A middleware: Python plugin transform on different GIS platforms

GIS plugins expand existing GIS function with obvious pertinence. However, they are disappointing and difficult to be used for cross-platform. Based on the plugin application depending on specific GIS platforms, this paper proposes a middleware to achieve the transform of Python plugin applications on different GIS platforms. The middleware separates out the GIS platforms kernel and GIS plugin application. The kernel layers of different GIS platforms provide necessary external interface to the middleware. With docking to middleware, the plugin application can be transplanted to another GIS platform. As a GIS overpass, the middleware can help the plugin application ignore the details of the GIS platform kernel. The middleware is designed to build Python plugin application which avoids many code alterations and can be used in different GIS platforms. Lastly, a project that uses a Python plugin application transform from QGIS to MAPGIS is demonstrated. Experiments show that the transform method is feasible and promote universal property of plugin application.