Open source and free software web mapping server programs

MapServer - the fast one

http://mapserver.org

../_images/mapserver.png

Pros:

  • Fast as hell
  • Support for all coordinate reference systems and in/out formats thanks to GDAL and Proj4
  • MapScript - Python, PHP, …

Cons:

  • Text file configuration

GeoServer - with GUI

http://geoserver.org

../_images/geoserver.png

Pros:

  • Web based graphical administration
  • REST api

Cons:

  • Java (slower, complicated to install)
  • More difficult configuration

Mapnik - for OpenStreetMap and Cartography

http://mapnik.org

../_images/mapnik.png

Pros:

  • Cartography
  • Great support for OSM data

Cons:

  • Slow
  • Custom not easy configuration
  • Support for OGC OWS via custom Python wrapper

QGIS - The easy one

http://qgis.org

../_images/qgis1.png

Pros:

  • 100% compatibility with QGIS desktop
  • What can you do in desktop, can you have in server

Cons:

  • The slowest one
  • Stability (getting better)