Recommended GWT Map Library?

[Kevin Workman]

I've been using gwt-google-apis <https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/> as
a GWT wrapper of the Google Maps JavaScript API. I've been using the jar
from here <https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/downloads/list>.

It works okay, but I'm starting a new GWT project that requires a map
display, and I noticed that the jar hasn't been updated since 2012.

I'm starting a new project from scratch, so I'm in a position to start over
with a new wrapper, if that's the correct way to go. I've come across
GWT-OpenLayers <http://www.gwt-openlayers.org/>, which looks promising, but
I'm not sure how much of a change it will be from using the Google API
wrapper. I've also come across branflake2267's wrapper
<https://github.com/branflake2267/GWT-Maps-V3-Api>, but that hasn't been
updated in over a year.

So, my question is: what would you consider the "best" approach to
displaying a map in a GWT application? Should I stick with the "official"
google product? All I really need to do is display some polygons and
circles on the map, but adding stuff like weather would be a really nice
feature as well. Are there any libraries that I missed that are worth
checking out?

[Frank]

Another (not free) library for map display is Sasha Maps
(http://www.maryanovsky.com/sasha/maps/).
I used this in combination with GWT-Graphics (from Vaadin) to draw polygons
on top of the map (Sasha maps has function to convert world-coordinates to
pixel coordinates to make this easier).

I also used GWT-Openlayers (and actually contributed a lot of code to it
(like almost the entire showcase).
GWT-Openlayers has the advantage that you will be able to use WMS and WFS
servers and don't have to go through special hoops to display polygons on
the map.

For simple projects I prefer Sasha maps, if more advanced stuff is needed
(like drawing on the map, and storing the results in a geoserver) I prefer
GWT-Openlayers.


I think the API from both products is quite different from GoogleMaps
wrappers. API from Sasha-maps is certainly easier, also because is has less
functionallity than GWT-Openlayers.

grt
Frank

Post by Kevin Workman
I've been using gwt-google-apis
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/> as a GWT wrapper of the
Google Maps JavaScript API. I've been using the jar from here
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/downloads/list>.
It works okay, but I'm starting a new GWT project that requires a map
display, and I noticed that the jar hasn't been updated since 2012.
I'm starting a new project from scratch, so I'm in a position to start
over with a new wrapper, if that's the correct way to go. I've come across
GWT-OpenLayers <http://www.gwt-openlayers.org/>, which looks promising,
but I'm not sure how much of a change it will be from using the Google API
wrapper. I've also come across branflake2267's wrapper
<https://github.com/branflake2267/GWT-Maps-V3-Api>, but that hasn't been
updated in over a year.
So, my question is: what would you consider the "best" approach to
displaying a map in a GWT application? Should I stick with the "official"
google product? All I really need to do is display some polygons and
circles on the map, but adding stuff like weather would be a really nice
feature as well. Are there any libraries that I missed that are worth
checking out?

[Kevin Workman]

Thanks Frank.

I doubt management will go for a paid library (they'll point at the old
project that uses Google's GWT wrapper of the maps api and ask why we can't
just use that), and in fact the maryanovsky website is blocked by my
corporate firewall, haha.

OpenLayers is looking pretty promising, especially because of the weather
examples in the showcase. I wonder how easy it would be to use a different
weather data source? It also seems to be pretty actively developed: would
you agree with that?

Another (not free) library for map display is Sasha Maps (
http://www.maryanovsky.com/sasha/maps/).
I used this in combination with GWT-Graphics (from Vaadin) to draw
polygons on top of the map (Sasha maps has function to convert
world-coordinates to pixel coordinates to make this easier).
I also used GWT-Openlayers (and actually contributed a lot of code to it
(like almost the entire showcase).
GWT-Openlayers has the advantage that you will be able to use WMS and WFS
servers and don't have to go through special hoops to display polygons on
the map.
For simple projects I prefer Sasha maps, if more advanced stuff is needed
(like drawing on the map, and storing the results in a geoserver) I prefer
GWT-Openlayers.
I think the API from both products is quite different from GoogleMaps
wrappers. API from Sasha-maps is certainly easier, also because is has less
functionallity than GWT-Openlayers.
grt
Frank

