Open Source
OpenLayers is free to use and is maintained by a robust community, enabling access to a wide range of functionalities without licensing fees.
Extensible
The library is highly modular and customizable, allowing developers to extend its capabilities with plugins or by writing custom code.
Rich Feature Set
Offers a wide array of features such as layer manipulation, vector drawing, and spatial analysis, making it suitable for complex mapping applications.
Cross-Browser Compatibility
Supports major web browsers, ensuring a consistent experience across different user environments.
Integration Capabilities
Easily integrates with other GIS tools and platforms, including GeoServer, PostGIS, and OGC standards.
Community Support
Strong community support with extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums where developers can seek help and share knowledge.
Performance
Efficient rendering capabilities for both vector and raster data, ensuring smooth performance for most use cases.
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Yes, OpenLayers is generally considered a good JavaScript library for creating interactive maps.
We have collected here some useful links to help you find out if OpenLayers is good.
Check the traffic stats of OpenLayers on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of OpenLayers on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of OpenLayers's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of OpenLayers on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about OpenLayers on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
You can host .pmtiles files (Protomaps tile archives) entirely on GitHub Pages and consume them using OpenLayers. This post shows how to:. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
Our talk, “Open Source Mapping Library Shoot Out,” focused on comparing popular open-source mapping libraries like MapLibre GL JS, Leaflet, and OpenLayers, helping developers make informed decisions about the tools they use. This was my first time presenting at a third-party conference, but having my co-worker by my side made the experience less daunting and allowed me to focus more on delivering the content... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
You probably know this, but in Google Maps at least, you can use browser zoom (ctrl/cmd +/-) to change the size of labels without zooming into the actual map. ------ Speaking of maps, I got to work a fun zoom project a few years ago: https://map.fieldmuseum.org/ We used https://openlayers.org/ and thought long and hard about how to best handle zooming and variable levels of information density & visual hierarchy.... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
In order to display the GeoJSON features on a map, we will use OpenLayers, which is a very powerful open-source mapping library that is also very simple to use. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
OpenLayers is a modular, high-performance library designed for displaying and interacting with maps and geospatial data. It is a free, open-source JS library released under the 2-Clause BSD License, facilitating the creation of interactive and feature-rich web maps. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
For web maps I'd strongly recommend using OpenLayers. While it's less convenient to get started with compared to the alternatives it's also much more feature-complete and you'll likely hit a ceiling in terms of functionality much later than you would with the others. Source: over 2 years ago
Tought this was about https://openlayers.org/, got confused for a moment. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
Sticking with the roofing theme, you could make an application that shows shingle delivery truck drivers their stops on a map. It would be cool if the user could click on the stop and move it through varying statuses such as pending, en-route, completed or canceled, view the items in the order, and have it send your user a message when the statuses change. It might also be kinda cool if you could allow the... Source: over 2 years ago
I will build a location-based application using and comparing three open-source map libraries: MapLibre GL JS, OpenLayers, and Leaflet. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
Seems like MapTiler is maintaining an open source full stack vector alternative, and OpenLayers[0] looks good as well, so maybe it's time for legacy libraries to add vector support, or for users to switch libraries? There's even bindings from Maplibre GL to Leaflet [1]. I at least would find it interesting to see the two compared by someone other than me ;). [0] https://openlayers.org/ [1]... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
If you decide to go the web based route; openlayers is a pretty solid library for doing maps on the web and has support for building custom controls like the route toggle you describe. Source: almost 3 years ago
There's libraries to serve images google-maps style , like leaflet, openlayers, OpenSeadragon to name just a few. They aren't as smooth as the video you show, and you have to prepare the images. Source: over 3 years ago
OpenLayers is a JS library makes it easy to put a dynamic map in any web page , is completely free, Open Source JavaScript, released under the 2-clause BSD License (also known as the FreeBSD). - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
