diff --git a/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
index b2848509f4..2fca63198a 100644
--- a/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
@@ -29,23 +29,23 @@ using namespace boost::spirit;
 
 DATASOURCE_PLUGIN(csv_datasource)
 
-csv_datasource::csv_datasource(parameters const& params, bool bind)
+csv_datasource::csv_datasource(parameters const& params)
 : datasource(params),
-    desc_(*params_.get<std::string>("type"), *params_.get<std::string>("encoding", "utf-8")),
+    desc_(*params.get<std::string>("type"), *params.get<std::string>("encoding", "utf-8")),
     extent_(),
     filename_(),
     inline_string_(),
     file_length_(0),
-    row_limit_(*params_.get<int>("row_limit", 0)),
+    row_limit_(*params.get<int>("row_limit", 0)),
     features_(),
-    escape_(*params_.get<std::string>("escape", "")),
-    separator_(*params_.get<std::string>("separator", "")),
-    quote_(*params_.get<std::string>("quote", "")),
+    escape_(*params.get<std::string>("escape", "")),
+    separator_(*params.get<std::string>("separator", "")),
+    quote_(*params.get<std::string>("quote", "")),
     headers_(),
-    manual_headers_(boost::trim_copy(*params_.get<std::string>("headers", ""))),
-    strict_(*params_.get<mapnik::boolean>("strict", false)),
-    quiet_(*params_.get<mapnik::boolean>("quiet", false)),
-    filesize_max_(*params_.get<float>("filesize_max", 20.0))  // MB
+    manual_headers_(boost::trim_copy(*params.get<std::string>("headers", ""))),
+    strict_(*params.get<mapnik::boolean>("strict", false)),
+    quiet_(*params.get<mapnik::boolean>("quiet", false)),
+    filesize_max_(*params.get<float>("filesize_max", 20.0))  // MB
 {
     /* TODO:
        general:
@@ -70,36 +70,31 @@ csv_datasource::csv_datasource(parameters const& params, bool bind)
        http://boost-spirit.com/home/articles/qi-example/tracking-the-input-position-while-parsing/
     */
 
-    boost::optional<std::string> inline_string = params_.get<std::string>("inline");
+    boost::optional<std::string> inline_string = params.get<std::string>("inline");
     if (inline_string)
     {
         inline_string_ = *inline_string;
     }
     else
     {
-        boost::optional<std::string> file = params_.get<std::string>("file");
+        boost::optional<std::string> file = params.get<std::string>("file");
         if (!file) throw mapnik::datasource_exception("CSV Plugin: missing <file> parameter");
 
-        boost::optional<std::string> base = params_.get<std::string>("base");
+        boost::optional<std::string> base = params.get<std::string>("base");
         if (base)
             filename_ = *base + "/" + *file;
         else
             filename_ = *file;
     }
 
-    if (bind)
-    {
-        this->bind();
-    }
+    this->init(params);
 }
 
 
 csv_datasource::~csv_datasource() { }
 
-void csv_datasource::bind() const
+void csv_datasource::init(mapnik::parameters const& params)
 {
-    if (is_bound_) return;
-
     if (!inline_string_.empty())
     {
         std::istringstream in(inline_string_);
@@ -113,7 +108,6 @@ void csv_datasource::bind() const
         parse_csv(in,escape_, separator_, quote_);
         in.close();
     }
-    is_bound_ = true;
 }
 
 template <typename T>
@@ -245,7 +239,7 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T& stream,
         //  grammer = boost::escaped_list_separator<char>('\\', ',', '\"');
         grammer = boost::escaped_list_separator<char>(esc, sep, quo);
     }
-    catch(const std::exception & ex)
+    catch(std::exception const& ex)
     {
         std::ostringstream s;
         s << "CSV Plugin: " << ex.what();
@@ -371,7 +365,7 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T& stream,
                     break;
                 }
             }
-            catch(const std::exception & ex)
+            catch(std::exception const& ex)
             {
                 std::ostringstream s;
                 s << "CSV Plugin: error parsing headers: " << ex.what();
@@ -812,7 +806,7 @@ void csv_datasource::parse_csv(T& stream,
                 if (!quiet_) std::clog << ex.what() << "\n";
             }
         }
-        catch(const std::exception & ex)
+        catch(std::exception const& ex)
         {
             std::ostringstream s;
             s << "CSV Plugin: unexpected error parsing line: " << line_number
@@ -846,14 +840,11 @@ datasource::datasource_t csv_datasource::type() const
 
