Esri Releases ArcGIS API for JavaScript 2.2

Just in time for the Esri Developer Summit, Esri has pushed out the ArcGIS API for JavaScript (Horrible name, but great API). Esri says it includes many oft-requested features that will improve the usability of the Web apps you build”. If that doesn’t get you excited there is always the What’s new in Version 2.2 in the docs with lots of samples.

On a related note, did anyone else notice that Flash Gordon (with help from Prince Vultan and the Hawkmen) attacked the War Rocket Ajax (Yes, Ajax. Weird huh?) in the movie Flash Gordon? Every time I hear someone talk about Flex/Flash I too want to scream, repel all boarders”.

March 3, 2011 Thoughts






Esri Releases ArcGIS API for JavaScript 2.2

Just in time for the Esri Developer Summit, Esri has pushed out the ArcGIS API for JavaScript (Horrible name, but great API). Esri says it includes many oft-requested features that will improve the usability of the Web apps you build”. If that doesn’t get you excited there is always the What’s new in Version 2.2 in the docs with lots of samples.

On a related note, did anyone else notice that Flash Gordon (with help from Prince Vultan and the Hawkmen) attacked the War Rocket Ajax (Yes, Ajax. Weird huh?) in the movie Flash Gordon? Every time I hear someone talk about Flex/Flash I too want to scream, repel all boarders”.

March 3, 2011 Thoughts






The World… She be a changing…

The speed at which technology flows these days still impresses me. It seems like just yesterday I was watching TV on a TV, reading books on paper and listening to music on something called a walkman. My son asked me what a modem was and how it worked with my iPhone. Clearly we are all in trouble.

  • Brian Flood is correctly impressed with the World Resources Institute Reefs Map rendering 63,000 polygons with Google Fusion Tables faster than you can scream AXL.

    RT World Resources Institute maps coral reefs…Fusion Tables: http://bit.ly/gXX4Pu <- 63K features dynamically rendered. #wmsmightbedead

    – Brian Flood (@bFlood) February 23, 2011

  • Take a look at the Atlas of New South Wales. I love how it is organized for actual people and not technologists. I suspect it will be used quite a bit by the good folks upside-down on the other side of the world. Take note, organize information by how people understand it to be, not by how you think it should be. I’m not as smart as I think I am and neither are you.

  • The OpenLayers community has been sprinting in some neutral country in Europe. The main goal, only something where they get OpenLayers to support mobile devices better. Sounds like they have made some great progress.

  • When you see an article with Gov 2.0” in the title you can but not help but cringe. That said the awesome that is TileMill is only to apparent to everyone. CSS is the future, stop using SLD everyone.

  • Speaking of freaking amazing, how about this? Noncontiguous cartograms in OpenLayers and Polymaps (just saying noncontiguous cartograms” makes you sound smart). OpenLayers + Polymaps <small(oh and GeoJSON is in for the ride as well, what a great example all around) is a winning combination. God bless Ian Turton for pushing a SLD/GeoServer example (Come to think of it, maybe the fact you can do such a thing with SLD is more amazing) in the comments.

  • Do you use ArcGIS Server with OpenLayers? Thank the Azavea guys for making that happen.

  • Lastly, lets all start putting the fork in the IT department and just name them the help desk”. Why we hold on to such nonsense is beyond me. We are all IT staff tonight! (Ich bin ein ITliner)

Have a great weekend folks, baseball is back in session!

February 25, 2011 Thoughts






The World… She be a changing…

The speed at which technology flows these days still impresses me. It seems like just yesterday I was watching TV on a TV, reading books on paper and listening to music on something called a walkman. My son asked me what a modem was and how it worked with my iPhone. Clearly we are all in trouble.

  • Brian Flood is correctly impressed with the World Resources Institute Reefs Map rendering 63,000 polygons with Google Fusion Tables faster than you can scream AXL.

    RT World Resources Institute maps coral reefs…Fusion Tables: http://bit.ly/gXX4Pu <- 63K features dynamically rendered. #wmsmightbedead

    – Brian Flood (@bFlood) February 23, 2011

  • Take a look at the Atlas of New South Wales. I love how it is organized for actual people and not technologists. I suspect it will be used quite a bit by the good folks upside-down on the other side of the world. Take note, organize information by how people understand it to be, not by how you think it should be. I’m not as smart as I think I am and neither are you.

  • The OpenLayers community has been sprinting in some neutral country in Europe. The main goal, only something where they get OpenLayers to support mobile devices better. Sounds like they have made some great progress.

  • When you see an article with Gov 2.0” in the title you can but not help but cringe. That said the awesome that is TileMill is only to apparent to everyone. CSS is the future, stop using SLD everyone.

  • Speaking of freaking amazing, how about this? Noncontiguous cartograms in OpenLayers and Polymaps (just saying noncontiguous cartograms” makes you sound smart). OpenLayers + Polymaps <small(oh and GeoJSON is in for the ride as well, what a great example all around) is a winning combination. God bless Ian Turton for pushing a SLD/GeoServer example (Come to think of it, maybe the fact you can do such a thing with SLD is more amazing) in the comments.

  • Do you use ArcGIS Server with OpenLayers? Thank the Azavea guys for making that happen.

  • Lastly, lets all start putting the fork in the IT department and just name them the help desk”. Why we hold on to such nonsense is beyond me. We are all IT staff tonight! (Ich bin ein ITliner)

Have a great weekend folks, baseball is back in session!

February 25, 2011 Thoughts






WMS — Dead? No, But Does Anyone Really Want to Work With It?

Sophia Parafina threw this gem up over the weekend (3 day weekend no less).

Don’t get me wrong, W*S style services will have a long tail, because we’ve spent a decade expounding it’s virtues to the Federal government. However, it’s time we recognize the WMS is OBE.

Go read the details. Me? I’m no fan of WMS by any means, but tile map server URLs can be just as complicated and undocumented. OGC WMS URLs? A mess at any level, but documented. Pick your poison, but at least tile map services can scale.

Either way, conquering web mapping URLs can make you pass out.

February 23, 2011 Thoughts






WMS — Dead? No, But Does Anyone Really Want to Work With It?

Sophia Parafina threw this gem up over the weekend (3 day weekend no less).

Don’t get me wrong, W*S style services will have a long tail, because we’ve spent a decade expounding it’s virtues to the Federal government. However, it’s time we recognize the WMS is OBE.

Go read the details. Me? I’m no fan of WMS by any means, but tile map server URLs can be just as complicated and undocumented. OGC WMS URLs? A mess at any level, but documented. Pick your poison, but at least tile map services can scale.

Either way, conquering web mapping URLs can make you pass out.

February 23, 2011 Thoughts