OSGeo Cartographic Engine

Motivation

There are plans about new cartographic tools (map composer) for QGIS, as well as for GRASS. We suggest to develop a joint library for the various functions which could be shared across GRASS, QGIS and other projects with bindings to Qt, Python etc. The GUI part will be done within the individual software projects.

Functionality

Shared functions may include

• class breaks (various algorithms)
• histogram analysis
• color ramps
• RGB and possibly CYMK support (aka color transformations) etc.
• Algorithms for intelligent label placement
• Symbology management

Programming Language

• C? C++?

Existing code to be recycled

There will be code in GRASS, QGIS, the Python Cartographic Library (http://zcologia.org/cartography) and other sources which could be integrated (check license compatibility). Please indicate precisely where to find the source code, license, programming language:

• Label placement code:
  • Mapserver labeling code (MapServer License, C language)
  • GRASS v.label.sa (GPL, C language)
• Color management:
  • MapGuide, CalculateDistribution and Color (LGPL.C++)
  • OpenJump ?
• Stylization:

• Class breaks:
  • GRASS different algorithms for class breaks (GPL, C)

License

It is proposed to license the OSGeo Cartographic Library under LGPL. The license needs to be GPL compliant.

Interested people

• Markus Neteler (proposer)
• Horst Düster
• Martin Landa
• Marco Hugentobler
• Frank Warmerdam
• Agustin Diez
• Moritz Lennert