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</style></head><body><div>Good suggestions. I have moved the open-ended questions to the end, and added questions on usage of vector tiles, the WMS client, and the WFS client. </div><div><br></div><div>I also added a question to see if MapServer users are also using TinyOWS, MapCache. ms4w, or mappyfile. </div><div><br></div><div>Seth</div><div><br></div><div id="sig62266145"><div class="signature">--</div><div class="signature">web:<a href="https://geographika.net">https://geographika.net</a> & <a href="https://mapserverstudio.net">https://mapserverstudio.net</a></div><div class="signature">mastodon: @<a href="mailto:geographika@mastodon.social">geographika@mastodon.social</a></div></div><div><br></div><div>On Tue, Jan 20, 2026, at 9:22 PM, Lime, Steve D (MNIT) wrote:</div><blockquote type="cite" id="qt" style="overflow-wrap:break-word;"><div class="qt-WordSection1"><p class="qt-MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;">Yeah, I didn’t see the multiple pages – my apologies.</span></p><p class="qt-MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;"> </span></p><ul style="margin-top:0in;" type="disc"><li class="qt-MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;">I’d be curious specifically about vector tiles as an output format. That’s an area for possible investment.</span></li><li class="qt-MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;">I’d explicitly list WMS and WFS as input formats since they are native clients.</span></li><li class="qt-MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;">Maybe move the open-ended questions from page one to the end? I think that is part of the reason I didn’t notice multiple pages.</span></li></ul><p class="qt-MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;"> </span></p><p class="qt-MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;">Any reason to ask about use of or interest in related projects (e.g. MS4W, Mappyfile, MapCache, etc…)?</span></p><p class="qt-MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;"> </span></p><p class="qt-MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;"> </span></p><div><div style="border-right-width:medium;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:currentcolor;border-bottom-width:medium;border-bottom-style:none;border-bottom-color:currentcolor;border-left-width:medium;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:currentcolor;border-image-outset:0;border-image-repeat:stretch;border-image-slice:100%;border-image-source:none;border-image-width:1;border-top-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:rgb(225, 225, 225);padding-top:3pt;padding-right:0in;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:0in;"><p class="qt-MsoNormal"><b><span class="font" style="font-family:"Calibri", sans-serif;"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;">From:</span></span></b><span class="font" style="font-family:"Calibri", sans-serif;"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt;"> MapServer-dev <mapserver-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Seth G via MapServer-dev<br> <b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 20, 2026 1:10 PM<br> <b>To:</b> MapServer Devs <mapserver-dev@lists.osgeo.org><br> <b>Subject:</b> Re: [MapServer-dev] MapServer User Survey</span></span></p></div></div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p><div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">Thanks Steve - that first question was an update on the Frank Warmerdam/ GDAL question :-)</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">I have added the government option and changed the mailing list question.</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">In regard to the functionality - you may have missed sections 2-4 which cover most of these (you need to click Next at the bottom of the page)? I didn't have a version question though - I'll add that to the first section. </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">Seth</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div id="qt-sig62266145"><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">--</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">web:<a href="https://geographika.net/">https://geographika.net</a> & <a href="https://mapserverstudio.net/">https://mapserverstudio.net</a></p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">mastodon: @<a href="mailto:geographika@mastodon.social">geographika@mastodon.social</a></p></div></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">On Tue, Jan 20, 2026, at 6:59 PM, Steve Lime wrote:</p></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;" id="qt-qt"><div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">I like that first question... ;-)</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">Other comments at first glance:</p></div><div><ol start="1" type="1"><li class="qt-MsoNormal" style="">On the "Within the last 5 years..." question I'd explicitly add a government option. </li><li class="qt-MsoNormal" style="">For communications, I'd change "I follow the mapserver-users mailing lists" to "Which mailing lists do you follow?" with 3 choices: mapserver-users, mapserver-dev, and mapserver-announce. </li></ol></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">Otherwise, my big question would be is this the time to ask about functionality. Some that come to mind are:</p></div><div><ol start="1" type="1"><li class="qt-MsoNormal" style="">What version are you using?</li><li class="qt-MsoNormal" style="">Are you using MapScript? If yes, what language binding?</li><li class="qt-MsoNormal" style="">What OGC services are you using, if any?</li><li class="qt-MsoNormal" style="">What native MapServer CGI modes are you using, if any?</li><li class="qt-MsoNormal" style="">What input formats are you using, if any? (e.g. PostGIS, Oracle, GDAL, etc...)</li><li class="qt-MsoNormal" style="">What output formats are you using, if any? (e.g. template, KML, OGR, etc...) </li></ol><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">It could get quite involved though and perhaps 2 surveys - a general one and a functional one, would make sense.