 mapnik::box2d<double> csv_datasource::envelope() const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     return extent_;
 }
 
 boost::optional<mapnik::datasource::geometry_t> csv_datasource::get_geometry_type() const
 {
-    if (! is_bound_) bind();
     boost::optional<mapnik::datasource::geometry_t> result;
     int multi_type = 0;
     unsigned num_features = features_.size();
@@ -876,15 +867,11 @@ boost::optional<mapnik::datasource::geometry_t> csv_datasource::get_geometry_typ
 
 mapnik::layer_descriptor csv_datasource::get_descriptor() const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     return desc_;
 }
 
 mapnik::featureset_ptr csv_datasource::features(mapnik::query const& q) const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     const std::set<std::string>& attribute_names = q.property_names();
     std::set<std::string>::const_iterator pos = attribute_names.begin();
     while (pos != attribute_names.end())
@@ -916,7 +903,5 @@ mapnik::featureset_ptr csv_datasource::features(mapnik::query const& q) const
 
 mapnik::featureset_ptr csv_datasource::features_at_point(mapnik::coord2d const& pt) const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     throw mapnik::datasource_exception("CSV Plugin: features_at_point is not supported yet");
 }
diff --git a/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.hpp b/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.hpp
index 985d732429..5253c5a5cf 100644
--- a/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.hpp
+++ b/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.hpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 class csv_datasource : public mapnik::datasource
 {
 public:
-    csv_datasource(mapnik::parameters const& params, bool bind=true);
+    csv_datasource(mapnik::parameters const& params);
     virtual ~csv_datasource ();
     mapnik::datasource::datasource_t type() const;
     static std::string name();
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@ class csv_datasource : public mapnik::datasource
     mapnik::box2d<double> envelope() const;
     boost::optional<mapnik::datasource::geometry_t> get_geometry_type() const;
     mapnik::layer_descriptor get_descriptor() const;
-    void bind() const;
     template <typename T>
     void parse_csv(T& stream,
                    std::string const& escape,
                    std::string const& separator,
                    std::string const& quote) const;
 private:
+    void init(mapnik::parameters const& params);
     mutable mapnik::layer_descriptor desc_;
     mutable mapnik::box2d<double> extent_;
     mutable std::string filename_;
diff --git a/plugins/input/kismet/kismet_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/kismet/kismet_datasource.cpp
index 7780b078d6..899690a3a1 100644
--- a/plugins/input/kismet/kismet_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/kismet/kismet_datasource.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ boost::mutex knd_list_mutex;
 std::list<kismet_network_data> knd_list;
 const unsigned int queue_size = 20;
 
-kismet_datasource::kismet_datasource(parameters const& params, bool bind)
+kismet_datasource::kismet_datasource(parameters const& params)
     : datasource(params),
       extent_(),
       extent_initialized_(false),
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ kismet_datasource::kismet_datasource(parameters const& params, bool bind)
       srs_("+proj=longlat +ellps=WGS84 +datum=WGS84 +no_defs"),
       desc_(*params.get<std::string>("type"), *params.get<std::string>("encoding","utf-8"))
 {
-    boost::optional<std::string> host = params_.get<std::string>("host");
+    boost::optional<std::string> host = params.get<std::string>("host");
     if (host)
     {
         host_ = *host;
@@ -89,37 +89,25 @@ kismet_datasource::kismet_datasource(parameters const& params, bool bind)
         throw datasource_exception("Kismet Plugin: missing <host> parameter");
     }
 
-    boost::optional<unsigned int> port = params_.get<unsigned int>("port", 2501);
+    boost::optional<unsigned int> port = params.get<unsigned int>("port", 2501);
     if (port)
     {
         port_ = *port;
     }
 
