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OpenStreetMap community @lemmy.ml pietervdvn @lemmy.ml

I'm the dev of MapComplete, currently stuck on a train. AMA

Hi!

I'm the main dev of https://mapcomplete.osm.be (and also one of the modsof this subcommunity). I have a long train journey ahead of me today (and next week again).The ideal moment to answer questions from other OSM-contributors.

So, shoot!

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17 comments

  • What do you think the most important small edits are, that can be done on the go by small-time contributors?

    • What is important to you ;)

      There are many interesting datasets in OpenStreetMap which I try to make visible and editable with MapComplete.

      Of course, general information (should as shop info) is what matters the most to most people, but it really depends on the usecase.

  • I think I may be asking a question with an obvious answer, but do you believe in OSM as a project? What do you think its long term goal should be or even is? Like, what is the endgame? Completely replace something like Google Maps? Having everyone use it as the main platform for looking at a map?

    I sometimes wonder if OSS projects should have aims that ambitious. I can't imagine a world in which people would all be using open and free standards, and I think it's because I've become so accustomed to the commercial aspect of developing software as things currently stand. What I think I might be asking for is actually your overview and opinion on OSM as a project and what we could expect of it, going forward.

    • (I typed out an answer before, but it seems like it wasn't posted)

      do you believe in OSM as a project?

      Yes, definitively. It is widely used and known, many successful companies are alive based on the data and it is getting known.

      What do you think its long term goal should be or even is?

      To collect and publish geodata about the world - or at least about all somewhat-permanent objects that are located on this world. And we are succeeding at that pretty much!

      Completely replace something like Google Maps?

      It depends on what you precisely mean with "Google Maps". Google Maps is, first and foremost, an advertisement vector, disguised as a map. For many consumers, it is a map service which has lots of information about shops (including reviews and pictures) + navigation with traffic information.

      So, some OSM-based apps might replace some of the services Google Maps offers, but many things (reviews, traffic information and pictures) are clearly out of scope for OSM (but can be filled in by Mangrove.reviews, mapillary or geovisio).

      Having everyone use it as the main platform for looking at a map?

      This is not the goal of OSM and should not be it. Have every map-app being based on OSM-data would be nice though. It'll bring other problems though, such as fighting spam and fake shops...

      I sometimes wonder if OSS projects should have aims that ambitious.

      Eh, it depends on how the OSS-project is structured. Is there an organisation behind it that lives from it and can make money of it, to fund it? Is it a hobby project? The aims and ambitions are to be decided by the project maintainers and all people involved. Many OSS-projects and volunteer organisations can be thought of as being a do-ocracy. Hackerspaces are a good example of that, and a good intro to the concept can be found here: https://hackerspace.design/

      I run MapComplete a bit the same. I do the stuff that I either want to make or where I can get funding for in some way (thanks NlNet!). If someone passes by with a feature request, my reply often is that I don't have time, but feel free to make it yourself.

      I can’t imagine a world in which people would all be using open and free standards, and I think it’s because I’ve become so accustomed to the commercial aspect of developing software as things currently stand. What I think I might be asking for is actually your overview and opinion on OSM as a project and what we could expect of it, going forward.

      In my opinion, Open Source grows at a slower pace, but is more sustainable (or the project dies and gets forgotten). On the other hand, there are - for some pieces of software - incentives by the closed-source projects - to switch people over, to keep the money flowing, so it is an uphill battle.

      • Thanks for typing out the answer again.

        Particularly regarding my question about "replacing Google Maps", this was an illuminating answer. I've come from GMaps, and it kind of formed my notion of what a map program or site should be. I've never used the review system very much, preferring to make use of the public transport functionalities. This is, as far as I'm aware, not in the scope of OSM, so I found myself missing this feature, through no fault of the project at all.

        Again, thanks for the answer. It really helps to recontextualize how I should think about OSM and the open source projects surrounding it.

  • Haven't heard of this before - at first I assumed it was StreetComplete before realising it was something different entirely.

    Seems pretty neat from a quick look at the site, similar to StreetComplete at first glance - but allows you to focus on themes (cycling, playgrounds etc) rather than being asked what material the road is, or whether the street lighting is on all night 😅

    What inspired you to develop it?

    • The inspiration largely came from StreetComplete and MapContrib. StreetComplete has a really nice, slick UI. MapContrib allows to setup a thematic map easily, which focuses on one thing.

      I had been toying with the idea of being able to quickly setup thematic maps before, but a nice project (with some funding) came along, being able to start the project.

  • How do I get it to work on my Mac laptop?

    Every time I open it, it simply will not work.

    • No OP, but surely there's some online forum you could to for support? Not sure that an AMA is the right place. Do include more details though, because "simply will not work" could mean your laptop is at the bottom of the ocean for all we know.

    • Eh, donate me a Mac Laptop, so that I can debug on it ;)

      In all seriousness, I did some testing on a Blink-based browser, it works on there - so I have no idea why it doesn't work for you

  • I've always wondered given how many themes there are. How much work does it take to add a new one? Is it down to just edit a config file or does it take more work?

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