Added by jgarnett, last edited by jgarnett on Nov 20, 2006  (view change)

Labels:

Enter labels to add to this page:
Wait Image 
Looking for a label? Just start typing.

Geotools as a whole is defined as a series of modules, or reuseable components. These modules do not opperate in isolation but fall into distinct categories (as was mentioned earlier).

category directory example module purpose
Core modules/library/ api stable geotools interfaces
    referencing default implementations of geoapi interfaces
    main geotools library w/ default implementations, includes non stable interfaces
    render implementation of geotools SLD conformant rendering system
Plugin modules/plugin/ postgis modules that dynamically intergrate to the geotools library at runtime
Extention modules/extension/ validation extentions and extras built on top of the geotools library
Unsupported modules/unsupported/ oracle modules that are not ready yet, or are orphaned and no longer have a contact person
Demos demo/ gui small working examples, usually part of a tutorial

These categories cover several interesting points; and show how the modules may be used in client code.

Core: the module/main makes up the core geotools library, this library is the required baseline containing:

  • Geotools Interfaces (like Feature, DataStore, MapLayer,...)
  • Default implementations (like DefaultFeature, MemoryDataStore, ...)
  • "Helper" classes designed to aid Client code, and plugin writers (like AbstractDataStore, DataUtilites, ...)
  • At this time core is made up only of module/main.

Plugins: these modules plugin (or aid and abet) the functionality of the core Geotools library

  • plugin modules contain a META-INF/services entry describing what the plugin does (plugins can do more then one thing)
  • plugin modules may require other plugins inorder to function, as example the plugin/wms requires plugin/epsg inorder to function

Extentions: these modules build on top of Geotools providing new and interesting functionality.

  • ext modules do not plugin to Geotools (they don't contain a META-INF/services entry)
  • ext modules build ontop of Geotools just like a regular client application

Demos: for completeness Demos contain sample applications that can actually run.

  • most demos are accompied by a Tutorial, and make great code examples