-    boost::optional<std::string> srs = params_.get<std::string>("srs");
+    boost::optional<std::string> srs = params.get<std::string>("srs");
     if (srs)
     {
         srs_ = *srs;
     }
 
-    boost::optional<std::string> ext = params_.get<std::string>("extent");
+    boost::optional<std::string> ext = params.get<std::string>("extent");
     if (ext)
     {
         extent_initialized_ = extent_.from_string(*ext);
     }
 
     kismet_thread.reset(new boost::thread(boost::bind(&kismet_datasource::run, this, host_, port_)));
-
-    if (bind)
-    {
-        this->bind();
-    }
-}
-
-void kismet_datasource::bind() const
-{
-    if (is_bound_) return;
-
-    is_bound_ = true;
 }
 
 kismet_datasource::~kismet_datasource()
@@ -138,7 +126,6 @@ mapnik::datasource::datasource_t kismet_datasource::type() const
 
 box2d<double> kismet_datasource::envelope() const
 {
-    if (! is_bound_) bind();
     return extent_;
 }
 
@@ -154,7 +141,6 @@ layer_descriptor kismet_datasource::get_descriptor() const
 
 featureset_ptr kismet_datasource::features(query const& q) const
 {
-    if (! is_bound_) bind();
 
     // std::clog << "kismet_datasource::features()" << endl;
 
@@ -172,7 +158,6 @@ featureset_ptr kismet_datasource::features(query const& q) const
 
 featureset_ptr kismet_datasource::features_at_point(coord2d const& pt) const
 {
-    if (! is_bound_) bind();
 
     // std::clog << "kismet_datasource::features_at_point()" << endl;
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/kismet/kismet_datasource.hpp b/plugins/input/kismet/kismet_datasource.hpp
index 308246dde7..af28e65405 100644
--- a/plugins/input/kismet/kismet_datasource.hpp
+++ b/plugins/input/kismet/kismet_datasource.hpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 class kismet_datasource : public mapnik::datasource
 {
 public:
-    kismet_datasource(mapnik::parameters const& params, bool bind = true);
+    kismet_datasource(mapnik::parameters const& params);
     virtual ~kismet_datasource ();
     datasource::datasource_t type() const;
     static std::string name();
@@ -52,11 +52,10 @@ class kismet_datasource : public mapnik::datasource
     mapnik::box2d<double> envelope() const;
     boost::optional<mapnik::datasource::geometry_t> get_geometry_type() const;
     mapnik::layer_descriptor get_descriptor() const;
-    void bind() const;
 
 private:
+    void init(mapnik::parameters const& params);
     void run (const std::string& host, const unsigned int port);
-
     mapnik::box2d<double> extent_;
     bool extent_initialized_;
     std::string host_;
diff --git a/plugins/input/occi/occi_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/occi/occi_datasource.cpp
index b99698d22b..0354f8f39a 100644
--- a/plugins/input/occi/occi_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/occi/occi_datasource.cpp
@@ -67,24 +67,25 @@ const std::string occi_datasource::METADATA_TABLE = "USER_SDO_GEOM_METADATA";
 
 DATASOURCE_PLUGIN(occi_datasource)
 
