Sure

GeoTools strives to be an implementation of most things geospatial.  We 
tried for a bit to provide user interface widgets as well .. but did not 
have enough volunteer time for that.

We are not really interested in defining interfaces ... so whenever a 
GeoAPI interface is available we try and make use of it. We also make 
use of GeoAPI for collaboration with other open source and proprietary 
projects. GeoTools is sometimes used to explore implementation 
alternatives; the results of which are pushed back into GeoAPI (and the 
specifications that it implements).

GeoAPI has a formal process (and review by a working group) so our 
changes are not simply accepted; indeed it is much better if they are 
the result of compromise with more than one implementation.

You ask a lot of specific questions about process ... the real answer 
(and stress you will find) is volunteer time. Occasionally we are paid 
to work on GeoAPI (you can see this in the recent update of GeoAPI 
metadata - bringing it in line with recent ISO19115 work). We used 
GeoTools as a sample implementation to make sure the API changes were 
sane; the result will be available at the end of the month.

The other way things work is when GeoTools runs out of steam. The 
current GridCoverage interface is based on an old OGC specification that 
has been deprecated (it only suppors 2D coverages). Now OGC tells us to 
use some ISO specification that I have not even scene yet. One of the 
Google Summer of Code students is going to take a run at creating 
N-Dimensional Coverage interfaces - when they do this we will start by 
looking at the GeoAPI interfaces, aligning them with the ISO coverage 
specification and asking the student to implement in GeoTools.

For your specific question - not yet. We have looked at (and fixed the 
holes) in the GeoAPI FeatureModel. The interfaces as they stand are 
complete (although we will strip out some of the generics stuff before 
it is released).  GeoTools will transition to this new model over the 
course of the summer by all indication. Actually we will transition to a 
subclass called SimpleFeature (where attributes are not duplicated and 
all appear in the same order).

Our specific transition strategy is to set up the following:
1) org.opengis.feature.Feature
2) org.opengis.feature.simple.SimpleFeature extends Feature
3) org.geotools.feature.Feature extends SimpleFeature
4) org.geotools.feature.DefaultFeature implements Feature, SimpleFeature

So if your are code consuming features for display #1 is good. If you 
are code that would like to only work with simple content (say creating 
features from a shapefile) then you could make use of #2. The last two 
options are available for backwards compatibility.

Cheers,
Jody
> I'm wondering what the relationship is between GeoTools and the 
> GeoAPI. I know that GeoTools provides an implementation of at least 
> portions of the GeoAPI, but I was hoping to get some more of the details.
>
> When may a GeoTools interface that corresponds to a GeoAPI interface 
> contain significant additions or changes? Are these additions and 
> changes integrated back into the GeoAPI interface at some point? What 
> process is used to do this?
>
> Are all changes in a GeoAPI interface integrated into the 
> corresponding GeoTools API at some point? What process governs this?
>
> If I implement code to use the GeoAPI Feature interface, will I be 
> able pass it an object that implements the GeoTools Feature interface?
>
> Thanks,
>
> The Sunburned Surveyor
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