Abandon Google Maps

1 Reasons to Abandon Feature

Google Maps is a commercial solution that was initially integrated because open alternatives did not exist at the time. This has changed, and the Open Layers solution fits much better with an open source project like ILIAS.

Moreover, there is little evidence of significant use of the feature in recent years, given that it was completely unusable for a while now, due to this bug.

2 Additional Information

2.1 Involved Authorities

2.2 Technical Aspects

With #43204, we have seen that breaking changes in the Google Maps API are likely to happen and can render the feature unusable. The maintenance cost of the feature does not justify its benefits (which are basically limited to simply having it, as some users may be accustomed to it), especially now that open source alternatives are available.

2.3 Contact

Person to be contacted in case of questions about the request or for funding offers: Auerbach, Jeanine [jeanine.auerbach]

2.4 Funding

Implementing the abandon feature requires funding of 1,000 EUR.

If you are interested to give funding for abandon this feature, please get into contact with the person mentioned above as 'Contact'.

3 Discussion

Use the following discussion section to express your objections against this request or your consent to get rid of this feature.

4 Implementation

We will remove the class `components/ILIAS/Maps/classes/class.ilGoogleMapGUI.php` and its references in the component. Furthermore, its templates and language variables will be removed.

As a consequence, installations that currently have the feature enabled, will automatically be switched to the Open Layers Maps. If they haven't configured it in the past, it will be necessary to configure a `Server for Tiles` and a `Server for Reverse Geolocation` in the global Maps settings, for the Maps feature to continue working.

Removed Testcases

The following testcases would need to be removed:

Approval

Approved at {date} by {user}.