I have been researching the best practices with tile servers and how to integrate real cartographic analysis into tile based RIA applications. The results are very interesting with respect to several limitations and also quality.
Tile based RIA applications are becoming more prevalent in the web community because of their responsiveness and flexibility. The current implementations are based on simple APIs, this is excellent for rapid prototyping and creating a site quickly. But it also limits the application when it comes to real data analysis.
In the February MapXtreme Users Group (MUG) we discuss how PBBI products can act as a tile provider and data analysis engine for tile base RIA applications. The talk goes into some of the details and limitations of the current MashUp type RIA application and describes a more complete architecture that allows complex data analysis and how to produce better cartographic maps. Check out the recorded session as well as other MapXtreme recorded sessions and slides at:
http://www.mapinfo.com/mug
The code and description of the basic architecture are available for download at the PBBI Code Exchange:
http://www.mapinfo.com/for-developers/code-exchange
Coming up in April will be a session on the new MapXtreme Java sdk. This all new version of MapXtreme Java will support a table model and MI SQL for data queries and analysis.
We hope to see you there.
We had our first MapXtreme Users Group webinar Wednesday the 10th and it was very well attended. I hope everyone was able to get their questions answered and were able to see some exciting developments from the MapXtreme Team. The MUG meetings will be held on the second wednesday of every month.
If you were unable to attend the presentation is posted here.
This first session was to get people up to speed on the latest MapXtreme version and also introduce some new initiatives. First is the new Developers Portal designed to give developers using our products a one stop shop for all their questions. It is a combination of existing resources and 2 new areas:
- The Code Exchange: This is an download/upload area where we can put new and cutting edge samples for you to try. It is also open for you to submit your solution to difficult problems. It is designed as a community share where developers can find solutions to common problems.
- The Blog Area: You are here now. This is where we will post product directions and new initiatives so you can keep up to speed with our product directions.
We also talked about a new and exciting initiative happening with our development teams. Internally we have adopted a scrum development methodology in all our products. This has one cool outcome, the demos at the end of every sprint. (If you are unfamiliar with Scrum terminology, check out this page).
These demos represent the latest work done on individual features. We want you to have a look and let us know if we are on track with your expectations. Imagine being able to comment on a feature prior to it actually being done! In these sessions we will show the demo and allow you to comment directly to our engineers developing the features. Not bad timing if I say so myself.
So keep an eye on the new MUG web page for announcements about future meetings. Also please remember this is very timely work so we will not be able to announce which demos we will show until the sprint work is agreed upon. We are running one month sprints so the decision on what work is being done will be within one month of the MUG.
I hope to see you all at future MUG meetings.
http://www.mapinfo.com/mug
