🚀 go-pugleaf

Greetings,

Question: How to convert an interactive X Window application to a
  client-server model?

Situation: We have developed a number of sophisticated X Window 
  applications to model a variety of environmental problems, such as air
  pollution. I will describe our GIS (Geographic Information System) 
  interface, because I want to use it for a prototype and because it is 
  really quite simple.

The GIS: Basically the GIS is used to create a window background by combining
  different mapsets that are available. The user clicks on a map, and it is
  drawn in the window. When the user has finished selecting maps and exits
  the GIS, the selected maps are then drawn in the main window of the
  model interface.

The task: What I need to do is to develop a client-server version on one of
  our applications. I want to start with the GIS interface. All our systems
  run under UNIX and use the standard MIT X Window system. We don't use Motif
  or any other toolkit, but we have developed out own interface library that
  is based entirely on XLib.

The client: NCSA Mosaic will be the client. I have already started 
  designing a Forms-based interface for the GIS. This client should provide 
  the same functionality as the interactive version, ie. the user can select 
  a subset of the available maps (among other things).

The server: The server should intercept the client request, compose the
  maps as requested and ... well, I guess it should combine them into a
  GIF or JPEG format file and send it back to the client.

Questions: LOTS OF THEM!
  I guess I would like to talk to anybody who has done anything similar.
  Once I get started, there will probably be many more specific questions.
  I would also appreciate any pointers to relevant literature. 
  Any hints, advice or help is welcome.

Thanks for now,
Marcus

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*    Marcus Schnell                         marcus@iiasa.ac.at  *
*    International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis IIASA *
*    A-2361 Laxenburg AUSTRIA              _--_|\               *
*    Phone   : (+43 2236) 715 21 *487     /      \              *
*    FAX     : (+43 2236) 731 48          \_.--._/              *
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