An introduction to Mapsemble.

What is Mapsemble?

Short version: Mapsemble is a tool to turn data into maps.

Currently, it's possible to:

• Upload CSV or XLS files with up to 100.000 rows and show them on a map.
• Style the map based on properties of each data row, for example: Paint all "cities" with a population of more than 1000 green.
• Show results with pagination with a map and a table, where both are updated depending on the zoom level and center of the map (bounding box).

Mapsemble is currently Work in Progress and almost at a point where I can call it a MVP (Minimum Viable Product), which will be when folks can actually build maps from their data, style and configure the map, and use the map in their own projects.

What I still need to do to get to this point is:

• Allow users to save maps to their accounts.
• Generate a snippet for each map that users can use to embed the map in their website or project.
• A heck of a lot of testing and bugfixing.

Curious? Try Mapsemble now!

(no account needed)

(Be warned that some things might not yet work as expected.)

Obviously there are many more things that I want to implement (more about that later). But as I'm working towards an MVP, I will try post updates of my progress (#buildinpublic) and hopefully interest potential clients to give me their feedback to shape the further development of the app.

(Even mildly) interested in this app?

Let's talk about the options.

Why am I building Mapsemble?

Before I dive into the why, let me quickly introduce myself.

I am Teun. I'm a freelance software engineer from the Netherlands and based in Spain. I've been freelancing for about 15 years now, and now I've finally decided to plunge into building my own SaaS.

For the last 5 years or so I've been building a mapping tool on behalf of the Port of Rotterdam (and others) for research and risk assessment of unexploded bombs from World War II. It may come as a surprise, but WW2 bombs are still regularly found in the Netherlands, and when they are found unexpectedly, the impact is immense. The tool ties together all kinds of relational and geographical data, allowing researchers to indicate and motivate higher and lower risk levels for different areas.

As I built the platform, I learned a great deal about mapping, projections, spatial queries and I gathered that there must be many companies and organisations out there that would be greatly benefit from a tool that brings together relational and spatial data in an easy-to-navigate app.

This is why I started Mapsemble.

Where am I now and where am I going?

From September I've been steadily booking progress on Mapsemble, working on it about 3 days a week. I decided to use frameworks and software that were new to me (more about that in a later blog post) so it took me a few weeks to pick up pace.

I've talked to a few potential customers, and at this stage I've decided to go live with what I have, allowing folks to play around with the app (and give their feedback if I'm lucky).

Next steps: Basic functionality and a Drupal module.

To be able to use Mapsemble I still need to implement a good few things, such as options for styling, better default styling, generating embed code for embedding in your website.

Once that is done, as far as one can call it "done", my priority will shift to building a Drupal module. The module will allow Drupal site builders to embed interactive maps in their websites based on the content (entities) present in the same project, that will automatically sync with Mapsemble. The marketplace for Drupal module will hopefully give me exposure and new leads.

Also, interest in a Drupal module was already expressed by several potential clients, so it seems to right step to take right right now, but happy to listen to ideas about a different approach.

Thanks for reading, and hopefully see you again for some new updates on Mapsemble.

Teun