[OpenLayers-Users] Difference between OpenLayers and Map Builder

[Christopher Schmidt]

On Thu, Feb 01, 2007 at 10:20:26PM +0100, Robert Buzink wrote:
> hi SuneelKota,

Robert -- 

MapBuilder is also an Open Source project to talk to WMS servers.
Cameron Shorter, one of the primary people working on the vector branch,
is a lead developer on MapBuilder. The homepage for that project is

http://docs.codehaus.org/display/MAP/Home

However, your reasons for using OpenLayers over Google/Yahoo/etc. are
spot on, and make a great FAQ for "WHy should I use OpenLayers over G/Y/M" :)
All in all, a really great analysis of the situation, and very
informative.

Thanks for the answer on that front, and I'm sure Cameron will come
along soon and explain some of the things that MapBuilder can do that
OpenLayers can't, and why they might be important to your project.

-- Chris

> MapBuilder is an online service to create maps using the Google and Yahoo
> map api's. OpenLayers is a api itself that can be used to build a map. As
> far as I know there is no online service to build a map using the Openlayers
> api.
> 
> The disadvantage of MapBuilder is that it creates a Yahoo or Google map,
> which means that you are stuck with either of them. When you build a map
> using Openlayers your users can switch between Yahoo and Google or
> Virtualearth with a mouseclick if you want to or you can switch to either of
> them by changing one line of code (!). In other words, Openlayers makes you
> independent and flexible.
> 
> In addition Openlayers provides advanced features like projecting all kind
> of map-layers (wms-layers, imagelayers) and uses the overlay-structure,
> which  lets you organize markers is sets that can be hidden  and shown by
> the user.
> 
> Because Openlayers can use the same mapdata as Yahoo and Google, there are
> no disadvantages really (not that I can think off) except maybe that there
> is no online tool to build an Openlayers map. Building an Openlayers map is
> however quite easy, so this disadvantage is rather minimal.
> 
> If you are looking for a no effort way to have a dynamic Openlayers based
> map, try WikiMap (http://wikimap.sf.net). WikiMap is a really easy to
> install Openlayers and WordPress based mapping content management
> system/community application written in php and using a mysql database,
> fully configurable through your own web-interface :-). It provides you with
> a mapping application without writing one line of code, but also without
> preventing you from doing so. Well, isn't that what everybody wants? :-).
> 
> WikiMap, WordPress and Openlayers are open source programs which means among
> other things that you can be sure that you can use them  without ever being
> surprised by advertising or fees or such annoyances.
> 
> Apart from that: everyone knows Google maps and is not impressed by them
> anymore, but if you provide your users/visitors with an Openlayers map that
> can switch between different providers and can do all kinds of other cool
> things, well that's something else...
> 
> Hope this helps,
> 
> Robert.
> 
> PS There is a new version of WikiMap with major enhancements coming out
> within a week or so...
> 
> On 2/1/07, suneel kota <suneel.kota at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >Hi all,
> >
> >          I am using OpenLayers in my project.. Can anybody tell me
> >the advantages of OpenLayers over MapBuilder.
> >Still i am in confusion which one to use(OpenLayers and MapBuilder..)
> >
> >Please help me out.
> >
> >Regards
> >SuneelKota
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> Robert Buzink, website ontwerp en ontwikkeling
> Sint-Pietersaalststraat 123
> 9000 Gent
> +32 (0)9 33 00 267
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> post at robertbuzink.nl
> robertbuzink.nl/webdesign

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-- 
Christopher Schmidt
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