QGIS Server Meeting - June 2020

• Motivation
• Goals & not-goals
• Ecosystem
• Market segments
• Open questions
• Discussion

Motivation

• We had no meetings in 2020!
• Low diffusion/worth the effort?
• Lack of common vision (see QEPs)?

Example open questions

Should we provide/ship ...

• a web client?
• integrated authentication?
• an introspection API?
• an admin panel?

Meeting goals

• Define the product vision statement and its scope.
• Identify weaknesses and strenghts.
• Plans for the (server) world domination.

Not goals

• Implementation details
• Funding

Ecosystem

What do we develop/maintain/ship as a QGIS official product?

FOSS Map Server Market Segments

• Enterprise/Institutional

  • Stability
  • Scalability
  • Performances
  • Professional Support
  • Features
  • Documentation

• Small business/individuals

  • Ease of deployment
  • Flexibility
  • Programmability
  • Community Support
  • Documentation/tutorials/examples

GeoServer

The "all-in-one" "one-fits-all" feature complete solution

• PROS

  • Feature complete (all-in-one)
  • Integrated caches, auth etc.
  • Admin panel
  • Documentation
  • Performances
  • Vendor extensions (CQL, styling ...)
  • Professional support

• CONS

  • Installation/deployment
  • Programmability/embedding
  • Old-style (XML + Java)

MapServer

The UNIX-style solution: do one thing and do it well

• PROS

  • Deployment
  • Programmability/embedding
  • Documentation
  • Performances

• CONS

  • External apps for caching, auth etc.
  • Configuration
  • Features
  • Styling
  • No admin panel
  • Professional support (?)

QGIS Server

Unique selling point: WYSIWYG QGIS integration

• PROS

  • QGIS integration
  • Programmability/embedding
  • Styling
  • Vendor extensions (GetPrint ...)
  • Community

• CONS

  • External apps for caching, auth etc.
  • Features
  • Performances (?)
  • Documentation
  • No admin panel
  • Config babel
  • Professional support (?)

Open questions

QGIS Server application concept:

1. OGC (expandable) web service framework ← current
2. full featured all-in-one/one-fits-all application ← GeoServer

Open questions II

Better out-of-the box UX:

1. Do nothing
2. WFS3-like minimalistic (but template-based) landing page
3. Ship an official one-fits-all client

Open questions III

Introspection API

1. Do nothing
2. Provide C++/Python hooks and leave it to plugins

   1. official packages
   2. plugin installer
   3. DIY Installation