Mapstraction Javascript Library

This is now the official Mapstraction repository. It can be found at http://github.com/mapstraction/mxn

About Mapstraction

Mapstraction is a library that provides a common API for various javascript mapping APIs to enable switching from one to another as smoothly as possible. Developers can code their applications once, and then easily switch mapping provider based on project needs, terms and conditions, and new functionality.

Users can switch maps as desired based on personal taste and quality of maps in their local area. Various tools built on top of Mapstraction allow users to easily integrate maps into their own sites, and configure them with different controls, styles, and provider.

Which Mapstraction Version?

The last official and stable release of Mapstraction was v2.0.18 in 2011. Since then Mapstraction languished for a while but it's now under active development.

A lot has changed in the world of maps APIs since v2.0.18. Some APIs have gone to the deadpool (farewell Yahoo! Maps) and some have changed substantially (hello Google v3 and Leaflet).

If you want to live life on the bleeding edge you can try the v3.0 branch but be warned, this branch is far from stable, is likely to continue to change as the official release of v3.0 draws ever nearer and also contains API changes which will break code that assumes Mapstraction v2.x. It's also not documented much, if at all.

A safer bet is to use the v2.1 branch. Whilst not a formally released branch, this is relatively up to date and was destined to be the next release of Mapstraction before it became evident that the project would receive a major version number boost.

In the meantime, v3.0 of Mapstraction continues onwards, join us and help us get Mapstraction v3.0 out of the door.

Why Mapstraction?

Mapstraction additionally fills some holes each provider's current offerings (taking advantage of existing open source solutions where possible) to normalise the feature set across platforms. Mapstraction also uses OpenStreetMap for people who want to build maps without restrictions on derived works.

Mapstraction is open-source and released under the BSD License.

Major Features

Support for more than 11 major mapping providers
Dynamic switching of provider
Point, Line, Polygon support
Marker Filtering by Time, Category, or any attribute
Image overlay and base tiles
GeoRSS and KML feed import
Geocoding of addresses
Driving directions

Supported Libraries

Mapstraction Users

Nestoria
GeoPress
Reuters
The Los Angeles Times
GeoNames
IDELab
... and more

The Mapstraction homepage is available at http://mapstraction.com.