Linux.com published an interesting article – a tutorial – about famous components of Free and Open Source Software stack for Web Mapping. Justin Palk, the author, gives a very accessible introduction to building Web Mapping solution using GeoServer, PostGIS and OpenLayers. I think it’s a great writing for anyone who takes first steps in Web Mapping with FOSS4G.
Serving and styling maps with GeoServer by Justin Palk on September 24, 2008
I always wondered, why there is so much cool opensource GIS stuff around, but so little good starting guides, especially localized. We decided we take a step and started writing “how to start with… %you name it%” and it turns out a lot of people are interested and a lot of nice stuff can be done by someone, who is not a real programmer, but got a good starting point.
I share your point. Shortly, I’d answer this way: developers prefer to write code than to write HOWTO’s and tutorials :-) Lack of complete docs is very common in FOSS and this is a vast area where power and advanced users can contribute.