[mapguide-users] Silverlight/Moonlight Viewer

[Maksim Sestic]

Hi Kenneth,
 
I guess that someone :-) needs to build a tier-neutral repository viewer
first, then leverage it's API via Silverlight/Moonlight. Presumably using
.NET. Currently, the engine is called MapGuide Server :-) but it's kernel is
server-tier oriented and any external communication with it goes via Http on
mandatory base. It would be perfect if we had respository manager as a
separate API - representing the actual core. Then, a web-tier API (another
component) leverages repository API to talk over Http with thin clients. So
developers might pick if they want to use either web-tier approach (i.e.
JavaScript) or want to talk via SOAP/linking to the repository manager
directly.
 
Don't know actually... just a couple of thoughts from my side.
 
Regards,
Maksim Sestic

  _____  

From: mapguide-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:mapguide-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Kenneth
Skovhede, GEOGRAF A/S
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:04
To: MapGuide Users Mail List
Subject: Re: [mapguide-users] Silverlight/Moonlight Viewer


Silverlight uses GDI+, which also supports hardware acceleration.
I would prefer Silverlight over Java because it intergrates better with the
html DOM (IMO).

As for codebase, the current viewers are based on Javascript, and they are
limited to 
manipulating pre-rendered images.

The DWF viewer is some of it, but it is still ActiveX based.
I suppose one could make plugins for all browsers, but it still difficult 
to persuade regular web users to install it.

Since Silverlight/Moonlight is more likely to be installed already,
and backed by Microsoft, it will probably be easier.

Flash is another option, but it is terribly hard to work with (IMO).

Regards, Kenneth Skovhede, GEOGRAF A/S


Carl Jokl skrev: 

I think that there could potentially be a number of alternatives to using an

Active X based viewer. I could see potential also for both Flash or Java to

create a viewer too. One problem with the Active X viewer in relation to the

clients of the company I work for is the security / administrative problem

for our clients. Organisations internet security policies could interfere

with deployment of an Active X control. I would think though that the same

issue would apply to a Java based viewer too. Silverlight might work better

in this regard. 



One of the reasons I find the Java option interesting is the availability of

JOGL essentially allowing a Applet or Web Start application to be able to

take advantage of Hardware accelerated graphics. I don't know if any

alternative viewers have been worked on. If much of MapGuide is open source

would that include the viewer? If so it might be possible to start from the

existing viewer source code and port it to another platform. 





Kenneth Skovhede, GEOGRAF A/S wrote:

  

Has anyone started or is considering starting development of a viewer in 

Silverlight/Moonlight?



Such a viewer should be able to achieve performance that is comparable 

to the MapGuide 6.5 viewer,

without the need for an ActiveX plugin.



-- 

Regards, Kenneth Skovhede, GEOGRAF A/S





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