Installing Setuptools and PIP for Python
I always forget the steps to get Setuptools and PIP installed. So I thought I would document the steps here.
Be Different with Custom Styled Google Maps
If you are developing with the Google Maps JavaScript API you’re already creating custom code so you might as well go the extra mile and change the default style of your map so it doesn’t look like every other Google map out there. Getting a unique looking map that fits well with the style of …
How to Organize Your CSS
Organizing my css styles does not come easily. I like to just throw styles on the page when I need them and then forget about them. If I need to edit the style I can always use a Find or Search function for the id, class or tag name I need. If you are the …
Use Python to Keep Your Brain Sharp
“Use it or lose it” certainly applies where brain function is concerned. The experts tell you to exercise your brain to keep it in shape and ward off forgetfulness and possibly dementia when you are older. One way to exercise your brain is to do computations in your head. Not long ago I read a …
Efficient ArcServer Cache Management with a Staging Server
Getting a cache built can sometimes be a challenge but caching an ArcServer map service can be important if you want your web apps to display fast. Depending on the subject of your cache and what scales you cache at you can end up with tens or hundreds of gigabytes of data. In my office …
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Better Basemap Management for the ESRI Javascript API
If you use ESRI’s Javascript API to build web maps you have probably noticed that your ability to manage base map layers is somewhat limited. You really only have three out-of-the-box alternatives: Define an ArcGIS.com basemap in the map constructor Create and fill a Basemap Gallery Switch between two basemaps with Basemap Toggle But what if you …
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Five Things I Love About the ESRI Javascript API
Having worked with both the ArcGIS Silverlight and Javascript APIs I have to say Javascript has been much more fun. There is just something about working on the front end of a web map and being able to have it do so many amazing things. Here are my top five reasons I enjoy working with …
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5 Things I Hate About the ArcGIS Javascript API
Building a mapping application with ESRI’s Javascript API is a lot of fun. But it can also be a real pain. Here are five things that absolutely drive me crazy when writing an ArcGIS Javascript map. 1. It is based on Dojo. It’s probably just my lack of Javascript programming sophistication but I find Dojo …
CSS Shorthand for Clean Web Map Styles
I see a lot of CSS code written inefficiently and sloppily, even on official and professional sites. It’s not that the code is wrong, it just could be much better. There is really no reason to have to write four lines of code to set a div tag’s margins or style a tag’s background. You …
Jump Start Your Geospatial Career with This Free E-book
It’s a great time to be a GIS professional. There are no shortages of jobs and the field keeps changing and expanding to include amazing technologies and applications. However, with increasing demand often comes increasing competition. Anyone who wants to enter the geospatial field or advance in it needs to pay attention to fast changing …
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