Production GIS map system all based on open source components

During the past weeks, I was designing a GIS map system similar to Google map for a company.
On the server side, they want a spatial database, which support ESRI format Sharp files. Also needs a map server, which handle client request, query the database...etc.

On the client side, they want a standalone client instead of AJAX based web app.

I have some experience on the GIS stuff five years ago. We used a open source map server at that time, but it was quite slow.

When looking into open source area for GIS system again after five years, i found that we can build PRODUCTION GIS system by integrating all the latest and best from open source community.

Here is the solution in the end:
Server side: Postgis + GeoServer + squid cache.
No development work is needed .

Client side:

• Web-based client, can be built on top of OpenLayers

• standalone client, can be built by extending from udig. udig is an eclipse RCP application!