[MapServer-dev] MapServer User Survey

[Seth G]

Thanks Steve - that first question was an update on the Frank Warmerdam/ GDAL question :-)

I have added the government option and changed the mailing list question.

In regard to the functionality - you may have missed sections 2-4 which cover most of these (you need to click Next at the bottom of the page)? I didn't have a version question though - I'll add that to the first section. 

Seth


--
web:https://geographika.net & https://mapserverstudio.net
mastodon: @geographika at mastodon.social

On Tue, Jan 20, 2026, at 6:59 PM, Steve Lime wrote:
> I like that first question... ;-)
> 
> Other comments at first glance:
>  1. On the "Within the last 5 years..." question I'd explicitly add a government option. 
>  2. For communications, I'd change "I follow the mapserver-users mailing lists" to "Which mailing lists do you follow?" with 3 choices: mapserver-users, mapserver-dev, and mapserver-announce. 
> Otherwise, my big question would be is this the time to ask about functionality. Some that come to mind are:
>  1. What version are you using?
>  2. Are you using MapScript? If yes, what language binding?
>  3. What OGC services are you using, if any?
>  4. What native MapServer CGI modes are you using, if any?
>  5. What input formats are you using, if any? (e.g. PostGIS, Oracle, GDAL, etc...)
>  6. What output formats are you using, if any? (e.g. template, KML, OGR, etc...) 
> It could get quite involved though and perhaps 2 surveys - a general one and a functional one, would make sense.
> 
> --Steve
> 
> On Tue, Jan 20, 2026 at 4:36 AM Seth G via MapServer-dev <mapserver-dev at lists.osgeo.org> wrote:
>> Thanks Māris for the feedback - I have updated the survey with your suggestions.
>> 
>> Seth
>> 
>> --
>> web:https://geographika.net & https://mapserverstudio.net
>> mastodon: @geographika at mastodon.social
>> 
>> On Tue, Jan 20, 2026, at 8:33 AM, Maris Nartiss wrote:
>> > Hello Seth,
>> > "The web server run MapServer on most is" question is duplicated;
>> > "I obtain MapServer from" should be rephrased to something like "For
>> > production environments I obtain MapServer from" or should be made as
>> > a multiple answer question (e.g. I use packages but also build from
>> > source for dev needs);
>> > One question to ask might be something like: "Within last X years I
>> > have used MapServer for" (multiple choice): "commercial projects",
>> > "volunteer projects", "just playing around".
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> > Māris.
>> >
>> > pirmd., 2026. g. 19. janv., plkst. 23:15 — lietotājs Seth G via
>> > MapServer-dev (<mapserver-dev at lists.osgeo.org>) rakstīja:
>> >>
>> >> Hi all,
>> >>
>> >> At the last OSGeo codesprint, we discussed running a MapServer user survey, modelled on the GDAL survey [1]. Since MapServer has no analytics or "phone home" functionality, we have little insight into how it is used beyond mailing lists and in-person discussions.
>> >>
>> >> A first draft of the survey is available for feedback:
>> >> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNLqslbM6IhocnwTst9c29eaD89yD81hdUKW2ctn2uZK0Z3g/viewform (please don't submit answers until we're happy with the questions!).
>> >>
>> >> Thanks to Howard for sharing the GDAL survey on which this is based.
>> >>
>> >> Please let me know of any additional questions that should be added, or any edits to existing questions (options, phrasing etc.).
>> >>
>> >> Unlike the GDAL survey, which informed budget decisions, the aim is to prioritise limited time and resources, identify features for potential deprecation, and highlight areas needing continued support.
>> >>
>> >> It will also be interesting to see how many responses we get, as this will give a sense of overall interest in MapServer.
>> >>
>> >> Seth
>> >>
>> >> [1] https://gdal.org/en/stable/community/user_survey_2024.html
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> web:https://geographika.net & https://mapserverstudio.net
>> >> mastodon: @geographika at mastodon.social
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