I Come to Praise the Web ADF, Not to Bury It
I was just talking to someone today about web applications for ArcGIS Server 9.3 and they were surprised that I was using the Web ADF to create an application after my post earlier this week on the JavaScript API. I feel like I need to clarify some things about that post. It wasn’t so much a desertion of the Web ADF, but point that one should be looking toward the JavaScript API (and I suppose the Flex API) for most mapping situation and use the Web ADF (Java and .NET) when it best makes sense. I’m using the Web ADF on this project because the requirements of the end user is best met with the Web ADF. The great thing about the JavaScript API, the Flex API, the .NET Web ADF, the Java Web ADF and even the JavaScript extenders for the JavaScript API is that they all can be called on if needed. Of course the Web ADF does have licensing issues that ESRI needs to address that limit its appeal even when it is the best choice for the solution.
ESRI has given their developers choices that we aren’t accustom to and in turn ESRI developers should be looking at the choices when making a decision of what SDK to use. Also just because you use the JavaScript API or the Flex API doesn’t mean you’ll end up with a great application. So much more goes into it and there isn’t any reason why the Java Web ADF can’t give you a great application anymore than the Flex API can.
Et tu, James?
If I didn’t know better, that was my co-founder Sergey Brin’s head on that statue.
I wish we could see more examples of layer interaction using the javascript API.
Everything is so static. I want to be able to toggle between layers w/ drop downs, radio check boxes, and other such controls.
I want drop downs to be populated with services that can be updated dynamically with whatever thematic layers / services are in the folders.
Does anyone have any examples of this?
@blackpoll: Check out http://resources.esri.com/help/9.3/arcgisserver/apis/javascript/arcgis/help/jssamples/map_dynamiclayerlist.html. You can do something similar to toggle between the layers added to the map itself.
@Jayant:
That is a good sample, but it only deals with 1 map service, and the layers therein.
I’m interested in getting bike lanes on a base map (google, etc), and want to be able to toggle between services - not necessarily layers.
These services might be different in content and source, ie. proposed bike lanes coming from the County vs. desired bike lanes coming from a bike advocacy group, etc.
Know what I mean?
Thanks!
-bp
James
It’s just your point on the JavaScript API so you don’t have to reclaim yourself
@blackpoll:
You mean something like http://resources.esri.com/help/9.3/arcgisserver/apis/javascript/arcgis/help/jssamples/map_agol.html
I am pretty familiar with ESRI products and have administered a number of ArcSDE servers, configured geodatabases with ArcCatalog and am familiar with providing services with ArcIMS, but I am intersted in getting behind the scenes into the development side and integrating GIS into some pre-exsisting application software. Is it necessary for me to subscribe to the EDN network to get my feet wet? Or should I just buy an Engine license for the integration work? Is the software and help documentation pretty straightforward or would I need to attend a course to make this happen. Please forgive me for posting to this somewhat unrelated topic, but I figured with your knowledge, you could help me out. A million thanks. -Tmo
@Tmo:
I’m no expert (just finished a college course in GIS, that’s all), but if you’re planning to learn this stuff at home, you could look at the ESRI press book “Getting to know ArcGIS Desktop”, which comes with a copy of ArcGIS Desktop (9.2) on a 6 month licence, which you should then be able to use to play around with some of the ESRI client-side APIs. But that’s all client-based, without ArcServer. Still, it would save you having to shell out for the EDN client add-on, as my impression is that the basic EDN subscription only gives you the server stuff. But ask somebody who knows!
Alternatively, you could look at tools outside the ESRI box, many of which are much cheaper (Manifold etc) or even free (open source), and can offer similar functionality to the ESRI stack as well as various APIs for developers. Or so they say…
Did James fall back into his basement?
That darn basement always captures me. I’ll be back next week with lots of posts and “opinions”.
I have worked with the with the Web ADF at 9.3 and it is pretty good - much better than what I have read in your blog. Love the ASP.NET AJAX.
But, like any other toolset, use it as part of arsenal of tools available. I personally do not use the template - don’t like anything that is “pre-built”. However, using the components with the AJAX client is pretty hot. I do not use the JS API because I am a .NET developer and ASP.NET AJAX is where it is at for me - not DOJO. I also want to see what the .NET folks at ESRI do with Silverlight.
I did see a post on the ESRI Server blog Silverlight and the ADF - I am sure the team is working on something cool.