[mapserver-dev] MapServer 6.0.0 Release

[Daniel Morissette]

The MapServer Team is pleased to announce the long awaited release of 
MapServer 6.0.0.

The 6.0 release introduces important changes in key components of the 
MapServer core, as well as a large number of new features and 
enhancements. The complete list of changes and enhancements is too long 
to include here, so here is a quick list of RFCs related to this release:

(RFCs are available online at http://mapserver.org/development/rfc/)

Core Changes in MapServer 6.0 Which Could Affect Existing Applications:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

   * MS RFC 54: Rendering Interface API
   * MS RFC 64: MapServer Expression Parser Overhaul
   * MS RFC 65: Single-pass Query Changes for 6.0

New Features and Notable Enhancements in MapServer 6.0:
-------------------------------------------------------

   * MS RFC 50: OpenGL Rendering Support
   * MS RFC 58: Kml Output
   * MS RFC 60: Labeling enhancement: MAXOVERLAPANGLE
   * MS RFC 61: Enhance MapServer Feature Style Support
   * MS RFC 62: Support Additional WFS GetFeature Output Formats
   * MS RFC 63: Built-in OpenLayers map viewer
   * MS RFC 66: Better handling of temporary files
   * MS RFC 67: Enable/Disable Layers in OGC Web Services
   * MS RFC 68: Support for combining features from multiple layers
   * MS RFC 69: Support for clustering of features in point layers

More details are also available in the 6.0 release plan at:
     http://mapserver.org/development/release/release-plan-6.0.html

Migration Guide:
----------------

Users upgrading to 6.0 from an older 5.x release are strongly encouraged 
to start by reviewing the 5.6 -> 6.0 migration guide. This document 
contains important notes on backwards incompatibilities or other changes 
required when upgrading to 6.0. The latest version is available online at:

     http://mapserver.org/MIGRATION_GUIDE.html

Source Code Download:
---------------------

The source for this release can be downloaded at:

     http://mapserver.org/download.html
or
     http://download.osgeo.org/mapserver/mapserver-6.0.0.tar.gz

Binary Distributions:
---------------------

Existing MS4W 3.0 users can upgrade to this MapServer 6.0.0 release by 
following instructions at:
http://www.maptools.org/ms4w/index.phtml?page=RELEASE_mapserver_ms4w3.x_dev-6.0.0.html

Ubuntu Binaries for hardy, lucid, maverick and natty are also built and 
available in the unstable PPA of UbuntuGIS. See details and instructions at:
http://trac.osgeo.org/ubuntugis/

The other binary distributions listed in the download page should also 
be updated with binaries for the new release shortly.

Documentation:
--------------

The MapServer documentation team is continuing to update and maintain 
documents, and are happy to announce that MapServer documentation is now 
available in English, German, French, and Spanish at 
http://www.mapserver.org/. Volunteers are always needed to help 
translate documents and update the documentation.  The documentation 
team asks those volunteers interested in translating documents to please 
introduce yourself on the mapserver-dev email list.

Finally, thank you to all of the users, developers, and supporters of 
MapServer.  Enjoy!

- The MapServer Team


P.S. A copy of this announcement in pretty print is available online at
     http://mapserver.org/development/announce/6-0.html