write or publish one 
for GeoMoose.

First, I am trying to understand what the point is. Sorry if that makes 
me sound like a troll - I am not!
For example, why would someone use GeoMoose and not OpenLayers (say)?
OpenLayers also supports lots of layers and works well with MapServer.
The best I've come up with is that it is possible to produce a working 
map with controls that is controlled by an XML file and not Javascript. 
Layers are easily added by simply adding an entry to the XML , whilst 
OpenLayers requires Javascript to be written.
GeoMoose also has a richer set of default controls.
Would that be a good summary?

GeoMoose appears to be most popular with local governments in Minnesota! 
I guess the Minnesota concentration is for historical reasons.
Would I be right in thinking that the popularity with local government 
popularity is due to the feature set?  ie. Local governments like to 
plot lots of local data. Many layers, each from different owners or 
departments? Each dataset needs to be made publically available but in 
the most cost effective manner?

Although I'm prepared to write this article myself, I would be 
interested if someone from the GeoMoose community was interested in 
writing something instead. They are more likely to get it right and 
understand why GeoMoose is worth looking at. A previously published 
article is fine (as long as it has suitable permission for 
re-publication). At the moment I am only looking for an overview, but 
would also welcome articles at all levels of technical ability.

Best regards,

Richard

-- 
Richard Marsden
Winwaed Software Technology LLC
http://www.winwaed.com
Tools and Add-ins for MapPoint - http://www.mapping-tools.com
The Geoweb Guru <http://www.geowebguru.com>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/geomoose-users/attachments/20090713/80a2bada/attachment.html