MapServer

MapServer is a server engine that publishes geospatial data as maps and web mapping services. It reads vector and raster layers from files and databases such as PostGIS, renders map images quickly and serves them as OGC services that can be consumed in QGIS, web applications or other systems. Configuration is written in a text file (mapfile), which makes it easy to keep under version control. On Windows it is usually installed through the MS4W package, and on Linux through package managers. Suited to municipalities, utilities and GIS teams sharing planning and infrastructure maps internally or with the public. Limitations: there is no graphical admin interface – work is done in configuration files and needs server setup skills; it is not a full GIS for editing and analysis.