[geomoose-psc] [OpenLayers-Users] Future of OpenLayers or OL3

Tue Nov 20 11:01:11 PST 2012

Jim,

Generally, my thoughts revolve around having more than one version of GeoMoose in play at a time.  I don't think it would be reasonable to think all users would want to switch to a potentially, completely new technology for development.  Having a separate "playpen" so to speak, with regard to adding features (even browser specific things) would seem like a good idea as a development lab sort of approach to trying things.

Maybe there needs to be a version for mobile as well, although I think there is an argument for the mobile space moving into the regular desktop capabilities space and so a Mobile version may not require differences.  Maybe it comes down to refocusing of priorities for end use.  The mobile market perhaps, should  be the main focus during development, with other users being set to the secondary level.  Either way, this is a movement of one type or another in a specific development direction.  And not all will agree with what that direction would/should be.  I don't believe this needs to be a browser decision making thing either, but it's potentially there depending on how some new technologies may be introduced.

Bobb

From: Jim Klassen [mailto:klassen.js at gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 11:44 AM
To: Basques, Bob (CI-StPaul)
Cc: geomoose-psc at lists.osgeo.org
Subject: Re: [geomoose-psc] [OpenLayers-Users] Future of OpenLayers or OL3

Bob,

I don't understand what you are asking.  As much as dropping (particularly older, < 9) IE support would make development easier, it is possible and considered good design to gracefully degrade to not need to use the latest fanciest features if they are not available.  Also, phones/tablets which are increasingly important, also don't have the same level of browser support as desktop browsers.

So what is the "this" that you want to change to move GeoMoose to a higher level?

We already support and are using HTML5 features.  We no longer support IE 6 and older.  We are using OpenLayers and Dojo to (at least attempt to) manage the graceful fallback when running on less capable browsers.

Jim

On Nov 20, 2012, at 10:56 AM, Basques, Bob (CI-StPaul) wrote:

All,

FYI - Just saw this thread and passing it along to our list.  I've had some similar thoughts around GeoMoose with the same sorts of reservations about what people might want/not want as far as browser support.

A general question here, is this going to essentially take a big project to come along to make this happen, or are there others interested in moving to a higher level with GeoMoose?

Bobb

From: openlayers-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org<mailto:openlayers-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org> [mailto:openlayers-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org]<mailto:[mailto:openlayers-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org]> On Behalf Of George Silva
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 10:51 AM
To: Sergeant_york
Cc: openlayers-users at lists.osgeo.org<mailto:openlayers-users at lists.osgeo.org>
Subject: Re: [OpenLayers-Users] Future of OpenLayers or OL3

The web is evolving fast. Many web clients are being deprecated at the organizations around the world.

Sooner or later, everyone will use a more compatible browser. OpenLayers cannot wait for larger organizations to adopt newer browsers. The development of new technology cannot be hold by the obsolence of others.

That said, I feel that if you have a customer that has a large user base and still want's to keep using internet explorer 6 (that is like, 10 years old?), it's also your job to convince them otherwise. There are open solutions to this problem (webkit, ff, opera?) and they don't need to spend one dollar on it.

2cents

On Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 2:42 PM, Sergeant_york <electronicpanda at gmail.com<mailto:electronicpanda at gmail.com>> wrote:
Hello there,

I want to share my ideas and hesitations about GIS technologies and
OpenLayers.

Firstly, when I heard OL3 will use webGL I was so happy... Until I read
about microsoft's policy about webGL. Probably with fear of competition they
are completely thinking that webGL has security issues. That leaves
Silverlight for map applications if you want to use computer's hardware
totally. Unfortunately Silverlight doesn't have solutions as much as
OpenLayers has. Technology is not the same as 1 sec ago and Microsoft
follows the technology a bit slow.

Secondly, in my opinion OpenLayers is the strongest tool for using gis
applications. Everytime when I face with a problem, maybe as a habit, I say
"I am sure OpenLayers has a solution for this problem" then I find it in api
reference. So it is not easy to stop using OpenLayers for web based
applications.

On the other hand, eventhough Openlayers has good solutions and applies
standarts pretty well, with extreme problems it may have performance issues.
Actually, it is not OpenLayer's but web browser's performance issues.
Because of limitations to use computer hardware in web applications cannot
show than x amount of features or cannot show more than y layers together.

Let's get back to 1st paragraph. OL3 uses webGL, I loved this. But still,
unfortunately, high amount of the customers are still use "internet
explorer". Because when a person is old, it is not easy to change their
habits to make them use another browser that will accept webgl, and when a
person is old, most likely they have money to support your projects.

Also, with same performance reasons, it is not easy to apply complex jobs in
applications. Technology is improving but when we are looking at OL geometry
editing tools, they cannot serve a good solution for users who want to edit
geometries.

So, I think it is a good idea to implement webGL technologies but it is not
a %100 solution for gis applications. That's why I am looking forward for
OL3 to has better performance without using webGL too.

What are your ideas for future of mainly OL and also other GIS clientside
tools?

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--
George R. C. Silva

Desenvolvimento em GIS
http://geoprocessamento.net<http://geoprocessamento.net/>
http://blog.geoprocessamento.net<http://blog.geoprocessamento.net/>

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