The open source MapServer web-mapping platform is the tool of choice for many web developers wanting to publish maps online. MapServer's robust set of features and widespread use provide a solid base for a stable, interactive web-mapping experience. However, MapServer alone doesn't provide the level of interactivity, prerendering, caching of tile images, smooth panning, etc. that many users are turning to AJAX for.
ka-Map is also open source and works directly with MapServer. MapServer prepares the map images, ka-Map serves them to the web browser. ka-Map also caches (saves copies of) maps as they are created by MapServer. When the same area on the map is viewed again, MapServer sits idle while ka-Map grabs the cached map image tiles. This is a departure from the traditional cycle: start map application, click to zoom in, wait for entire map image to be created, wait for the browser to receive the image, click again, repeat. Instead, small pieces of the map are created once when first requested and stored on the server. As they are created, they are sent to the web browser and the web browser pieces them together as they are received.
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