-occi_datasource::occi_datasource(parameters const& params, bool bind)
+occi_datasource::occi_datasource(parameters const& params)
 : datasource (params),
+    params_(params),
     type_(datasource::Vector),
-    fields_(*params_.get<std::string>("fields", "*")),
-    geometry_field_(*params_.get<std::string>("geometry_field", "")),
+    fields_(*params.get<std::string>("fields", "*")),
+    geometry_field_(*params.get<std::string>("geometry_field", "")),
     srid_initialized_(false),
     extent_initialized_(false),
-    desc_(*params_.get<std::string>("type"), *params_.get<std::string>("encoding", "utf-8")),
-    row_limit_(*params_.get<int>("row_limit", 0)),
-    row_prefetch_(*params_.get<int>("row_prefetch", 100)),
+    desc_(*params.get<std::string>("type"), *params.get<std::string>("encoding", "utf-8")),
+    row_limit_(*params.get<int>("row_limit", 0)),
+    row_prefetch_(*params.get<int>("row_prefetch", 100)),
     pool_(0),
     conn_(0)
 {
-    if (! params_.get<std::string>("user")) throw datasource_exception("OCCI Plugin: no <user> specified");
-    if (! params_.get<std::string>("password")) throw datasource_exception("OCCI Plugin: no <password> specified");
-    if (! params_.get<std::string>("host")) throw datasource_exception("OCCI Plugin: no <host> string specified");
+    if (! params.get<std::string>("user")) throw datasource_exception("OCCI Plugin: no <user> specified");
+    if (! params.get<std::string>("password")) throw datasource_exception("OCCI Plugin: no <password> specified");
+    if (! params.get<std::string>("host")) throw datasource_exception("OCCI Plugin: no <host> string specified");
 
-    boost::optional<std::string> table = params_.get<std::string>("table");
+    boost::optional<std::string> table = params.get<std::string>("table");
     if (! table)
     {
         throw datasource_exception("OCCI Plugin: no <table> parameter specified");
@@ -94,52 +95,44 @@ occi_datasource::occi_datasource(parameters const& params, bool bind)
         table_ = *table;
     }
 
-    use_spatial_index_ = *params_.get<mapnik::boolean>("use_spatial_index",true);
-    use_connection_pool_ = *params_.get<mapnik::boolean>("use_connection_pool",true);
+    use_spatial_index_ = *params.get<mapnik::boolean>("use_spatial_index",true);
+    use_connection_pool_ = *params.get<mapnik::boolean>("use_connection_pool",true);
 
-    boost::optional<std::string> ext = params_.get<std::string>("extent");
+    boost::optional<std::string> ext = params.get<std::string>("extent");
     if (ext) extent_initialized_ = extent_.from_string(*ext);
 
-    boost::optional<int> srid = params_.get<int>("srid");
+    boost::optional<int> srid = params.get<int>("srid");
     if (srid)
     {
         srid_ = *srid;
         srid_initialized_ = true;
     }
 
-    if (bind)
-    {
-        this->bind();
-    }
+    this->init(params);
 }
 
 occi_datasource::~occi_datasource()
 {
-    if (is_bound_)
-    {
-        Environment* env = occi_environment::get_environment();
+    Environment* env = occi_environment::get_environment();
 
-        if (use_connection_pool_)
+    if (use_connection_pool_)
+    {
+        if (pool_ != 0)
         {
-            if (pool_ != 0)
-            {
-                env->terminateStatelessConnectionPool(pool_, StatelessConnectionPool::SPD_FORCE);
-            }
+            env->terminateStatelessConnectionPool(pool_, StatelessConnectionPool::SPD_FORCE);
         }
-        else
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        if (conn_ != 0)
         {
-            if (conn_ != 0)
-            {
-                env->terminateConnection(conn_);
-            }
+            env->terminateConnection(conn_);
         }
     }
 }
 
-void occi_datasource::bind() const
+void occi_datasource::init(mapnik::parameters const& params)
 {
-    if (is_bound_) return;
-
     // connect to environment
     if (use_connection_pool_)
     {
@@ -148,11 +141,11 @@ void occi_datasource::bind() const
             Environment* env = occi_environment::get_environment();
 
             pool_ = env->createStatelessConnectionPool(
-                *params_.get<std::string>("user"),
-                *params_.get<std::string>("password"),
-                *params_.get<std::string>("host"),
-                *params_.get<int>("max_size", 10),
-                *params_.get<int>("initial_size", 1),
+                *params.get<std::string>("user"),
+                *params.get<std::string>("password"),
+                *params.get<std::string>("host"),
+                *params.get<int>("max_size", 10),
+                *params.get<int>("initial_size", 1),
                 1,
                 StatelessConnectionPool::HOMOGENEOUS);
         }
@@ -168,9 +161,9 @@ void occi_datasource::bind() const
             Environment* env = occi_environment::get_environment();
 
