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Even though we have all become more technically adept, the idea of customized programming is still out of reach for most users. However, that does not stop us from wanting the shiny buttons and slick applications. Enter COTS software. This very blog is written on COTS software. Long gone are the days when a solid grasp of HTML and CSS are needed for a great website. Squarespace, Wix, Google Sites along with probably a dozen other site builders exist to enable YOU to create your own slick website for your company, organization or department. No programming needed!
Standard Squarespace
This ease is not without limitations. The price you pay (along with the actual price you pay) are restrictions on functionality and openness to customization. Take this site again, I have exactly 5 options for text formatting. Three of those are different headings. Sure, I can bold or italicize text, but there will be no script-y font on our blog. This leads to expected and standardized blog articles, webpages and overall consistency in the entire website. It helps the vendor (Squarespace in this case) know what to expect and provide award winning support…. via chat. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The GIS Industry is the Same
GIS users want the shiny new thing, easy configuration and standard offerings. For years, Esri has offered Web AppBuilder (WAB) as an easy way to make complete GIS applications. With a fair amount of client specific configuration available, most WAB applications look similar but can be modified to meet the variant needs of customers around the world. Users have come to expect certain tools that used to be available only through some intense programming. Now, the average GIS professional can take about 20 minutes and create a robust web application with their own data or use publicly available sources. Without needing a server, it it possible to create an app that the public can use, widgets to search addresses, print, draw on, measure, query data and even perform rudimentary analytics. Sure, it may look remarkably like your neighboring municipality’s but at some point the functionality is more important than form. I know that the GIS programmers among you are rolling their collective stink-eye at me right now. Let me explain. GIS has gotten easier and more ubiquitous across the tech industry, is the GIS profession gone? No? Actually, more important? Ok then, take a breath and know that I am on your side, read on.
When COTS is not enough
There will come a time when you outgrow these limitations. When the configuration of existing widgets does not do everything you need. Using WAB can constrict and lock you into specific integration. Your project may have separate needs that are not available with the existing tools. Plan appropriately; you may want to consider a custom application from the beginning. WAB allows you to stand up an app in short order, but it is very difficult on your users to change the user interface (UI/UX) mid-stream. Be thoughtful about this.
Please note, we GIS professionals have a tendency to think this bar is much lower than it actually is. Let this decision be driven by your users. Talk to them. What do they want? What tools do they actually use? You don’t have to spend three weeks or $5,000 to write a custom widget for nearest neighbor analysis when all they want is a heat map layer.Esri allows us to download and use Web AppBuilder “Developer Edition” this is a version of the WAB that runs in a testing environment on your PC. Making the application local to your computer opens up many opportunities to customization and code enhancements. This can include custom widgets or modifying existing COTS widgets. The source code is open and available and you can change nearly any aspect of the application. However, be aware, every time source code is changed, updating the Developer edition changes it back. Also, creating a custom widget can bite you back when Esri rolls out the exact same thing (or better) a version later.
What is Next?
Experience Builder. This is the new and updated version of Web AppBuilder. It still creates web mapping applications based on webmaps on ArcGIS Portal or ArcGIS Online -BUT- on steroids. Think: complete website, an entire user experience (thus the clever name). There is also a developer edition. Experience Builder (ExB) is like Squarespace meets ArcGIS Sites meets Web AppBuilder meets Story maps all together. All that being said, at the writing of this article, ExB and WAB do not have feature parity yet.
I do not appreciate negligent predictions, BUT I see Esri coalescing efforts around FOUR “super” products each with their own area of expertise:
Desktop Experience - ArcGIS Pro
Data Server Experience - ArcGIS Enterprise
Web Experience - Experience Builder
Field Collection Experience - Field Maps