Post by Kevin Workman
I've been using gwt-google-apis
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/> as a GWT wrapper of the
Google Maps JavaScript API. I've been using the jar from here
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/downloads/list>.
It works okay, but I'm starting a new GWT project that requires a map
display, and I noticed that the jar hasn't been updated since 2012.
I'm starting a new project from scratch, so I'm in a position to start
over with a new wrapper, if that's the correct way to go. I've come across
GWT-OpenLayers <http://www.gwt-openlayers.org/>, which looks promising,
but I'm not sure how much of a change it will be from using the Google API
wrapper. I've also come across branflake2267's wrapper
<https://github.com/branflake2267/GWT-Maps-V3-Api>, but that hasn't been
updated in over a year.
So, my question is: what would you consider the "best" approach to
displaying a map in a GWT application? Should I stick with the "official"
google product? All I really need to do is display some polygons and
circles on the map, but adding stuff like weather would be a really nice
feature as well. Are there any libraries that I missed that are worth
checking out?

[Alain Ekambi]

We have a more recent and under active development wrapper for Google maps.
We are currently updating it to the latest maps api.

Have a look at opensource.ahome-it.com

Cheers

Alain

Post by Kevin Workman
I've been using gwt-google-apis
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/> as a GWT wrapper of the
Google Maps JavaScript API. I've been using the jar from here
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/downloads/list>.
It works okay, but I'm starting a new GWT project that requires a map
display, and I noticed that the jar hasn't been updated since 2012.
I'm starting a new project from scratch, so I'm in a position to start
over with a new wrapper, if that's the correct way to go. I've come across
GWT-OpenLayers <http://www.gwt-openlayers.org/>, which looks promising,
but I'm not sure how much of a change it will be from using the Google API
wrapper. I've also come across branflake2267's wrapper
<https://github.com/branflake2267/GWT-Maps-V3-Api>, but that hasn't been
updated in over a year.
So, my question is: what would you consider the "best" approach to
displaying a map in a GWT application? Should I stick with the "official"
google product? All I really need to do is display some polygons and
circles on the map, but adding stuff like weather would be a really nice
feature as well. Are there any libraries that I missed that are worth
checking out?
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[Kevin Workman]

Thanks Alain. Does your produce have a "getting started" guide or a
showcase? Can you tell me why a developer should choose that over
OpenLayers or the older GoogleMaps api?

[Kevin Workman]

Thanks Alain. Does your product have a "getting started" guide or a
showcase? Can you tell me why a developer should choose that over
OpenLayers or the older GoogleMaps api?

Post by Alain Ekambi
We have a more recent and under active development wrapper for Google
maps. We are currently updating it to the latest maps api.
Have a look at opensource.ahome-it.com
Cheers
Alain

Post by Kevin Workman
I've been using gwt-google-apis
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/> as a GWT wrapper of the
Google Maps JavaScript API. I've been using the jar from here
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/downloads/list>.
It works okay, but I'm starting a new GWT project that requires a map
display, and I noticed that the jar hasn't been updated since 2012.
I'm starting a new project from scratch, so I'm in a position to start
over with a new wrapper, if that's the correct way to go. I've come across
GWT-OpenLayers <http://www.gwt-openlayers.org/>, which looks promising,
but I'm not sure how much of a change it will be from using the Google API
wrapper. I've also come across branflake2267's wrapper
<https://github.com/branflake2267/GWT-Maps-V3-Api>, but that hasn't been
updated in over a year.
So, my question is: what would you consider the "best" approach to
displaying a map in a GWT application? Should I stick with the "official"
google product? All I really need to do is display some polygons and
circles on the map, but adding stuff like weather would be a really nice
feature as well. Are there any libraries that I missed that are worth
checking out?

[Kevin Workman]

I also wonder whether Google or the GWT team are planning on releasing an
updated version of the GWT wrapper for the Google Map JavaScript API
anytime soon. If so, maybe it would be better to wait for that?

[Alain Ekambi]

Hi Kevin,

Like I said in my previous post we are working on a new version of the
library with updated documentations plus a new demo.
This should come out on monday lately

I can not comment on OpenLayers we dont use it.

. Why you should use our lib ? Well because it will be the most up to date
GWT wrapper for Google Maps you will find out there.
Also we are using it on our products so we know for sure we wont stop
development soon.

To see a demo (We will have a dedicated demo app ) please visit
http://desk.ahome-it.com/.
Click on Guest Tour then on the Google Maps App.

