Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Mapserver VS GeoNode.org

Compare Mapserver VS GeoNode.org and see what are their differences

Mapserver logo Mapserver

MapServer is an Open Source platform for publishing spatial data and interactive mapping...

GeoNode.org logo GeoNode.org

Open Source Geospatial Content Management System
  • Mapserver Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-13
  • GeoNode.org Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-25

Mapserver features and specs

  • Open Source
    MapServer is an open-source platform, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This makes it accessible for many users and allows for customization according to project needs.
  • Flexibility
    MapServer supports a wide range of raster and vector data formats, providing flexibility in handling various types of geospatial data.
  • Performance
    Designed for high-performance rendering of maps, MapServer is capable of efficiently managing and serving large datasets.
  • Community Support
    MapServer has a robust community of users and developers who contribute to improvements and provide support, enhancing its development and troubleshooting resources.
  • Standards Compliance
    MapServer adheres to OGC standards such as WMS, WFS, and WCS, ensuring interoperability with other GIS systems and applications.

Possible disadvantages of Mapserver

  • Complex Setup
    The initial setup and configuration of MapServer can be complex and may require extensive knowledge of GIS systems and server management.
  • Limited User Interface
    MapServer primarily functions as an engine for serving maps over the web and does not provide a built-in graphical user interface, which can limit ease of use for non-technical users.
  • Documentation Quality
    While MapServer has extensive documentation, it can sometimes be inconsistent or outdated, making it challenging for new users to find accurate information.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Compared to some other GIS software, MapServer may have a steeper learning curve, particularly for users without prior experience in web mapping.

GeoNode.org features and specs

  • Open Source
    GeoNode is open-source software, which means it is free to use and customize according to specific needs, encouraging a wide range of use cases and community-driven improvements.
  • Comprehensive GIS Platform
    Provides a full-stack platform for geographic data management and sharing, including functionalities for uploading, sharing, editing, and publishing geospatial data and maps.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Offers a user-friendly interface that makes it accessible even to those who might not have extensive technical expertise in GIS systems.
  • Community Support
    Being a community-driven project, there is extensive support available through forums and community discussions, which is beneficial for troubleshooting and feature enhancements.
  • Interoperability
    Supports multiple data formats and can integrate with other geospatial services and tools, enhancing its utility and flexibility in various GIS tasks.

Possible disadvantages of GeoNode.org

  • Steep Learning Curve for Customization
    While the software itself is user-friendly, customizing it to suit very specific needs can require technical expertise and may have a steep learning curve.
  • Dependence on Server Infrastructure
    Running GeoNode effectively requires a proper server setup, which might be a barrier for smaller organizations without IT support infrastructure.
  • Limited Advanced GIS Features
    For users needing advanced or highly specialized GIS functionalities, GeoNode might lack some features compared to dedicated, proprietary GIS software.
  • Variable Community Contributions
    Being open-source, the availability and frequency of updates and feature expansions can depend on community contributions, which can sometimes be inconsistent.

Mapserver videos

2019 - State of MapServer

More videos:

  • Review - Course Preview: Creating Geospatial Maps with MapServer and GDAL
  • Review - MapServer Project Status Report - Meet The Developers!

GeoNode.org videos

2019 - State of GeoNode

More videos:

  • Review - 2019 - Africa Bees - Geonode business portal for Drone Mapping in Africa
  • Review - Geonode Revolution in seismic seabed surveying RU

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Mapserver and GeoNode.org)
Maps
52 52%
48% 48
Mapping And GIS
65 65%
35% 35
Geolocation
0 0%
100% 100
Web Mapping
70 70%
30% 30

User comments

Share your experience with using Mapserver and GeoNode.org. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GeoNode.org should be more popular than Mapserver. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Mapserver mentions (3)

  • GIS Developer career path
    If you want to get into web GeoDjango is a popular option for the backend, but you could also learn to roll your own with flask/FastAPI. You also have some choice of JavaScript libraries for the frontend, [Leaflet]() and [OpenLayers]() are likely the most popular frameworks, but there are others (personally I'd recommend OpenLayers as it's the only one backed by OSGeo as far as I know). It also wouldn't hurt to... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Why do I need geoserver?
    GeoServer and MapServer both have full OGC services, WMS, WMTS, WFS, etc. They have caching and tiling. Accessing OGC services through a web server will require an OGC server. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Welcome to the MapServer subreddit!
    Welcome here, fellow MapServer user! 🗺️. Source: over 3 years ago

GeoNode.org mentions (5)

  • ArcGIS Online Alternative
    I would reconsider your approach just extend Geonode https://geonode.org/ +MapStore https://www.geosolutionsgroup.com/technologies/mapstore/ and add additional mapping apps and features to that robust proven solution. Look at zoo-project http://www.zoo-project.org/ for OGC API PROCESSES (WPS) and expose to map clients ability to do analysis and conversion and geoprocessing hitting this nice API. Utilize power... Source: about 2 years ago
  • My company is thinking about switching to cloud based server. What to use?
    If you're going down this path... https://geonode.org is worth considering, if you want all the bells and whistles prepackaged. But yeah, try Google drive first, keep it simple if you can! Source: over 2 years ago
  • Crowdsourced georeferencing historical Sanborn fire insurance maps
    The maps are pulled from the great Library of Congress online Sanborn Map collection, and the platform itself is an augmented implementation of GeoNode (more about that here). Happy to answer any questions below, you can also file bugs, etc. In the repo. Source: about 3 years ago
  • I'm looking for very specific mapping software
    If you really want to be independent you could set up your own GIS system with something like Geonode but that suggestion is more for r/geographymemes. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Front end solutions to a postgis database
    Geonode might be a ready-made solution for you. It integrates postgis, geoserver, django, leaflet. All out of the box. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Mapserver and GeoNode.org, you can also consider the following products

GeoServer - The reference implementation of the Open Geospatial Consortiums WFS and WMS services, GeoServer is...

Clearip - Clearip provides the IP intelligence and fraud detection API in the market.

PostGIS - Open source spatial database

ipstack - ipstack is a free, real-time IP address to location JSON API and database service supporting IPv4 and IPv6 lookup.

Maptitude - Maptitude is a mapping software that is fitted with GIS features that avail maps and other forms of data regarding the surrounding geographical areas. Read more about Maptitude.

Carto - The future of GIS? It’s Spatial Data Science. CARTO is the world’s leading Location Intelligence platform for Data Scientists, Developers and Analysts in Enterprise.