             conn_ = env->createConnection(
-                *params_.get<std::string>("user"),
-                *params_.get<std::string>("password"),
-                *params_.get<std::string>("host"));
+                *params.get<std::string>("user"),
+                *params.get<std::string>("password"),
+                *params.get<std::string>("host"));
         }
         catch (SQLException& ex)
         {
@@ -342,8 +335,6 @@ void occi_datasource::bind() const
             throw datasource_exception(ex.getMessage());
         }
     }
-
-    is_bound_ = true;
 }
 
 std::string occi_datasource::name()
@@ -359,7 +350,6 @@ mapnik::datasource::datasource_t occi_datasource::type() const
 box2d<double> occi_datasource::envelope() const
 {
     if (extent_initialized_) return extent_;
-    if (! is_bound_) bind();
 
     double lox = 0.0, loy = 0.0, hix = 0.0, hiy = 0.0;
 
@@ -478,20 +468,17 @@ box2d<double> occi_datasource::envelope() const
 boost::optional<mapnik::datasource::geometry_t> occi_datasource::get_geometry_type() const
 {
     // FIXME
-    //if (! is_bound_) bind();
     return boost::optional<mapnik::datasource::geometry_t>();
 }
 
 layer_descriptor occi_datasource::get_descriptor() const
 {
-    if (! is_bound_) bind();
 
     return desc_;
 }
 
 featureset_ptr occi_datasource::features(query const& q) const
 {
-    if (! is_bound_) bind();
 
     box2d<double> const& box = q.get_bbox();
 
@@ -540,15 +527,18 @@ featureset_ptr occi_datasource::features(query const& q) const
 
     if (row_limit_ > 0)
     {
-        std::string row_limit_string = "rownum < " + row_limit_;
+        std::ostringstream row_limit_string;
+
+        row_limit_string << "rownum < " << row_limit_;
 
         if (boost::algorithm::ifind_first(query, "WHERE"))
         {
-            boost::algorithm::ireplace_first(query, "WHERE", row_limit_string + " AND ");
+            row_limit_string << " AND ";
+            boost::algorithm::ireplace_first(query, "WHERE", row_limit_string.str());
         }
         else if (boost::algorithm::ifind_first(query, table_name_))
         {
-            boost::algorithm::ireplace_first(query, table_name_, table_name_ + " " + row_limit_string);
+            boost::algorithm::ireplace_first(query, table_name_, table_name_ + " " + row_limit_string.str());
         }
         else
         {
@@ -575,7 +565,6 @@ featureset_ptr occi_datasource::features(query const& q) const
 
 featureset_ptr occi_datasource::features_at_point(coord2d const& pt) const
 {
-    if (! is_bound_) bind();
 
     std::ostringstream s;
     s << "SELECT " << geometry_field_;
@@ -621,15 +610,18 @@ featureset_ptr occi_datasource::features_at_point(coord2d const& pt) const
 
     if (row_limit_ > 0)
     {
-        std::string row_limit_string = "rownum < " + row_limit_;
+        std::ostringstream row_limit_string;
+
+        row_limit_string << "rownum < " << row_limit_;
 
         if (boost::algorithm::ifind_first(query, "WHERE"))
         {
-            boost::algorithm::ireplace_first(query, "WHERE", row_limit_string + " AND ");
+            row_limit_string << " AND ";
+            boost::algorithm::ireplace_first(query, "WHERE", row_limit_string.str());
         }
         else if (boost::algorithm::ifind_first(query, table_name_))
         {
-            boost::algorithm::ireplace_first(query, table_name_, table_name_ + " " + row_limit_string);
+            boost::algorithm::ireplace_first(query, table_name_, table_name_ + " " + row_limit_string.str());
         }
         else
         {
diff --git a/plugins/input/occi/occi_datasource.hpp b/plugins/input/occi/occi_datasource.hpp
index ed235305c7..0c78890c7a 100644
--- a/plugins/input/occi/occi_datasource.hpp
+++ b/plugins/input/occi/occi_datasource.hpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 class occi_datasource : public mapnik::datasource
 {
 public:
-    occi_datasource(mapnik::parameters const& params, bool bind = true);
+    occi_datasource(mapnik::parameters const& params);
     virtual ~occi_datasource ();
     mapnik::datasource::datasource_t type() const;
     static std::string name();
@@ -47,9 +47,10 @@ class occi_datasource : public mapnik::datasource
     mapnik::box2d<double> envelope() const;
     boost::optional<mapnik::datasource::geometry_t> get_geometry_type() const;
     mapnik::layer_descriptor get_descriptor() const;
-    void bind() const;
 
