[Geoserver-devel] Help: OpenSourcing a New Java Spatial API?

GeoServer GeoServer Developer
1

Greetings,

Over the past few months I have developed a Java API of the complete OGC OLS (Location Service) Specification v1.1.1 for TerraPages. The method used to create the Java API’s for the OLS specification could also be applied to all the OGC specifications and provide a complete OGC Java Interface.

We would like to open source this API and this email is the initial research as to where this “product” resides. Some of you will know Cameron Shorter (from various OSGeo projects), who is now working for TerraPages and has suggested you all may have some valuable information regarding our options.

Andrew,
Your Java API for the OGC OLS Spec is cool and I think it will add value to the Java GIS software stack. Either we create our own open source project or incorporate into an existing one. I’m guessing that the Geotools or GeoAPI projects might be the right place to put it.

We would like advice on whether we should start our own project or whether we should include our code into an existing one. Also, if you have advice on licensing for such a product I would like to hear from you.

ps catch me in #osgeo on freenode (az^^za)

···

–

Regards,

Andrew Hughes
Software Engineer
LISAsoft Pty. Ltd. (Adelaide)

2

Interesting I am looking into OpenLS services this week myself.

Let me share with you my plan and then we can see if collaboration is an option.

1. GeoAPI for interfaces & documentation
I wanted to punt the OpenLS interfaces into the GeoAPI project (in part because of the ISO constructs used by the specificaiton, and in part so I can get some expert feedback).

2. GeoTools for plugin geocoder/reverse geocoder
This one is kind of obvious, and I was going to ask for an unsupported module next Monday meeting. I had hoped to make two implementations one wrapping geocoder us, and another just winging it off a flat feature model (I know the records are actually structures but I was going to try and flatten it). If that failed I was going to go with hibernate :slight_smile:

3. GeoServer for the Open Web Services Framework
I got a chance to look at Justin's framwork for OWS last week and it is pretty sweet. It involves writing your service as a POJO (see step 2), and providing binding and some dispatch hints.

So does my rough plan fit with your ideas? I must say that most of the fun in GeoCoding land comes after you have the API going and you get into trying to provide a smart lookup service.

Cheers,
Jody

Greetings,

Over the past few months I have developed a Java API of the complete OGC OLS (Location Service) Specification v1.1.1 for TerraPages. The method used to create the Java API's for the OLS specification could also be applied to all the OGC specifications and provide a complete OGC Java Interface.

We would like to open source this API and this email is the initial research as to where this "product" resides. Some of you will know Cameron Shorter (from various OSGeo projects), who is now working for TerraPages and has suggested you all may have some valuable information regarding our options.

    /Andrew, /
    /Your Java API for the OGC OLS Spec is cool and I think it will
    add value to the Java GIS software stack. Either we create our own
    open source project or incorporate into an existing one. I'm
    guessing that the Geotools or GeoAPI projects might be the right
    place to put it. /

We would like advice on whether we should start our own project or whether we should include our code into an existing one. Also, if you have advice on licensing for such a product I would like to hear from you.

ps catch me in #osgeo on freenode (az^^za)

--

Regards,

*Andrew Hughes*
Software Engineer
LISAsoft Pty. Ltd. (Adelaide)

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3

Andrew Hughes wrote:

Greetings,

Over the past few months I have developed a Java API of the complete OGC OLS (Location Service) Specification v1.1.1 for TerraPages. The method used to create the Java API's for the OLS specification could also be applied to all the OGC specifications and provide a complete OGC Java Interface.

We would like to open source this API and this email is the initial research as to where this "product" resides. Some of you will know Cameron Shorter (from various OSGeo projects), who is now working for TerraPages and has suggested you all may have some valuable information regarding our options.

    /Andrew, /
    /Your Java API for the OGC OLS Spec is cool and I think it will add
    value to the Java GIS software stack. Either we create our own open
    source project or incorporate into an existing one. I'm guessing
    that the Geotools or GeoAPI projects might be the right place to put
    it. /

We would like advice on whether we should start our own project or whether we should include our code into an existing one. Also, if you have advice on licensing for such a product I would like to hear from you.

Well my firm recommendation is always find a way to include your code in an existing project. And if that's not possible build on top of an existing one. Starting a community around an open source project is really hard, so it makes sense to bootstrap an existing one.

I'm not clear exactly what the 'api' is? Is it a server that connects to databases and gives OLS responses from those? Is it working client code that connects to OLS servers and puts it in to a useful api? Or is it just a bunch of java code generated from XSD files that will parse in an OLS response in to a set of java beans?

If it's the first the best thing to do would probably be make it an module in GeoServer - using our OWS framework as Jody suggested. The second could be community modules in uDig. And the last might have a place in an unsupported module in GeoTools - though should probably hook up to the GeoTools model where possible.

I can definitely give advice on licensing. It depends on what you're hoping to accomplish by releasing it on open source, and what, if any, revenue streams you're hoping to eventually get from it. And indeed your overall business model. Feel free to contact me off-list and I can give some advice, or I'll try to hang out on freenode more.

best regards,

Chris

ps catch me in #osgeo on freenode (az^^za)

--

Regards,

*Andrew Hughes*
Software Engineer
LISAsoft Pty. Ltd. (Adelaide)

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Chris Holmes
The Open Planning Project
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