[Geoserver-users] GeoServer 2.12-beta Released

We are happy to announce the release of GeoServer 2.12-beta. Downloads are available (zip, war, dmg and exe) along with docs and extensions.

This is a beta release of GeoServer made in conjunction with GeoTools 18-beta.

We want to encourage people to test the release thoroughly and report back any issue found. With no further delay, let’s see what’s new, that is, what is there to test!

Rest API now using Spring MVC

In March, we upgraded the framework used by the GeoServer REST API from Restlet to Spring MVC. All the endpoints should remain unchanged, but they do need testing to ensure there weren’t any unintended side effects.

As part of this upgrade, we also have new REST documentation, providing detailed information about each endpoint.

Thanks again to the code sprint sponsors:

  • Boundless
  • GeoSolutions
  • Astun Technology
  • Gaia3D
  • Insurance Australia Group (IAG)
  • How 2 Map
  • FOSSGIS
  • Atol Conseils et Développements
  • Geodan

WMTS Cascading

Adds the ability to create WMS layers backed by remote WMTS layers, similar to the pre-existing WMS cascading functionality.

See GSIP-162 for more details.

Style Based Layer Groups

Adds the ability to define a listing of layers and styles using a single SLD file, in accordance with the original vision of the SLD specification. This includes a new entry type in the Layer Group layers list, and a new preview mode for the style editor.

See GSIP-161 for more details.

Options for KML Placemark placement

New options for KML encoding have been added, to control the placement of placemark icons, mostly for polygons. The syntax of the new options introduces three new top level format options keys:

&format_options=kmcentroid_contain:true;kmcentroid_samples:10;kmcentroid_clip:true

See GSIP-160 for more details.

GeoWebCache data security API

Add an extension point to GeoWebCache allowing for a security check based on the layer and extent of the tile. Adds an implementation of this extension point to GeoServer’s GWC integration.

This change mostly only affects developers, but will lead to improved security for users in the future.

See GSIP 159 for more details.

NetCDF output support for variable attributes and extra variables

Adds the following to the NetCDF output extension:

  1. An option to allow all attributes to be copied from the source NetCDF/GRIB variable to the target variable.
  2. Support for manual configuration of variable attributes, much like the current support for setting global attributes.
  3. Support for configuration of extra variables which are copied from the NetCDF/GRIB source to the output; initially only scalar variables will be supported. Extra variables can be expanded over “higher” dimensions, that is, values copied from one scalar per ImageMosaic granule are assembled into a multidimensional variable over, for example, time and elevation.

See GSIP 158 for more details.

Other assorted improvements

There are many improvements to look at in the release notes, cherry picking a few here:

  • SLD files not deleted with SLD is deleted in web admin
  • Reproject geometries in WMS GetFeatureInfo responses when info_format is GML
  • Include Marlin by default in bin/win/osx downloads, add to war instructions
  • Handle placemark placement when centroid of geometry not contained within
  • Enable usage of viewParams in WPS embedded WFS requests
  • Add GeoJson encoder for complex features
  • Simple code completion for CSS styling language
  • Allow image mosaic to refer a GeoServer configured store
  • Duplicate GeoPackage formats in layer preview page
  • ExternalGraphicFactory does not have a general way to reset caches
  • Generating a raster SLD style from template produces a functionally invalid style
  • Style Editor Can Create Incorrect External Legend URLs
  • Namespace filtering on capabilties returns all layer groups (including the ones in other workspaces)

Test, test, test!

Now that you know about all the goodies, please go, download and test your favourite ones. Let us know how it went!

About GeoServer 2.12

GeoServer 2.12 is scheduled for September 2017 release.