Changes between Version 2 and Version 3 of MapServervsArcIMS


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Timestamp:
Jan 27, 2009, 2:14:27 PM (15 years ago)
Author:
jmckenna
Comment:

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  • MapServervsArcIMS

    v2 v3  
    1717
    1818Thank you to:
    19 
     19{{{
    2020   Andrea Goethals, University of Florida
    2121   John Hockaday, Department of Environment, Australia
    … …  
    2323   Michael Anderson, Spatial Information Technologies, Inc.
    2424   Chris Stuber, Silicon Mapping Solutions, Inc
    25 
     25}}}
    2626Mapserver-users (MSU) responses were detailed and informative, while the other three forums responded with a resounding silence.
    2727
    28 MSU unanimously acclaims Mapserver as the better web-based gis map server, however it was pointed out the problem domains of Mapserver and ArcIMS? overlap while ArcIMS? has a broader functionality set. In the words of Micheal Anderson:
     28MSU unanimously acclaims !MapServer as the better web-based gis map server, however it was pointed out the problem domains of !MapServer and !ArcIMS overlap while !ArcIMS has a broader functionality set. In the words of Micheal Anderson:
    2929
    30     "...I would like to point out that the scope of what ArcIMS? and
    31     MapServer attempt to do is different. ArcIMS? has several
    32     components designed to do things that MapServer alone doesn't
     30    "...I would like to point out that the scope of what !ArcIMS and
     31    MapServer attempt to do is different. !ArcIMS has several
     32    components designed to do things that !MapServer alone doesn't
    3333    address. This includes html and applet based viewers for the client
    3434    as well as several components on the server. The components on the
    … …  
    4242    handle increased loads.  It also allows you to use COM and Cold
    4343    Fusion in your application as the "connector" between the web server
    44     and application server. ArcIMS? has two additional components that
     44    and application server. !ArcIMS has two additional components that
    4545    start and stop processes and delete images on a schedule.
    4646
    47     MapServer alone is only analogous to the spatial server, but the
     47    !MapServer alone is only analogous to the spatial server, but the
    4848    other features can be added using other tools. Other than being
    49     able to use fewer data formats, MapServer is a better spatial server
     49    able to use fewer data formats, !MapServer is a better spatial server
    5050    than ArcIMS?'s. By using an existing web application server you can
    5151    get the additional functionality with a minimal amount of work."
    … …  
    5656    additional functionality with a minimal amount of work. I am using
    5757    Zope, which is Python based, as my application server. It is also
    58     Open Source. It is a much better application server than the ArcIMS?
     58    Open Source. It is a much better application server than the !ArcIMS
    5959    component. In addition to allowing you to distribute your
    6060    application, and pool machines, it also handles user authentication,
    6161    and gives Unix like permissions to files, URLs, and operations. It
    6262    also handles publishing the sites easily. I haven't gotten around to
    63     using it to make the map files or the web site though. I use ArcView?
     63    using it to make the map files or the web site though. I use !ArcView
    6464    to make the map files and have someone else make the web site. Zope
    6565    does allow me to share single html and JavaScript files across
    6666    multiple web sites, which makes maintenance a lot easier. It is also
    67     possible to use Zope as a connector to ArcIMS? so a single
    68     application could use both MapServer and ArcIMS? (as well as other
     67    possible to use Zope as a connector to !ArcIMS so a single
     68    application could use both !MapServer and !ArcIMS (as well as other
    6969    GIS engines). I am also aware of a Java based application server
    7070    called Enhydra that is also Open Source. I have installed it, but
    7171    haven't had much time to use it, so I can't really say what it can
    7272    do. There are also commercial application servers available like
    73     IBM's WebSphere?. You could probably do a lot with Cold Fusion as
     73    IBM's !WebSphere. You could probably do a lot with Cold Fusion as
