Mapnik 0.4.0

Mapnik is an OpenSource C++/Python toolkit for developing GIS (Geographic Information Systems) applications. At the core is a C++ shared library providing algorithms/patterns for spatial data access and visualization.
Essentially a collection of geographic objects (map, layer, datasource, feature, geometry), the library doesnt rely on "windowing systems" and can be deployed in any server environment. It is intended to play fair in a multi-threaded environment and is aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at web-based development.
High-level Python bindings (boost.python) facilitate rapid application development, targeting zope3, django etc.
Main features:
- extensible datasource plug-in architecture (ESRI shape files, PostgreSQL/PostGIS)
- anti-aliasing rendering
- expressions based styling
Enhancements:
- Major feature enhancements were made as well as a bugfixes.
- The new features include projection transformations, multiple named styles in WMS, line following text labels, a shield symbolizer, feature querying, character encoding support, GetFeatureInfo with text/plain and text/xml output, and support for right to left languages.