Also I dont think the GWT team will provide any wrapper for Google Maps
anytime soon

Regards,

Alain

Post by Kevin Workman
I also wonder whether Google or the GWT team are planning on releasing an
updated version of the GWT wrapper for the Google Map JavaScript API
anytime soon. If so, maybe it would be better to wait for that?
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--
Alain Ekambi

Co-Founder

Ahomé Innovation Technologies

http://www.ahome-it.com/ <http://ahome-it.com/>

[Alain Ekambi]

Also dont forget
The project is OpenSource and we do accept pull requests :)

[Mathias]

Hey Alain/Guys. Bumping this, having a bit of a hard time using the
Branflake API in my GWT/SmartGWT after upgrading to latest versions.

Alain, is your API being worked on anymore?

Post by Alain Ekambi
Also dont forget
The project is OpenSource and we do accept pull requests :)

[Alain Ekambi]

I havent been working on the wrapper for a while unfortunately

Not sure what change in the google maps space since then.

Post by Mathias
Hey Alain/Guys. Bumping this, having a bit of a hard time using the
Branflake API in my GWT/SmartGWT after upgrading to latest versions.
Alain, is your API being worked on anymore?

Post by Alain Ekambi
Also dont forget
The project is OpenSource and we do accept pull requests :)
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[Andrew Somerville]

The features I'm using continue to work, although the google server sends a
warning with every request that the API version is obsolete. If you like, I
can post back when I've done some investigation into what would need to be
updated. I may have some free cycles to put into making some updates
myself, as well, at some point.

Post by Alain Ekambi
I havent been working on the wrapper for a while unfortunately
Not sure what change in the google maps space since then.

Post by Mathias
Hey Alain/Guys. Bumping this, having a bit of a hard time using the
Branflake API in my GWT/SmartGWT after upgrading to latest versions.
Alain, is your API being worked on anymore?

Post by Alain Ekambi
Also dont forget
The project is OpenSource and we do accept pull requests :)
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[Greg]

In my projects I used mostly OpenLayers 2 with custom bindings for GWT (At
the beginning I used GWT-OpenLayers but then I switched to own impl.).

OpenLayers 3 looks very nice and it's built with performance and new
technologies in mind so you could check that.
Other alternative is Leaflet - very simple but maybe it will be enough for
your purposes.

BTW I'm not sure but I think that gwt-google-apis were not created / are
maintained by GWT Team.

Post by Kevin Workman
I've been using gwt-google-apis
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/> as a GWT wrapper of the
Google Maps JavaScript API. I've been using the jar from here
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/downloads/list>.
It works okay, but I'm starting a new GWT project that requires a map
display, and I noticed that the jar hasn't been updated since 2012.
I'm starting a new project from scratch, so I'm in a position to start
over with a new wrapper, if that's the correct way to go. I've come across
GWT-OpenLayers <http://www.gwt-openlayers.org/>, which looks promising,
but I'm not sure how much of a change it will be from using the Google API
wrapper. I've also come across branflake2267's wrapper
<https://github.com/branflake2267/GWT-Maps-V3-Api>, but that hasn't been
updated in over a year.
So, my question is: what would you consider the "best" approach to
displaying a map in a GWT application? Should I stick with the "official"
google product? All I really need to do is display some polygons and
circles on the map, but adding stuff like weather would be a really nice
feature as well. Are there any libraries that I missed that are worth
checking out?

[Kevin Workman]

Thanks for the reply Greg. I was seriously considering OpenLayers as well.

I think I've decided to just stick with standard Google Maps (the 3.8 api I
linked above). The reason I went with this is the JavaScript documentation
for the Google Maps API is very good, and I can just use native JavaScript
functions to use it on top of my GWT application. Instead of searching for
an up-to-date GWT option, I've decided to cut GWT out and stick with native
JavaScript (called from the GWT Java code) as much as possible.

That is perhaps not optimal, but it's going to be hard for a GWT team to
stay more up to date than me simply using the JavaScript API directly.

Post by Greg
In my projects I used mostly OpenLayers 2 with custom bindings for GWT (At
the beginning I used GWT-OpenLayers but then I switched to own impl.).
OpenLayers 3 looks very nice and it's built with performance and new
technologies in mind so you could check that.
Other alternative is Leaflet - very simple but maybe it will be enough for
your purposes.
BTW I'm not sure but I think that gwt-google-apis were not created / are
maintained by GWT Team.

