[mapguide-internals] MapStudio OS

Wed Oct 3 11:40:04 EDT 2007

Well, if the project is adopted by the MapGuide Open Source, it will be 
subjected to the PSC's rulings.
So, that would give the PSC full control of the project. As always, 
source code contributions tend to bend the votes, and that will be my 
influence.

I want the product to extensible, so that thirdparty developers can 
integrate their designers into the product.
Ea., let the Fusion guys develop a designer and supply an integrated 
application that can edit the entire solution.
I know that many of the companies using mapguide have created 
specialized application frameworks and management applications for their 
extensions.
I would like these companies to be able to supply a fully integrated 
application for managing their solution.

This will also open the door for a better user experience, ea. if 
someone builds a custom King.Oracle FeatureSource editor, or PostGIS editor.

I also want the product to follow the MGOS development more closely, so 
that new cool features can be edited and tried out by plug-in editors, 
without waiting for the Autodesk release cycle.

My motivation for trying to get the project into the MGOS is to share 
the great community, bug tracker, wiki and so on.

And then I think there is a real need for this project, as it is 
virtually impossible to use MapGuide without a GUI editor.
WebStudio is nice, and the idea of a Web Application is great for that 
"once-in-a-while" task, but working an entire day with a web interface 
really gets on my nerves.

Other than that, I don't have any plans as such.
Was that the info you were looking for?

As for the MapStudio UI, I will try to rework the interface, simply by 
looking at what actions needs to be done where.
But having seen MapGuide Studio, I am a bit biased as to how it should be.

Regards, Kenneth, GEOGRAF A/S

Robert Bray skrev:
> To the best of my knowledge there are no legal issues and Autodesk 
> will not pursue any action. On the flip side we have product designers 
> that pour tons of effort into our UI designs, copying them blatantly 
> just does not sit well with me from a personal perspective. That said 
> this has been going on ever since Parc first invented the Graphical UI 
> many years ago, which later appeared in the Mac, and then Windows, and 
> so on...
>
> MGOS needs a good Studio tool, I would prefer to have one but we now 
> have two and that is something for the PSC to discuss. Kenneth I guess 
> one item of curiosity I have is what your future plans are for this 
> application. Knowing that may influence the PSCs thinking.
>
> Bob
>
> Kenneth, GEOGRAF A/S wrote:
>> I would very much like to get a "certificate" that there is no 
>> problems, however, I don't think that will happen soon.
>>
>> As I see it, MapGuide Studio and MapStudio OS are very different, and 
>> completely independant.
>>
>> MapGuide Studio has the ability to use any and all of Autodesk's 
>> patents, thus enabling it to support DWG and the like.
>> MapStudio OS has none of that. It merely uses the API avalible from 
>> the MapGuide Open Source project.
>> It does not share/use any code from either the MapGuide Open Source 
>> or the MapGuide Studio project.
>>
>> So, the only problem I can think of is that the design of the user 
>> interface might infringe on Autodesk's copyright, if it is too similar.
>> If that is a problem, I am ready to change it.
>> I have already rewritten most of the layer editor to use a tree 
>> structure for organizing the scale range and display styles.
>> I will publish that change when it becomes stable.
>>
>> I don't belive that a "MapGuide Studio like" application itself 
>> violates any rights, as that would also invalidate WebStudio.
>>
>> I would appreciate it very much, if you could point out any potential 
>> legal issues as you see them.
>>
>> Regards, Kenneth, GEOGRAF A/S
>>
>>
>>
>> Jackie Ng skrev:
>>> Very nice job, Kenneth.
>>>
>>> I would _LOVE_ to contribute to this project, but I too share some 
>>> concerns
>>> (already expressed) about potential legal issues w/ Autodesk.
>>>
>>> It would be good if someone Autodesk could set the record straight 
>>> on this
>>> issue.
>>>
>>> - Jackie
>>>
>>>
>>> Kenneth, GEOGRAF A/S wrote:
>>>  
>>>> Hi list.
>>>>
>>>> I have a feeling that the main barrier for newcomers to the 
>>>> MapGuide Open Source project, is the fact that they have to start 
>>>> out purchasing Autodesk MapGuide Studio.
>>>> I also want to customize certain aspects in Autodesk MapGuide 
>>>> Studio, such as extra "bult in" menus and the like. Autodesk has 
>>>> replied that they do not currently support this.
>>>> I have been looking at WebStudio, but it lacks some features, 
>>>> notable the WebLayout feature. I also dislike web applications for 
>>>> operations that I do more than occasionally.
>>>> On top of that, browser security restrictions limits the possible 
>>>> potential for the application.
>>>>
>>>> To remedy all of the above, I have created a standalone GUI 
>>>> application, that looks a bit like MapGuide Studio, and supports 
>>>> some of the things MapGuide Studio supports.
>>>> I have released the application under the LGPL license, so that a 
>>>> third party company (ea. Autodesk), may redistribute the binaries, 
>>>> packed with proprietary extensions.
>>>>
>>>> The application has most of the framework ready, and has basic 
>>>> editors for layer, layout, map and featuresource. Some functions 
>>>> are still missing, like line width, point styling on symbol 
>>>> libraries, layer draw order etc.
>>>> Some things do work, like creating a featuresource, layer, map and 
>>>> layout.
>>>> It does not have a preview functionality yet.
>>>>
>>>> The code is written in managed C#, .Net 1.1. It should work on 
>>>> mono, but there are some missing functionality in 
>>>> System.Windows.Forms, so it might not.
>>>> It contains a fully independant client library that uses only the 
>>>> Web API, and fully managed code.
>>>>
>>>> If anyone wants to contribute to the project, I am open for 
>>>> questions to the code.
>>>>
>>>> I have written a page with some pros and cons for the project:
>>>> http://www.hexad.dk/opensource/mapstudio.html
>>>>
>>>> The page contains screenshots, binaries and source code.
>>>>
>>>> I would like this project to eventually become part of the MapGuide 
>>>> Open Source project (or at least the OSGeo website).
>>>> How do I apply for that?
>>>>
>>>> Please note that this project is my own hobby project, and is 
>>>> unrelated to GEOGRAF A/S.
>>>>
>>>> -- 
>>>> Regards, Kenneth, GEOGRAF A/S
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> mapguide-internals mailing list
>>>> mapguide-internals at lists.osgeo.org
>>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/mapguide-internals
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>     
>>>
>>>   
>> _______________________________________________
>> mapguide-internals mailing list
>> mapguide-internals at lists.osgeo.org
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/mapguide-internals
>>
> _______________________________________________
> mapguide-internals mailing list
> mapguide-internals at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/mapguide-internals