Emily Chang - eHub Interviews

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eHub Interviews MapBuilder

Thanks to Andrew Bidochko, creator of MapBuilder for this email interview posted November 26, 2005.

eHub: What is your web application/service about?

MapBuilder: MapBuilder.net is an excellent tool that is used to build custom Google maps without any knowledge of the GMaps API and JavaScript. MapBuilder provides a decent visual interface for the map building process, which includes geocoding features. Also MapBuilder lets users tag locations on their maps, and then publish the map either on MapBuilder.net or their own website.

eHub: Why did you start this project?

MapBuilder: It was a problem for me to use Google Maps to map a location without knowing its longitude and latitude. In the beginning, I created a simple page which was used to obtain geo information from the Google Maps API. After a few weeks of development it evolved into MapBuilder.net.

eHub: How much time do you devote to its growth?  Do you have a day job?

MapBuilder: Yes, I have a day job. I devoted all my spare time during the evenings and weekends to MapBuilder.net.

eHub: How large is your team and what are your backgrounds?

MapBuilder: So far, I’ve worked alone on MapBuilder.net. I was extremely supported by my wife Iryna, and 3 years old daughter Sofiya (she likes to play with Google Maps very much). I hold a Masters Degree in Software Development and have worked for last 5 years in very solid IT companies.  For the last year, I’ve worked with IonZoft, Inc. (www.ionzoft.com) - the company which gave me the opportunity to deal with open source world and modern technologies as well.

eHub: What is your design philosophy?

MapBuilder: Keep users satisfied with the MapBuilder service.

eHub: What technologies are you currently using?

MapBuilder: I always like to use cutting edge technologies. MapBuilder.net was developed using object oriented programming in PHP5 and popular AJAX technology. It uses the booming Google Maps API as well.

eHub: If your project is live, what are the most requested features from your users/community?

MapBuilder: The community requires continues MapBuilder.net development. I’m receiving a lot of feedbacks with requested features such as location export/import, shared map development, etc.

eHub: Does your user base reside in a primary geographic location or is it distributed?

MapBuilder: Users are distributed all over the world. According to the Apache logs for September my primary audience is located in the US, Australia, China, Canada, Great Britain & EU, and Japan.

eHub: Where do you see the project heading in the next 6 months?  The next 2 years?

MapBuilder: I see the MapBuilder.net as a primary map development tool for Google and Yahoo Maps for next 6 months. Also I hope people will continue to use MapBuilder’s “Booming Maps” and “Shared!Map” services as socializing tools.

In next 2 years I would like to see MapBuilder.net as map development tool for other map providers (TIGER Map, etc).

eHub: What is the greatest challenge to your success?

MapBuilder: It was necessary to give away MapBuilder.net service very quickly and on high quality basis.

eHub: What is the one thing you need to get to the next phase of the project?

MapBuilder: Time is the most valuable and needed resource. Other than time, it might be necessary to obtain funding in order to move MapBuilder.net to dedicated server - one of the next development phases will require additional server resources.

eHub: Do you have a business model?  If so, what is it?

MapBuilder: I am evaluating possible directions for the future, but I believe that keeping it an “open service” is critical.

eHub: If you’re able to disclose this information, how much traffic or usage do you see on an average day?

MapBuilder: I would like to say that traffic statistic growth from day to day. Traffic is influenced by maps located on users sites. More users site is popular - more traffic I have. Another interesting statistic might be the number of users signups. Right now MapBuilder has more than 2,200 user accounts, 3,120 maps created by users with 13,700 mapped locations.

eHub: What is the one thing you’re most proud of about the project?

MapBuilder: People love MapBuilder.net and use its mapping service. This makes me happy!

eHub: How would you describe the shift that’s occurring with the web right now to future generations?

MapBuilder: This is great effort to make the web as socializing, open source and open data world. I think next generations will gain all the benefits from the net which we are making today.

eHub: What site(s) do you visit everyday other than your own?

MapBuilder: Google, Yahoo, some blogs.

eHub: How many hours of sleep do you get a night?

MapBuilder: Great question. On active MapBuilder development phase I used to sleep about 5 hours. For last months I slept about 8 hours - I had vacation and there was no MapBuilder.net development.

Thanks to Andrew Bidochko, creator of MapBuilder for this email interview posted November 26, 2005.

Visit MapBuilder
Originally added to eHub on Oct 04, 05

» More eHub Interviews

eHub Interviews is a series with the creators of Web 2.0 applications and services by Emily Chang, author of eHub, designer, and co-founder and principal of Ideacodes, a strategic web consultancy in San Francisco that she co-founded with Max Kiesler.

Also see eHub Interviews in Japanese at CNET Japan