Post by Kevin Workman
I've been using gwt-google-apis
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/> as a GWT wrapper of the
Google Maps JavaScript API. I've been using the jar from here
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/downloads/list>.
It works okay, but I'm starting a new GWT project that requires a map
display, and I noticed that the jar hasn't been updated since 2012.
I'm starting a new project from scratch, so I'm in a position to start
over with a new wrapper, if that's the correct way to go. I've come across
GWT-OpenLayers <http://www.gwt-openlayers.org/>, which looks promising,
but I'm not sure how much of a change it will be from using the Google API
wrapper. I've also come across branflake2267's wrapper
<https://github.com/branflake2267/GWT-Maps-V3-Api>, but that hasn't been
updated in over a year.
So, my question is: what would you consider the "best" approach to
displaying a map in a GWT application? Should I stick with the "official"
google product? All I really need to do is display some polygons and
circles on the map, but adding stuff like weather would be a really nice
feature as well. Are there any libraries that I missed that are worth
checking out?

[Frank]

In this case I think it is best you just use the project from Alain.
Since it is opensource you could make the changes in that library and let
Alain pull them back into the main project.

When doing this there will be an up to date googlemaps wrapper available
for others to use, which is a good thing for GWT in general.

Post by Kevin Workman
Thanks for the reply Greg. I was seriously considering OpenLayers as well.
I think I've decided to just stick with standard Google Maps (the 3.8 api
I linked above). The reason I went with this is the JavaScript
documentation for the Google Maps API is very good, and I can just use
native JavaScript functions to use it on top of my GWT application. Instead
of searching for an up-to-date GWT option, I've decided to cut GWT out and
stick with native JavaScript (called from the GWT Java code) as much as
possible.
That is perhaps not optimal, but it's going to be hard for a GWT team to
stay more up to date than me simply using the JavaScript API directly.

Post by Greg
In my projects I used mostly OpenLayers 2 with custom bindings for GWT
(At the beginning I used GWT-OpenLayers but then I switched to own impl.).
OpenLayers 3 looks very nice and it's built with performance and new
technologies in mind so you could check that.
Other alternative is Leaflet - very simple but maybe it will be enough
for your purposes.
BTW I'm not sure but I think that gwt-google-apis were not created / are
maintained by GWT Team.

Post by Kevin Workman
I've been using gwt-google-apis
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/> as a GWT wrapper of the
Google Maps JavaScript API. I've been using the jar from here
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/downloads/list>.
It works okay, but I'm starting a new GWT project that requires a map
display, and I noticed that the jar hasn't been updated since 2012.
I'm starting a new project from scratch, so I'm in a position to start
over with a new wrapper, if that's the correct way to go. I've come across
GWT-OpenLayers <http://www.gwt-openlayers.org/>, which looks promising,
but I'm not sure how much of a change it will be from using the Google API
wrapper. I've also come across branflake2267's wrapper
<https://github.com/branflake2267/GWT-Maps-V3-Api>, but that hasn't
been updated in over a year.
So, my question is: what would you consider the "best" approach to
displaying a map in a GWT application? Should I stick with the "official"
google product? All I really need to do is display some polygons and
circles on the map, but adding stuff like weather would be a really nice
feature as well. Are there any libraries that I missed that are worth
checking out?

[a***@gmail.com]

I know this topic is a bit old, but I wanted to mention that I've had great
luck with brankflake's API. That being said, it is a bit old and hasn't
been updated since 2014, so I, too, may be shopping for a new solution.

Post by Kevin Workman
I've been using gwt-google-apis
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/> as a GWT wrapper of the
Google Maps JavaScript API. I've been using the jar from here
<https://code.google.com/p/gwt-google-apis/downloads/list>.
It works okay, but I'm starting a new GWT project that requires a map
display, and I noticed that the jar hasn't been updated since 2012.
I'm starting a new project from scratch, so I'm in a position to start
over with a new wrapper, if that's the correct way to go. I've come across
GWT-OpenLayers <http://www.gwt-openlayers.org/>, which looks promising,
but I'm not sure how much of a change it will be from using the Google API
wrapper. I've also come across branflake2267's wrapper
<https://github.com/branflake2267/GWT-Maps-V3-Api>, but that hasn't been
updated in over a year.
So, my question is: what would you consider the "best" approach to
displaying a map in a GWT application? Should I stick with the "official"
google product? All I really need to do is display some polygons and
circles on the map, but adding stuff like weather would be a really nice
feature as well. Are there any libraries that I missed that are worth
checking out?