Strategic Direction

[Cameron Shorter]

This thread has become more about WebMap.js and so I'm moving it to the 
webmap list, (and will start a "What sucks about Mapbuilder" thread for 
the mapbuilder list.

Thanks all for filling me in, as I wasn't at FOSS4G I'm playing catchup.

Paul, I don't understand what your definition of Managed and Unmanaged. 
Could you please expand.

Paul, I like your ASCII art, we should put it into a graphic somewhere 
to help users pick a suitable webmapping client. Maybe on an OSGeo page 
titled "Picking a suitable Webmapping client".

FYI: There is a cool ASCII art program at http://www.jave.de/

Paul Spencer wrote:
> I'd have to agree with Schuyler.  Each project has a different  
> underlying philosophy ... To help me understand it, I've divided them  
> into four groups - two categories with two sub-categories.
> 
> First category is how the template is done.  Second is how the maps  are 
> created/used.
> 
> Templating can be managed or unmanaged
> 
> Maps can be client side (direct from OGC services) or server side  
> (rendered by MapServer/MapGuide)
> 
> The divisions are not precise, obviously!  Here is my horrible  attempt 
> at ASCII art ...
> 
>           managed      |      unmanaged
>                        |
>         mapbender      |   mapbuilder
> client                 |   OpenLayers (2)
>                        |
>                   -----------
> -----------------| WebMap.js |------------
>                   -----------
>                        |
>                        |  chameleon
> server  mapguide       |  ka-map (1)
>                        |
>                        |
> 
> (1) ka-Map is actually a client side app and can do client-side  direct 
> from WMS but its not the primary mechanism and the default  install 
> requires a server side component.
> 
> (2) OpenLayers can do server-side from ka-Map, but its not the  primary 
> mechanism
> 
> Not sure where cartoweb fits in the picture, I don't know much about  
> it.  And I probably missed some ... not sure which.
> 
> In my view of the world, then, the AJAX BOF was discussing something  
> that could easily fit into the center of this diagram ... this is the  
> proposed WebMap.js.
> 
> So we end up with each project owning and promoting a particular  space 
> in my view of the AJAX web mapping world.  I think there are  benefits 
> and drawbacks to each space and its excellent to be able to  chose a 
> different solution for any given client based on what they  really need.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Paul
> 
> On 21-Sep-06, at 5:39 AM, Schuyler Erle wrote:
> 
>> * On 18-Sep-2006 at  4:30PM EDT, Cameron Shorter said:
>>
>>>
>>> There are a number of AJAX Web Mapping clients and not all of them  will
>>> thrive. In particular, OpenLayers is addressing the simple mapping  use
>>> cases and is cutting into Mapbuilder's potential user base. We should
>>> set our development path toward merging with OpenLayers.
>>
>>
>> Well, I hope we're not cutting into each other's user bases, so much
>> as serving somewhat different use cases in the same general sphere.
>>
>> At the FOSS4G conference in Lausanne last week, we had a web mapping
>> client BoF session, in which it was agreed that the OpenLayers team
>> should try to split off a basic core for fetching map images/tiles and
>> displaying them in an HTML div.
>>
>> Our hope is that our fellow AJAX mapping projects will be able to
>> incorporate this map display library in their code, providing us all
>> with a common stable base on which to build better web mapping apps.
>> Provisionally, we've been calling this code "Webmap.js" (or something
>> similar).
>>
>> In the meantime, we would appreciate any kind of direction that
>> Mapbuilder and the other AJAX mapping projects have to offer about
>> what the shape of this shared map display core should look like. Our
>> plan is to have a rough cut of the library available in the next
>> couple weeks.
>>
>> I think this is a very exciting opportunity for all of us to
>> collaborate, and I hope that we can make it work for everyone!
>>
>> SDE
>>
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> 
> 
> +-----------------------------------------------------------------+
> |Paul Spencer                           pspencer at dmsolutions.ca   |
> +-----------------------------------------------------------------+
> |Chief Technology Officer                                         |
> |DM Solutions Group Inc                 http://www.dmsolutions.ca/|
> +-----------------------------------------------------------------+
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


-- 
Cameron Shorter
http://cameron.shorter.net