7 ms·

Merkaartor – a Qt-based OpenStreetMap editor

121 points by app4soft 6y ago

Gys 6y ago
No screenshots on github and non on the website. I think that is the very first thing people should do when publishing some kinf of GUI app. The website has a nice stats page though: http://merkaartor.be/p/stats http://merkaartor.be/p/stats
- netol 6y ago
  These did not load for me most of the time - I had to refresh the page. It's likely due to trying to manipulate the DOM before it is loaded. On any case, these other stats are probably more useful and updated: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editor_usage_stats https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editor_usage_stats
- app4soft 6y ago
  See them on OSM Wiki.[0,1] UPD: More screenshots coming soon on GitHub & website![2] [0] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_Screenshot.png https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_... [1] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots [2] https://github.com/openstreetmap/merkaartor/issues/223 https://github.com/openstreetmap/merkaartor/issues/223
Freak_NL 6y ago
Is Merkaartor still viable? In my experience Java-based JOSM is the only stand-alone editor that can deal with all the complexities of OpenStreetMap if you go beyond basic editing in the web-based ID or various feedback mechanisms of apps like StreetComplete.
- RicoElectrico 6y ago
  Barely anyone uses Merkaartor, but the project is not entirely dead; it seems to receive some updates. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editor_usage_stats https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editor_usage_stats
  - app4soft 6y ago
    Just curious, how much of those editors (except Merkaartor) are NON JavaScript/Java-based?
- matkoniecz 6y ago
  Vespucci for Android also works in general, I heard good things about "Go Map!!" for Apple devices. Potlatch 3 is also existing but I never used it. level0 may be ridiculous to mention, but it is actually useful and in some cases more powerful
- sp8962 6y ago
  To answer the question: no. OpenStreetMap is constantly evolving in many dimensions. A fully fledged editor requires a significant investment to remain current (think at least one FTE).
- pabs3 6y ago
  I preferred Merkaartor to JOSM when I was using them.
adrift 6y ago
No screenshots, no care.
- app4soft 6y ago
  https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_Screenshot.png https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_... https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots
felixr 6y ago
The missing screenshots are at https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots
- HeckFeck 6y ago
  Looks like a clean and sensible design. Reminiscent of classic desktop map programs.
- app4soft 6y ago
  Here is v0.18.2 screenshot[0] from Merkaartor article.[1] [0] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_Screenshot.png https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_... [1] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor
EdSchouten 6y ago
As a Dutch person, I appreciate the name. "Kaart" is the Dutch word for "map" (or "card").
- stinos 6y ago
  And Mercator is the well-known cartography guy. Love the wordplay.
- mlvljr 6y ago
  Alike-sounding in Russian, too! We might have borrowed this one from you, folks, back in the 17th century or so :)
Doctor_Fegg 6y ago
Merkaartor is pretty old and not really actively maintained. For desktop the main choice has long been JOSM (https://josm.openstreetmap.de/ https://josm.openstreetmap.de/). Potlatch, the former online Flash-based editor, has now been repackaged as a desktop app (https://github.com/systemed/potlatch3 https://github.com/systemed/potlatch3 and https://systemed.net/potlatch/ https://systemed.net/potlatch/ - disclaimer: I'm the maintainer). There's also iD (the JavaScript editor embedded in osm.org), of course, and a number of mobile editors such as Vespucci (Android) and Go Map!! (iOS).
- matkoniecz 6y ago
  I would also mention StreetComplete and level0 - both on extreme ranges of being user friendly vs full data access. (StreetComplete is Android app usable by people with 0 experience and knowledge but with limited editing, level0 is Matrix-style access to raw data).
  - Heliosmaster 6y ago
    Maybe good to mention that StreetComplete works similarly as a Question & Answers on already existing nodes/paths on OSM. "What kind of surface does this road have?" "Is there street lighting here?" Great way to improve local maps when walking around downtown
    - ce4 6y ago
      And a good way to kill time when waiting outside for groceries (when the bakery only allows 3 people inside) etc :-)
  - mrpetruccio 6y ago
    Also OSMGo for adding new points to the map https://osmgo.com/ https://osmgo.com/ I have both on my phone, Street Complete and OSMGo
- lallysingh 6y ago
  Josm has commits 34 hrs old (screenshot: https://screenshots.debian.net/package/josm https://screenshots.debian.net/package/josm ). Metkaator's last release is late 2019 and commit is mid-2020. Edit: new commits on Merkaator!

