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Updating OpenStreetMap is incredibly easy. Create an account, click edit (iD, the javascript-based map editor, is intuitive and highly functional), make changes

by jmkb 8y ago

Updating OpenStreetMap is incredibly easy. Create an account, click edit (iD, the javascript-based map editor, is intuitive and highly functional), make changes, click "save." The hard part is learning how to map well. The documentation is fragmented: There's a multi-language wiki with a lot of inconsistencies in the translations. There are dozens of mailing lists for various regions and sub-topics. There are IRC channels. There's a web forum. There's a subreddit. There's a Stack-Overflow-style Q&A help site. There are Youtube videos. And you can often find a different answer to a simple question in each of these resources! A little chaotic. But I wouldn't quite call it painful.

alsetmusic 8y ago
> Updating OpenStreetMap is incredibly easy. Create an account… Creating an account is a pain point for some people. I notify companies and individuals all the time about typos, dead links, bugs, etc. In any instance where I am not an established user, the process halts when I have to create an account. I’m giving freely of my time and knowledge; the process for me to do so should be as close to effortless as possible.
- jmkb 8y ago
  > Creating an account is a pain point for some people. Fair enough. And even fairer, if you're not an experienced mapper you may easily be able to spot a problem but not be sure how exactly to fix it. OSM has you covered -- right-click the map and select "Add a note here". Add a quick note with all relevant info. It won't appear on the map, but mappers who are working in the area will (hopefully) see it and fix it. Not sure if Gnome Maps implements this functionality, but most phone-based OSM clients do.
- craftyguy 8y ago
  It's literally like wikipedia. Anyone can contribute, provided they make an account. There has to be some accountability with edits, hence the requirement. Your dream requires accepting anonymous edits, which opens the doors wide open to abuse.
  - marssaxman 8y ago
    You don't need an account to help with wikipedia. I've never created an account, but I've fixed many typos, anonymously.
  - rmc 8y ago
    OSM used to have anonymous edits, but that was disabled more than 10 years ago https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Anonymous_edits https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Anonymous_edits

by jmkb 8y ago

alsetmusic 8y ago

> Updating OpenStreetMap is incredibly easy. Create an account… Creating an account is a pain point for some people. I notify companies and individuals all the time about typos, dead links, bugs, etc. In any instance where I am not an established user, the process halts when I have to create an account. I’m giving freely of my time and knowledge; the process for me to do so should be as close to effortless as possible.

jmkb 8y ago
> Creating an account is a pain point for some people. Fair enough. And even fairer, if you're not an experienced mapper you may easily be able to spot a problem but not be sure how exactly to fix it. OSM has you covered -- right-click the map and select "Add a note here". Add a quick note with all relevant info. It won't appear on the map, but mappers who are working in the area will (hopefully) see it and fix it. Not sure if Gnome Maps implements this functionality, but most phone-based OSM clients do.
craftyguy 8y ago
It's literally like wikipedia. Anyone can contribute, provided they make an account. There has to be some accountability with edits, hence the requirement. Your dream requires accepting anonymous edits, which opens the doors wide open to abuse.
- marssaxman 8y ago
  You don't need an account to help with wikipedia. I've never created an account, but I've fixed many typos, anonymously.
- rmc 8y ago
  OSM used to have anonymous edits, but that was disabled more than 10 years ago https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Anonymous_edits https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Anonymous_edits