 private:
+    void init(mapnik::parameters const& params);
+    mapnik::parameters const& params_;
     mapnik::datasource::datasource_t type_;
     mutable std::string table_;
     mutable std::string table_name_;
diff --git a/plugins/input/postgis/postgis_featureset.cpp b/plugins/input/postgis/postgis_featureset.cpp
index f4bbfe4b2a..2518931f46 100644
--- a/plugins/input/postgis/postgis_featureset.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/postgis/postgis_featureset.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ feature_ptr postgis_featureset::next()
             int oid = rs_->getTypeOID(pos);
             const char* buf = rs_->getValue(pos);
             std::string name = rs_->getFieldName(pos);
-            // validation happens of this type at bind()
+            // validation happens of this type at init()
             int val;
             if (oid == 20)
             {
diff --git a/plugins/input/rasterlite/rasterlite_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/rasterlite/rasterlite_datasource.cpp
index e9cd0bf693..043b84b98b 100644
--- a/plugins/input/rasterlite/rasterlite_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/rasterlite/rasterlite_datasource.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ inline void *rasterlite_datasource::open_dataset() const
 
 
 
-rasterlite_datasource::rasterlite_datasource(parameters const& params, bool bind)
+rasterlite_datasource::rasterlite_datasource(parameters const& params)
     : datasource(params),
       desc_(*params.get<std::string>("type"),"utf-8")
 {
@@ -92,16 +92,11 @@ rasterlite_datasource::rasterlite_datasource(parameters const& params, bool bind
     else
         dataset_name_ = *file;
 
-    if (bind)
-    {
-        this->bind();
-    }
+    this->init(params);
 }
 
-void rasterlite_datasource::bind() const
+void rasterlite_datasource::init(mapnik::parameters const& params)
 {
-    if (is_bound_) return;
-
     if (!boost::filesystem::exists(dataset_name_)) throw datasource_exception(dataset_name_ + " does not exist");
 
     void *dataset = open_dataset();
@@ -157,8 +152,6 @@ void rasterlite_datasource::bind() const
 #endif
 
     rasterliteClose(dataset);
-
-    is_bound_ = true;
 }
 
 rasterlite_datasource::~rasterlite_datasource()
@@ -177,8 +170,6 @@ mapnik::datasource::datasource_t rasterlite_datasource::type() const
 
 box2d<double> rasterlite_datasource::envelope() const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     return extent_;
 }
 
@@ -194,16 +185,12 @@ layer_descriptor rasterlite_datasource::get_descriptor() const
 
 featureset_ptr rasterlite_datasource::features(query const& q) const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     rasterlite_query gq = q;
     return boost::make_shared<rasterlite_featureset>(open_dataset(), gq);
 }
 
 featureset_ptr rasterlite_datasource::features_at_point(coord2d const& pt) const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     rasterlite_query gq = pt;
     return boost::make_shared<rasterlite_featureset>(open_dataset(), gq);
 }
diff --git a/plugins/input/rasterlite/rasterlite_datasource.hpp b/plugins/input/rasterlite/rasterlite_datasource.hpp
index 6c7d560724..85f9c4c8cc 100644
--- a/plugins/input/rasterlite/rasterlite_datasource.hpp
+++ b/plugins/input/rasterlite/rasterlite_datasource.hpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 class rasterlite_datasource : public mapnik::datasource
 {
 public:
-    rasterlite_datasource(mapnik::parameters const& params, bool bind = true);
+    rasterlite_datasource(mapnik::parameters const& params);
     virtual ~rasterlite_datasource ();
     mapnik::datasource::datasource_t type() const;
     static std::string name();
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ class rasterlite_datasource : public mapnik::datasource
     mapnik::box2d<double> envelope() const;
     boost::optional<mapnik::datasource::geometry_t> get_geometry_type() const;
     mapnik::layer_descriptor get_descriptor() const;
-    void bind() const;
 
