MapServer


MapServer is an open-source development environment for building spatially enabled internet applications. It can run as a CGI program or via MapScript which supports several programming languages. MapServer was originally developed by Steve Lime, then working at the University of Minnesota — so, it was previously referred to as "UMN MapServer", to distinguish it from commercial "map servers"; today it is commonly referred to as just "MapServer". MapServer was originally developed with support from NASA, which needed a way to make its satellite imagery available to the public.

Timeline

MapServer has had an important role in Web mapping history. The following is a summary of its evolution: