iOS Maps: Replacing MapKit with ArcGIS

developers.geoloqi.com

18 points·kenichi··6 comments

As someone who had to work in ArcGIS using their C++ COM, their java, .NET and their python implementations for several years can I strongly urge you not to do this?

Why? Well, things that worked in one language, wouldn't in others. Bugs where we had to work around one way, had to be worked around another. The fact that the API had "get_Foo", "GetFoo" and "getFoo" methods all in different classes should really give you an idea. The library was awesome way back when it was cutting edge but from using it, I'd wager that it was developed by different teams, staffed with different resources, all made to work under different deadlines.

Can you recommend any better alternatives? They seem to be a defacto standard, but I've found them..."fussy" to work with.

Another alternative to MapKit is MapBox's opensource iOS SDK. They have better support for OpenStreetMap layers and custom maps built with TileMill.

Here's a few links about the open source Mapbox iOS SDK: http://mapbox.com/mobile/

Installation/Guide http://mapbox.com/mapbox-ios-sdk/

Github Repo https://github.com/mapbox/mapbox-ios-sdk

Meta: I really cannot get over thinking "Cisco" whenever I see "IOS". Is HN auto-capitalizing these titles?

The first few pages of results on HNSearch reveal that whenever iOS is the first word in a title, it is "IOS", but if it isn't then it stays correct. Except for this one: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4673060

hmm, it autocapitalized on submit, but not on edit.

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