Mapnik 0.3.0 review

Mapnik is an OpenSource C++/Python toolkit for developing GIS (Geographic Information Systems) applications

License: LGPL (GNU Lesser General Public License) File size: 0K Developer: Artem Pavlenko

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Mapnik is an OpenSource C++/Python toolkit for developing GIS (Geographic Information Systems) applications. At the core is a C++ shared library providing algorithms/patterns for spatial data access and visualization.

Essentially a collection of geographic objects (map, layer, datasource, feature, geometry), the library doesn't rely on "windowing systems" and can be deployed in any server environment. It is intended to play fair in a multi-threaded environment and is aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at web-based development.

High-level Python bindings (boost.python) facilitate rapid application development, targeting zope3, django etc.

Here are some key features of "Mapnik":
extensible datasource plug-in architecture (ESRI shape files, PostgreSQL/PostGIS)
anti-aliasing rendering
expressions based styling

What's New in This Release:
The license has changed from the GPL to the LGPL.
There is a Python-based WMS server (WMS 1.1.1 and 1.3.0), a new Renderer interface, a new Feature model, font engine and text symbolization, Python and C++ demos, Win32 support (tested with vc-8_0), and x86_64 support.