PgMap and QMap — Direct Connect to PostGIS and SQL Server Spatial
So the big news out of the Esri UC was direct connect to spatial databases at 10.1. Sounds full of awesome. Oh but wait, what about the 99.999999% of us not on 10.1? How do we direct connect without SDE? Bill Dollins looked at PgMap when ZigGIS was closed. Says Bill:
I think PgMap is an impressive tool that should be able to support the needs of ArcGIS 9.x and 10.0 users going forward. It’s good to know that a tool is out there to continue meeting that demand.
Clearly those wanting to direct connect to spatial databases without SDE using today’s releases of ArcGIS need to use PgMap or QMap. The fact they integrate directly into ArcGIS Desktop workflows means that you can use them and quickly get working on PostGIS or SQL Server Spatial quickly. What are you afraid of?!?!!
File Geodatabase API 1.1 is here — .NET Wrapper Time
One of the minor complaints about the File Geodatabase API was that there was no API wrapper for those who wanted to use it with .NET projects (Where is the Avenue wrapper Esri?). Clearly Esri heard the talk and rolled out a simple wrapper for .NET users. The File Geodatabase API 1.1 has all that and some bug fixes.
I can’t wait to start using the File Geodatabase API.
File Geodatabase API 1.1 is here — .NET Wrapper Time
One of the minor complaints about the File Geodatabase API was that there was no API wrapper for those who wanted to use it with .NET projects (Where is the Avenue wrapper Esri?). Clearly Esri heard the talk and rolled out a simple wrapper for .NET users. The File Geodatabase API 1.1 has all that and some bug fixes.
I can’t wait to start using the File Geodatabase API.
Why You Can’t Afford to Miss FOSS4G 2011
Look, I’m a realist when it comes to software and philosophy. Use what gets your work done faster, more efficiently, and without killing the penguins down in Antarctica. I can’t even remember if open source software is “free as in beer” or “free as in I’m a cheap bastard”. But what I do know is that if you aren’t familiar with all the tools available to you, there is a chance you maybe be doing things inefficiently and probably incorrectly.
That’s why I think this year, a great opportunity for everyone in North America (I’ve got nothing but love for our brothers and sisters in Canada, Mexico, and Central America) to make time to visit Denver for FOSS4G 2011 next month. Since FOSS4G was last in our neck of the woods in 2007, the geospatial world has changed a ton. So many new projects are available and more mature than ever before. The choice that we all have today is greater than ever before and FOSS4G 2011 will give us all a chance to see what’s new and how we can use these projects in our workflows. 3 days in Denver will give you the information you’ll need to succeed in this space as it rapidly changes. Sitting back and letting the world move forward without you is a recipe for obsolescence.
A quick look at the schedule shows that there are tons of great sessions to be involved with and for those who haven’t been exposed to open source projects before, there is a great Introduction to Geospatial Open Source that will help you get a better handle on your options. I’ll be there all week and so will most of the big geo-personalities in our space. They all realize that this is an opportunity that only comes around once every 5 years (yes it’s been that long since we’ve had one in North America) and you can’t afford to miss out.
FOSS4G 2011 is a “super” choice!
Why You Can’t Afford to Miss FOSS4G 2011
Look, I’m a realist when it comes to software and philosophy. Use what gets your work done faster, more efficiently, and without killing the penguins down in Antarctica. I can’t even remember if open source software is “free as in beer” or “free as in I’m a cheap bastard”. But what I do know is that if you aren’t familiar with all the tools available to you, there is a chance you maybe be doing things inefficiently and probably incorrectly.
That’s why I think this year, a great opportunity for everyone in North America (I’ve got nothing but love for our brothers and sisters in Canada, Mexico, and Central America) to make time to visit Denver for FOSS4G 2011 next month. Since FOSS4G was last in our neck of the woods in 2007, the geospatial world has changed a ton. So many new projects are available and more mature than ever before. The choice that we all have today is greater than ever before and FOSS4G 2011 will give us all a chance to see what’s new and how we can use these projects in our workflows. 3 days in Denver will give you the information you’ll need to succeed in this space as it rapidly changes. Sitting back and letting the world move forward without you is a recipe for obsolescence.
A quick look at the schedule shows that there are tons of great sessions to be involved with and for those who haven’t been exposed to open source projects before, there is a great Introduction to Geospatial Open Source that will help you get a better handle on your options. I’ll be there all week and so will most of the big geo-personalities in our space. They all realize that this is an opportunity that only comes around once every 5 years (yes it’s been that long since we’ve had one in North America) and you can’t afford to miss out.
FOSS4G 2011 is a “super” choice!
WhereCampPHX — October 1st, 2011
WhereCampPHX
We’ve soft launched the registration for WhereCampPHX but you can still sign up to attend (its free). Right now, registration stands at 71 so we are well on our way to being a sellout. We’ve been lucky enough to be able to have the event at the Arizona State University Cronkite School of Journalism in downtown Phoenix. The space is full of awesome so we should all have a great time. I’d also like to thank our sponsors for stepping up and helping us put on this free event.
This will be the first WhereCamp in Phoenix so it should really be a special time. Make sure you register to attend if you are going to be there. I know I will and so will many others.