DevZone FAQs

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Who is eligible for the deCarta Developer Zone and how do I sign up?

The "devZone" is a free online service available to any developers that wants to prototype and develop great location-enabled applications very quickly. Developers can sign up online at http://developer.deCarta.com to access documentation, software downloads, live sample applications and development tools, and get online support.

How is deCarta's Map API different than the Google Maps API or the Bing Maps API?

deCarta offers the robust location-based services you want for your application without the restrictive terms of service of Google or Bing.  deCarta's APIs keep your brand at the forefront, letting your logo shine (even in the coveted lower corner), and we promise never to put ads on your map without your permisson. And deCarta's clear and simple upfront pricing means that there are no surprises after you've already invested time on your application. 

How much does it cost to join the DevZone?

There is no cost to join the DevZone and use the service.

What kind of applications can be developed on the DevZone?

The DevZone is powered by DDS Web Services which provides all key functionality required for a typical location-enabled application, including:

  • Maps and POI display
  • Routes and driving directions
  • Address lookup (geocoding and reverse geocoding)
  • Local search (request for a POI near a location)

DDS Web Services is particularly well suited for browser-based fluid map applications but also provides solid support for mobile devices. There are no restrictions on the type of client application that uses DDS Web Services. Bear in mind that applications developed on the devZone cannot be deployed commercially. For Hosted Web Services, data licensing restrictions may apply under certain use cases. Please contact your deCarta sales representative for further information.

What kind of map and points of interest (POI) data is available?

The DevZone provides access to NAVTEQ and TomTom high-quality map and POI data, as well as Open Street Map data. deCarta supports a wide variety of products from these and other leading data providers and is constantly adding support for new geographies and new data attributes. For a complete list, check out our Map Data Availability chart or e-mail us at "salesteam at deCarta dot com".

Are there any feature limitations on the DevZone?

Currently, there are no feature limitations on the devZone except for direct access to DDS through DDSQL, traffic functionality, and fleet/mobile resource management functionality. If you need to access that part of the platform please see the FAQ above about self-hosting. 

What kind of availability and performance should I expect?

No formal SLA is provided on the DevZone but we strive to provide excellent performance and uptime. During normal usage, you should experience good-to-excellent response times. Since it is shared with many other developers, during times of peak usage it may appear slower than normal. Also bear in mind that as with any application accessing DDS, response times vary depending on the type of request. For example, local routes are computed more quickly than cross-country routes.

If I start development using the DevZone, can I transition to Hosted Web Services?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, developers usually start developing on the DevZone well before transitioning to the production cluster.

deCarta has developed a well-defined process for transitioning from the non-commercial devZone to Hosted Web Services. Once the application is ready for commercial deployment, deCarta provides a production URL to use instead of the devZone URL in the application. deCarta engineers assist in profiling the application and ensure that the production environment is appropriately provisioned and configured to sustain the expected transactional load.

Can I launch a finished application using the DevZone?

No. The DevZone is intended for prototyping and pre-production development only. No commercial deployments are allowed. Applications developed on the Developer Zone can be deployed either on Hosted Web Services or on a customer-owned DDS environment.  To use Hosted Web Services, learn more about Going to Production.

What if I want to deploy deCarta technology on my own servers?

If the DevZone doesn't meet your needs and you want to develop on your own servers (or laptop) please contact our sales group (sales@decarta.com) and they will get you an evaluation CD with software and data. You can use all of the client APIs from the devZone on your own self hosted-instance but you also get more control over the data served, cartography, and DDS functionality. 

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