Need help choosing an open source GIS

Question

I need an open source GIS that allows one to view/zoom/click the maps using a web browser and should be java compliant (deployable on a java app server).

Well, I have tried to structure the requirement in 'what-i-have' and 'what-i-need' lists:

Inputs:
Location: lat/long
Data : Text to display
zoom level: (assume there are about 5)

Output
Data displayed on a Map

Would appreciate all the help I can get.

Thanks.

UPDATE: GeoServer + OpenLayers seems to be the best fit for this requirement

Answer 1

GeoServer: http://geoserver.org/display/GEOS/Welcome

...is what I use. You have work ahead of you no matter what you pick, though. Setting up data sources and making them look nice is a decent amount of effort.

Answer 2

For the client side, OpenLayers is an excellent Javascript library.

Answer 3

I guess you'll need:

1. GDAL/OGR to translate the data into a kml file example

2. Take that KML file and pump it into either:

   a. Google maps api or openlayers

   b. I've had lots of luck using featuresever which I personally recommend

Answer 4

I agree with the geoserver response and all the rest of the responses ignore your statement that is has to work with Java. The only other bad option would be to write something yourself using geotools.

Go to the OpenGeo site and see the stack they support. That is the stack you are probably most interested in deploying.