</p></div></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">--Steve</p></div></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">On Tue, Jan 20, 2026 at 4:36<span class="font" style="font-family:"Arial", sans-serif;"> </span>AM Seth G via MapServer-dev <<a href="mailto:mapserver-dev@lists.osgeo.org">mapserver-dev@lists.osgeo.org</a>> wrote:</p></div><blockquote style="border-top-width:medium;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:currentcolor;border-right-width:medium;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:currentcolor;border-bottom-width:medium;border-bottom-style:none;border-bottom-color:currentcolor;border-image-outset:0;border-image-repeat:stretch;border-image-slice:100%;border-image-source:none;border-image-width:1;border-left-width:1pt;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-top:0in;padding-right:0in;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:6pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;"><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">Thanks Māris for the feedback - I have updated the survey with your suggestions.</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">Seth</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">--</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">web:<a href="https://geographika.net/" target="_blank">https://geographika.net</a> & <a href="https://mapserverstudio.net/" target="_blank">https://mapserverstudio.net</a></p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">mastodon: @geographika@mastodon.social</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">On Tue, Jan 20, 2026, at 8:33 AM, Maris Nartiss wrote:</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> Hello Seth,</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> "The web server run MapServer on most is" question is duplicated;</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> "I obtain MapServer from" should be rephrased to something like "For</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> production environments I obtain MapServer from" or should be made as</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> a multiple answer question (e.g. I use packages but also build from</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> source for dev needs);</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> One question to ask might be something like: "Within last X years I</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> have used MapServer for" (multiple choice): "commercial projects",</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> "volunteer projects", "just playing around".</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> Regards,</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> Māris.</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> pirmd., 2026. g. 19. janv., plkst. 23:15 — lietotājs Seth G via</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">> MapServer-dev (<<a href="mailto:mapserver-dev@lists.osgeo.org" target="_blank">mapserver-dev@lists.osgeo.org</a>>) rakstīja:</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> Hi all,</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> At the last OSGeo codesprint, we discussed running a MapServer user survey, modelled on the GDAL survey [1]. Since MapServer has no analytics or "phone home" functionality, we have little insight into how it is used beyond mailing lists
and in-person discussions.</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> A first draft of the survey is available for feedback:</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNLqslbM6IhocnwTst9c29eaD89yD81hdUKW2ctn2uZK0Z3g/viewform" target="_blank"> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNLqslbM6IhocnwTst9c29eaD89yD81hdUKW2ctn2uZK0Z3g/viewform</a> (please don't submit answers until we're happy with the questions!).</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> Thanks to Howard for sharing the GDAL survey on which this is based.</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> Please let me know of any additional questions that should be added, or any edits to existing questions (options, phrasing etc.).</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> Unlike the GDAL survey, which informed budget decisions, the aim is to prioritise limited time and resources, identify features for potential deprecation, and highlight areas needing continued support.</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> It will also be interesting to see how many responses we get, as this will give a sense of overall interest in MapServer.</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> Seth</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> [1] <a href="https://gdal.org/en/stable/community/user_survey_2024.html" target="_blank"> https://gdal.org/en/stable/community/user_survey_2024.html</a></p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> </p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> --</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> web:<a href="https://geographika.net/" target="_blank">https://geographika.net</a> & <a href="https://mapserverstudio.net/" target="_blank">https://mapserverstudio.net</a></p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> mastodon: @geographika@mastodon.social</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> _______________________________________________</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> MapServer-dev mailing list</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> <a href="mailto:MapServer-dev@lists.osgeo.org" target="_blank"> MapServer-dev@lists.osgeo.org</a></p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">>> <a href="https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/mapserver-dev" target="_blank"> https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/mapserver-dev</a></p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">_______________________________________________</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal">MapServer-dev mailing list</p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:MapServer-dev@lists.osgeo.org" target="_blank">MapServer-dev@lists.osgeo.org</a></p></div><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"><a href="https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/mapserver-dev" target="_blank">https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/mapserver-dev</a></p></div></blockquote></div></blockquote><div><p class="qt-MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div></body></html>