Company
Date Published
Author
Can Duruk, Chief Technology Officer
Word count
583
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Felt aims to simplify the creation of geospatial visualizations by offering an intuitive platform for mapping that provides vast implicit context, making maps a unique storytelling medium. The current process of transforming a blank map into meaningful visualizations is complex and often requires skilled professionals to navigate data sources and APIs. To address this, Felt is developing tools that enhance flexibility, maintainability, and scalability, reducing the complexity for both users and their internal team. They have chosen to use PostgreSQL and SQLAlchemy, tools not traditionally known for flexibility, but which have provided unexpected advantages in their approach. SQLAlchemy’s reflect API, for instance, allows for schema flexibility by enabling users to create and manipulate their own tables, which is crucial for Felt's Data Library API that processes user data to generate map features. This approach exemplifies how Felt is leveraging technology to transform the user experience in map-making, focusing on ease of use and efficient data handling.