GeoServer

What GeoServer is

GeoServer is a free, open-source Java server for sharing, viewing, and editing geospatial data through open standards. It supports OGC services such as WMS, WFS, WCS, and WMTS, and its importer works with formats including Shapefile, GeoTIFF, CSV, and KML, as well as databases such as PostGIS, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server. A REST configuration API lets administrators manage workspaces, data stores, layers, styles, and security settings. Security controls include configurable authentication and roles, service and layer restrictions, filesystem sandboxing, and CSRF protection. Extensions can add functionality to a base installation. The project recommends OpenLayers and Leaflet, and says GeoServer can also display data in Google Maps, Google Earth, Bing Maps, MapBox, and ArcGIS. Deployment choices include Linux and Windows binaries, a Windows installer, a web archive, and Docker. For production, its documentation recommends spatial databases such as PostGIS and identifies them as essential for WFS transactions. Stable releases receive six months of updates followed by six months of maintenance releases.