    7474    well.
    7575
    7676    "That said, here is my 2 cents on the advantages and disadvantages
    77     of ArcIMS?:
     77    of !ArcIMS:
    7878
    79    "Advantages of ArcIMS?
     79   "Advantages of !ArcIMS
    8080   * distribute applications over multiple machines
    8181   * Native integration with the Geography Network. MapServer can be made to work within the geography network.
    … …  
    8585   * You don't have to try to sell a relatively unknown product  (MapServer) and philosophy (Open Source)
    8686
    87    "Disadvantages of ArcIMS?
     87   "Disadvantages of !ArcIMS
    8888   * speed (even running mapserv as regular cgi it is much faster)
    8989   * resource hog
    9090   * limited OS (no Linux)
    91    * less stable. My ArcIMS? experience is on NT so that may be more a reflection of the OS than ArcIMS?.
     91   * less stable. My !ArcIMS experience is on NT so that may be more a reflection of the OS than ArcIMS?.
    9292   * poorer support
    9393   * source code unavailable
    9494   * cost"
    9595
    96 All respondants felt Mapserver's support (via the user community) and documentation is much more useful than ArcIMS?'. It was noted that often questions re:ArcIMS? went completely unanswered. A couple of people made the point that although Mapserver's documentation is better there are still some gaping holes; it is expected the newly formed documentation committee and mailing list will help address this issue.
     96All respondants felt !MapServer's support (via the user community) and documentation is much more useful than ArcIMS?'. It was noted that often questions re:!ArcIMS went completely unanswered. A couple of people made the point that although Mapserver's documentation is better there are still some gaping holes; it is expected the newly formed documentation committee and mailing list will help address this issue.
    9797
    98 Several said Mapserver is easier to install and the maps are easier to maintain.
     98Several said !MapServer is easier to install and the maps are easier to maintain.
    9999
    100 Most everybody said that Mapserver is faster* although theoretically this should not be the case since Mapserver is a CGI while ArcIMS? is a Java app. (*nobody claimed ArcIMS? is faster, just not everybody made a speed comparison)
     100Most everybody said that !MapServer is faster* although theoretically this should not be the case since Mapserver is a CGI while !ArcIMS is a Java app. (*nobody claimed !ArcIMS is faster, just not everybody made a speed comparison)
    101101
    102 Those that made reliabilty comparisons felt that ArcIMS? is still buggy and undependable.
     102Those that made reliabilty comparisons felt that !ArcIMS is still buggy and undependable.
    103103
    104 The one* plus ArcIMS? seems to have over Mapserver is the GUI that allows development of the interface and equivalent to map files. There is an ArcView? extension and an Arc AML which make producing Mapserver map files easier but they are still in development. There is also talk of developing a standalone map builder but I'm not sure how far along that project is yet. (*where the problem domains overlap)
     104The one* plus !ArcIMS seems to have over !MapServer is the GUI that allows development of the interface and equivalent to map files. There is an !ArcView extension and an Arc AML which make producing Mapserver map files easier but they are still in development. There is also talk of developing a standalone map builder but I'm not sure how far along that project is yet. (*where the problem domains overlap)
    105105
    106 There were incidental threads comparing Mapserver to MapXtreme, and JShape where Mapserver also came out on top.
     106There were incidental threads comparing !MapServer to !MapXtreme, and JShape where !MapServer also came out on top.
    107107
    108 Thanks to everybody who responded and a note to those who didn't: I'm quite willing to do this again. I'm disappointed nobody came to bat for ArcIMS?. I was hoping to be able to summarize a broader range of opinions. Than again, maybe it is simply true that Mapserver is better than ArcIMS?.
     108Thanks to everybody who responded and a note to those who didn't: I'm quite willing to do this again. I'm disappointed nobody came to bat for !ArcIMS. I was hoping to be able to summarize a broader range of opinions. Than again, maybe it is simply true that !MapServer is better than !ArcIMS.
    109109
    110110cheers,