 private:
+    void init(mapnik::parameters const& params);
     inline void* open_dataset() const;
     mutable mapnik::box2d<double> extent_;
     std::string dataset_name_;
diff --git a/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/hello_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/hello_datasource.cpp
index 8bcd2283cf..08dca10bd5 100644
--- a/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/hello_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/hello_datasource.cpp
@@ -11,29 +11,22 @@ using mapnik::parameters;
 
 DATASOURCE_PLUGIN(hello_datasource)
 
-hello_datasource::hello_datasource(parameters const& params, bool bind)
+hello_datasource::hello_datasource(parameters const& params)
 : datasource(params),
-    desc_(*params_.get<std::string>("type"), *params_.get<std::string>("encoding","utf-8")),
+    desc_(*params.get<std::string>("type"), *params.get<std::string>("encoding","utf-8")),
     extent_()
 {
-    if (bind)
-    {
-        this->bind();
-    }
+    this->init(params);
 }
 
-void hello_datasource::bind() const
+void hello_datasource::init(mapnik::parameters const& params)
 {
-    if (is_bound_) return;
-
     // every datasource must have some way of reporting its extent
     // in this case we are not actually reading from any data so for fun
     // let's just create a world extent in Mapnik's default srs:
     // '+proj=longlat +ellps=WGS84 +datum=WGS84 +no_defs' (equivalent to +init=epsg:4326)
     // see http://spatialreference.org/ref/epsg/4326/ for more details
     extent_.init(-180,-90,180,90);
-
-    is_bound_ = true;
 }
 
 hello_datasource::~hello_datasource() { }
@@ -53,8 +46,6 @@ mapnik::datasource::datasource_t hello_datasource::type() const
 
 mapnik::box2d<double> hello_datasource::envelope() const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     return extent_;
 }
 
@@ -65,15 +56,11 @@ boost::optional<mapnik::datasource::geometry_t> hello_datasource::get_geometry_t
 
 mapnik::layer_descriptor hello_datasource::get_descriptor() const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     return desc_;
 }
 
 mapnik::featureset_ptr hello_datasource::features(mapnik::query const& q) const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     // if the query box intersects our world extent then query for features
     if (extent_.intersects(q.get_bbox()))
     {
@@ -86,8 +73,6 @@ mapnik::featureset_ptr hello_datasource::features(mapnik::query const& q) const
 
 mapnik::featureset_ptr hello_datasource::features_at_point(mapnik::coord2d const& pt) const
 {
-    if (!is_bound_) bind();
-
     // features_at_point is rarely used - only by custom applications,
     // so for this sample plugin let's do nothing...
     return mapnik::featureset_ptr();
diff --git a/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/hello_datasource.hpp b/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/hello_datasource.hpp
index a2c136246f..f6cd2b50cb 100644
--- a/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/hello_datasource.hpp
+++ b/plugins/input/templates/helloworld/hello_datasource.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class hello_datasource : public mapnik::datasource
 public:
     // constructor
     // arguments must not change
-    hello_datasource(mapnik::parameters const& params, bool bind=true);
+    hello_datasource(mapnik::parameters const& params);
 
     // destructor
     virtual ~hello_datasource ();
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ class hello_datasource : public mapnik::datasource
     // mandatory: return the layer descriptor
     mapnik::layer_descriptor get_descriptor() const;
 
-    // mandatory: will bind the datasource given params
-    void bind() const;
-
 private:
+    // recommended - do intialization in a so-named init function
+    // to reduce code in constructor
+    void init(mapnik::parameters const& params);
     // recommended naming convention of datasource members:
     // name_, type_, extent_, and desc_
     static const std::string name_;