Cesium is an open-source JavaScript library for creating 3D globes and 2D maps in a web browser. It is widely used in many industries, such as geospatial, defense, and aviation. Over the years, Cesium has seen several updates and improvements, with the latest version being 1.101 at the time this article was published. Now, we will take a look at how cesium versions have evolved from their earlier versions to their latest version, and what improvements have been made in each version.
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Early Cesium Versions
Cesium started as version 0.X in 2013 and primarily focused on creating 3D globes. It used WebGL, a JavaScript API for rendering 3D graphics in web browsers, to create interactive 3D globes. Cesium 0.X supported only a few basic geospatial data formats, such as KML, GeoJSON, and TopoJSON.
Major Release back in 2015
In version 1.X, released in 2015, Cesium added support for more data formats, such as CityGML and 3D Tiles. It also added support for 2D maps, which meant that developers could now create both 3D globes and 2D maps using Cesium. Additionally, version 1.X introduced the concept of “entities”, which allowed developers to add interactive features, such as pop-ups and animations, to their maps and globes.
Releases following 1.X
In version 1.X, Cesium also introduced the “Cesium Language” (CZML), which is a JSON-based format for describing geospatial data. CZML allowed developers to easily create and modify entities in their maps and globes, and it also made it easier to stream data to the client.
In version 1.X Cesium also started to implement the use of Promises, which is a pattern for handling async code in JavaScript. Cesium 1.X used Promises to handle the asynchronous loading of data, which made it more efficient and easier to use.
In the latest version of Cesium, 1.X, many new features have been added to make it more powerful, flexible, and user-friendly. Some of these new features include support for 3D models, terrain, and imagery, improved performance and rendering, and support for more data formats. Additionally, Cesium 1.x has been optimized for mobile devices, so developers can create web-based applications that run smoothly on mobile devices.
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Latest (1.101 ) vs almost 4 years back (1.78.0 )
Version 1.78.0 of Cesium was released in 2019, it introduced support for 3D models, terrain, and imagery, as well as improved performance and rendering. Additionally, Cesium 1.78.0 was optimized for mobile devices, so developers could create web-based applications that ran smoothly on mobile devices.
In the latest version of Cesium, 1.101, many new features have been added to make it more powerful and user-friendly. Some of the new features include:
Improved 3D terrain: Cesium 1.101 has improved terrain rendering and elevation data support, which allows for more detailed and accurate terrain visualization.
Enhanced data streaming: Cesium 1.101 has improved support for streaming large datasets, which makes it easier for developers to work with big data.
Improved 3D models: Cesium 1.101 has added support for 3D models with different levels of detail, which improves the performance of 3D models and reduces the load on the client.
Advanced lighting: Cesium 1.101 has improved support for advanced lighting and shadows, which makes the 3D globe and maps look more realistic.
Improved user interface: Cesium 1.101 has an improved user interface with new widgets and controls, which makes it easier for developers to work with the library.
Better Time-based data visualization: Cesium 1.101 has improved support for time-based data visualization, which makes it easier to visualize data that changes over time.
In conclusion, Cesium has come a long way since its first version, and it has evolved from a simple 3D globe library to a robust and versatile geospatial platform. With every new version, Cesium is becoming more powerful, flexible, and user-friendly. The latest version of Cesium, 1.101, is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Cesium team and the open-source community that supports it. With the new features and improvements, Cesium 1.101 offers even more capabilities for developers to create interactive, web-based geospatial applications that are more accurate, realistic, and efficient.