We're looking to expand our team that develops the National Park Service web maps. We have some big upgrades planned, and we need someone who can help with JavaScript/TypeScript, Leaflet/Mapbox-gl-js/Maplibre-gl-js/OpenLayers, and other cool FOSS4G tools. We are fully remote, but USA only. Source: over 3 years ago
I like openlayer. I think a lot of web mapping libraries are aimed at front end web devs and so a lot of concepts are simplified or just different. Source: over 3 years ago
Based on your stated experience, it sounds like you are on the right track. I think a Geoserver (plus your Data Store/DB backend) instance referenced by either a Leaflet SPA page or an OpenLayers SPA page since you have some Java (JS?) experience and sounds like you're interested in building something the way you want it. Source: over 3 years ago
I have made some tests with JOSM and OpenLayers but my big problem is that I could not find a way to draw a "custom earth" (maybe the software is not intended to work that way). Source: over 3 years ago
Leaflet and Open Layers are pretty great for simple web maps. Source: over 3 years ago
Fortunately we don’t have to build everything from scratch. Most of the heavy lifting will be handled by OpenLayers library. There are many NPM packages handling maps, but the most important advantage of this one is great and complete documentation (most parts). So first we have to add it to our Keystone project:. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
The main library it uses is https://openlayers.org/. Source: over 3 years ago
Making your geospatial dataset available on the web using a standard, unlocks a world of possibilities. It means that many existing (or future) client applications will be able to read your data, out-of-the-box. For instance, anyone can use QGIS, Esri ArcGIS, React-leaflet, OpenLayers or Python OWSlib to pull your data and analyse it, or create products or services on top of it. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
OpenLayers, an open-source JavaScript library, is widely acknowledged for its robust mapping capabilities and extensive feature set that enables developers to integrate dynamic maps seamlessly into their web applications. While it offers a formidable toolset for creating interactive web maps, public opinion presents a nuanced picture of its strengths and weaknesses, shaped by its history and functionality compared to its competitors.
Origins and Evolution
Created by MetaCarta as an open-source alternative to proprietary mapping solutions like Google Maps, OpenLayers made its debut in 2006. It quickly garnered attention due to its openness and the flexibility it offered in customizing web-based geographic applications. Initial rapid development led to the release of substantial features at a fast pace. However, some users reported issues due to the library's considerable size — the 2.x versions, for instance, became relatively large and cumbersome, potentially leading to performance trade-offs for web applications not requiring its comprehensive feature set.
Public Perception and Practical Application
The OpenLayers library is praised for its modularity and high performance, making it a staple for developers seeking to create rich, interactive maps. Its BSD license ensures it remains free and accessible, encouraging widespread usage and adaptation across various domains. This has been particularly beneficial for prominent institutions like Google Earth, Wikimedia Maps, and CartoWeb.
Professional opinions highlight OpenLayers as a versatile tool but suggest it's not the easiest to start with compared to simpler libraries like Leaflet. The library’s extensive capabilities mean developers can create complex mapping solutions without hitting functionality limitations quickly—a significant benefit for long-term projects.
OpenLayers is often highlighted in comparisons with other open-source libraries like Leaflet and MapLibre GL JS, indicating its strong standing among open-source mapping solutions. It is frequently mentioned in discussions surrounding effective geospatial data handling and interactive web map building.
Integration and Use Cases
Recent product mentions underscore the versatility of OpenLayers, showcasing its application in diverse projects. For instance, it's been used in innovative solutions like the creation of ‘Zooming User Interfaces’ for projects requiring sophisticated information hierarchies and smooth scaling. OpenLayers also facilitates custom controls as seen in specialized applications like driving heat maps and logistics applications, demonstrating its adaptability in practical, enterprise solutions.
OpenLayers supports various geospatial data standards, such as GeoJSON, making it compatible with a wide array of geospatial technologies and favorable for integration into existing infrastructures, such as those used by governmental bodies and corporations. The library also supports hosting Protomaps tile archives on platforms like GitHub Pages, thereby reducing dependence on additional server resources.
Conclusion
Overall, OpenLayers is esteemed for its comprehensive feature set and its support for complex web mapping needs. While its steep learning curve and potentially excessive feature set for simpler projects are noted drawbacks, these are overshadowed by its robust adaptability and ongoing relevance in the ever-evolving domain of web mapping technologies. As the geospatial sector continues to grow, OpenLayers remains a critical resource for developers striving to create innovative and dynamic geographic applications.
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