Introduction
Hello, I'm an engineer at GameVillage(https://gamevlg.com/).
In this article, I'd like to share some of the knowledge we've gained during the development of these map services. I will introduce the map libraries.
About Map Libraries
Map Library Trend(https://npmtrends.com/@turf/turf-vs-deck.gl-vs-leaflet-vs-mapbox-gl-vs-maplibre-gl-vs-ol)
Leaflet and Mapbox GL are quite popular. In this article, we'll be looking at these two libraries as well as MapLibre GL, the open-source version of Mapbox GL.
https://leafletjs.com/
Leaflet is a lightweight, open-source JavaScript library for interactive maps. It’s easy to learn and simple to get started with, making it a popular choice for basic map creation.
Advantages
- Since Leaflet relies on HTML/CSS, the learning curve is gentle for those with basic web development knowledge.
- It provides all the essential features needed for basic map creation.
Disadvantages
- Because markers are rendered with HTML, a large number of markers can cause performance issues in the browser.
- Rendering HTML-created markers on a Canvas is challenging.
- Although there's a plugin called leaflet-markers-canvas(https://github.com/francoisromain/leaflet-markers-canvas), the quality of the markers can degrade.
- Zooming with a touchpad can be jerky
- https://github.com/Leaflet/Leaflet/issues/4410
- https://github.com/Leaflet/Leaflet/issues/7476
https://www.mapbox.com/
Mapbox GL is a powerful map library that uses vector tiles(https://docs.mapbox.com/data/tilesets/guides/vector-tiles-introduction/) for rendering maps using WebGL. Originally an open-source project, it transitioned to a proprietary model from version 1.x onwards, leading to the creation of MapLibre GL JS, which we'll discuss later.
Advantages
- Outstanding rendering performance due to the use of WebGL and vector tiles.
- Offers features not available in MapLibre, such as the Search API.
- https://docs.mapbox.com/api/overview/
- Provides a map editing tool called Mapbox Studio(https://www.mapbox.com/mapbox-studio).
- Comprehensive documentation is available, especially useful for optimizing rendering performance.
- https://docs.mapbox.com/help/troubleshooting/mapbox-gl-js-performance/
Disadvantages
- The learning curve can be steep.
- Map style specifications: https://docs.mapbox.com/style-spec/guides/
- Performance optimization: https://docs.mapbox.com/help/troubleshooting/mapbox-gl-js-performance/
- It operates on a pay-as-you-go model (with a free tier), so cost management might be a concern.
- https://www.mapbox.com/pricing#maps
MapLibre GL JS
https://maplibre.org/
As mentioned earlier, MapLibre GL JS is an open-source fork of Mapbox GL version 1.x. Like Mapbox, it uses WebGL for rendering and supports vector tiles.
Advantages
- High rendering performance.
- Covers most essential features required for map creation.
Disadvantages
- The learning curve is somewhat steep.
- Map style specifications: https://maplibre.org/maplibre-style-spec/
- Performance optimization can be challenging.
- Lacks some of the advanced features available in Mapbox.
Choosing a Library
If you're dealing with a small amount of data and rendering performance isn't a major concern → Leaflet
If you're handling large amounts of data and need high performance → MapLibre GL
If MapLibre GL doesn't meet your needs → Mapbox GL
This approach provides a good starting point based on your specific requirements.
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