[OpenLayers-Dev] Hackfest Week

[Christopher Schmidt]

Interesting statistic, from CIA:

 "344 messages so far this week"
   -- http://cia.navi.cx/stats/project/OpenLayers

Achievements:
 * Full integration of vector geometry classes.
 * Integration of Vector features
 * Refactoring of GML parser/serializer: OpenLayers now has a 
   relatively complete Javascript-only cross browser GML parser. (How's
   that for a mouthful?)
 * Subclassing of GML serializer to support WFS-T
 * Modification of WFS Layer to use vector features instead of markers. 
   (This is the only case I can think of where existing functionality/
    behavior should change: WFS will now render vector points -- and any
    other feature type needed -- instead of markers).
 * Reworking of mouse tools  to support encapsulation of browser events
   into generic 'handlers' like 'drawbox', making creating a box
   drawing control which performs some other event almost trivial. This
   basically moves lots of browser event complexity down a level, and
   out of hte way of the control developer.
 * Creation of an extensible 'generic toolbar', styled entirely via CSS.

Discussions (I'll send seperate emails on these):
 * Logging/debugging framework, how it would work and how it would help.
 * CSS styling: how to make it possible for users to use the standard
   'cascading' behavior of CSS to change the look and feel of their
   applications. Right now, it's not possible to use in-page stylesheets
   to control your application. However, using some smart checking, we
   can better support this way of doing things. 
   
   Part of this discussion is what lead to the current toolbar design
   which is controlled entirely via CSS.

Tim and Erik flew back out tonight, but it was great to have the time
with them to hack this stuff out. OpenLayers has gained a bunch of
really nice code as a result, and I'm looking forward to getting it into
the next release.

I'm still a bit spaced after having done our 12 hour hackathon or
whatever it was last night, so I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but I
want to thank (again):
 * MetaCarta for hosting us this week, and for flying Tim and Erik into
   town to hack on OpenLayers with us
 * Tim for his <s>moose herding ways</s> participation in the project,
   both from good ole Montana and this week in Cambridge
 * Erik for his dedication to code cleanup and testing. OpenLayers 
   is only the quality of project it is because of Erik's hard work
   and dedication to internal code documentation and testing.
 * Schuyler for his insight into social project issues, as well as the
   excellent work he developed throughout the code, especially in the
   handlers and controls -- as well as a great dinner on Tuesday night
   :)
 * John Frank for his dedication to the OpenLayers project and his
   contribution of all of our time this week on the project, as well as
   keeping us fed ;)
 * My fiancee for not killing me when I stayed up until 7am hacking
   at our dining room table, or not reallly sleeping this week ;)

And most especially:

 * Camptocamp, Cameron Shorter, Paul Spencer, Oliver Terrall, and anyone
   else that I"m sure I'm missing who helped to participate in and build
   the original vector branch and toolbar code. Only by stadning on top
   of this work were we able to achieve what we did this week.

Regards,
-- 
Christopher Schmidt
MetaCarta