121 points by app4soft 6y ago

Gys 6y ago

No screenshots on github and non on the website. I think that is the very first thing people should do when publishing some kinf of GUI app. The website has a nice stats page though: http://merkaartor.be/p/stats http://merkaartor.be/p/stats

netol 6y ago
These did not load for me most of the time - I had to refresh the page. It's likely due to trying to manipulate the DOM before it is loaded. On any case, these other stats are probably more useful and updated: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editor_usage_stats https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editor_usage_stats
app4soft 6y ago
See them on OSM Wiki.[0,1] UPD: More screenshots coming soon on GitHub & website![2] [0] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_Screenshot.png https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_... [1] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots [2] https://github.com/openstreetmap/merkaartor/issues/223 https://github.com/openstreetmap/merkaartor/issues/223

Freak_NL 6y ago

Is Merkaartor still viable? In my experience Java-based JOSM is the only stand-alone editor that can deal with all the complexities of OpenStreetMap if you go beyond basic editing in the web-based ID or various feedback mechanisms of apps like StreetComplete.

RicoElectrico 6y ago
Barely anyone uses Merkaartor, but the project is not entirely dead; it seems to receive some updates. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editor_usage_stats https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editor_usage_stats
- app4soft 6y ago
  Just curious, how much of those editors (except Merkaartor) are NON JavaScript/Java-based?
matkoniecz 6y ago
Vespucci for Android also works in general, I heard good things about "Go Map!!" for Apple devices. Potlatch 3 is also existing but I never used it. level0 may be ridiculous to mention, but it is actually useful and in some cases more powerful
sp8962 6y ago
To answer the question: no. OpenStreetMap is constantly evolving in many dimensions. A fully fledged editor requires a significant investment to remain current (think at least one FTE).
pabs3 6y ago
I preferred Merkaartor to JOSM when I was using them.

adrift 6y ago

No screenshots, no care.

app4soft 6y ago
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_Screenshot.png https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_... https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots

felixr 6y ago

The missing screenshots are at https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots

HeckFeck 6y ago
Looks like a clean and sensible design. Reminiscent of classic desktop map programs.
app4soft 6y ago
Here is v0.18.2 screenshot[0] from Merkaartor article.[1] [0] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_Screenshot.png https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_... [1] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor

EdSchouten 6y ago

As a Dutch person, I appreciate the name. "Kaart" is the Dutch word for "map" (or "card").

stinos 6y ago
And Mercator is the well-known cartography guy. Love the wordplay.
mlvljr 6y ago
Alike-sounding in Russian, too! We might have borrowed this one from you, folks, back in the 17th century or so :)

Doctor_Fegg 6y ago

Merkaartor is pretty old and not really actively maintained. For desktop the main choice has long been JOSM (https://josm.openstreetmap.de/ https://josm.openstreetmap.de/). Potlatch, the former online Flash-based editor, has now been repackaged as a desktop app (https://github.com/systemed/potlatch3 https://github.com/systemed/potlatch3 and https://systemed.net/potlatch/ https://systemed.net/potlatch/ - disclaimer: I'm the maintainer). There's also iD (the JavaScript editor embedded in osm.org), of course, and a number of mobile editors such as Vespucci (Android) and Go Map!! (iOS).

matkoniecz 6y ago
I would also mention StreetComplete and level0 - both on extreme ranges of being user friendly vs full data access. (StreetComplete is Android app usable by people with 0 experience and knowledge but with limited editing, level0 is Matrix-style access to raw data).
- Heliosmaster 6y ago
  Maybe good to mention that StreetComplete works similarly as a Question & Answers on already existing nodes/paths on OSM. "What kind of surface does this road have?" "Is there street lighting here?" Great way to improve local maps when walking around downtown
  - ce4 6y ago
    And a good way to kill time when waiting outside for groceries (when the bakery only allows 3 people inside) etc :-)
- mrpetruccio 6y ago
  Also OSMGo for adding new points to the map https://osmgo.com/ https://osmgo.com/ I have both on my phone, Street Complete and OSMGo
lallysingh 6y ago
Josm has commits 34 hrs old (screenshot: https://screenshots.debian.net/package/josm https://screenshots.debian.net/package/josm ). Metkaator's last release is late 2019 and commit is mid-2020. Edit: new commits on Merkaator!