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Probably offtopic, but is there a good way to use OSM for on-the-fly route finding on Android (pref bike)? I like to fiddle with stuff just like the next HN co

by wink 3y ago

Probably offtopic, but is there a good way to use OSM for on-the-fly route finding on Android (pref bike)? I like to fiddle with stuff just like the next HN commenter, but last time I tried this with OsmAnd I quickly gave up, it's not in the same league as Google Maps, it's not even the same sport. What I want: "Open the app, search for a destination, hit a button and get shown a route from my current location". Did I just hold it wrong?

NoboruWataya 3y ago
It's prety easy to do this on Organic Maps. Open app, search for destination, select "Route To" and then select bike option. Searching isn't as accurate as Google and I would guess the routing doesn't consider the same real-time data as Google does, but in terms of UI at least it's easy to get there.
kitebive 3y ago
You could try Organic Maps, then. It's way simpler than OsmAnd, but it lacks some features for bike routing (and routing in general). https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.organicmaps https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.organicmap...
pietervdvn 3y ago
Maybe Organic Maps? https://f-droid.org/en/packages/app.organicmaps/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/app.organicmaps/
- kitebive 3y ago
  Just want to point out that this user is the creator of the wonderful tool MapComplete (https://mapcomplete.osm.be https://mapcomplete.osm.be) which helps you adding more information to the data available in the OSM database. If you have some free time and have local knowledge of your area, I really suggest giving this tool a try, you can choose between multiple themes (which will show different quests) and add info that you know the most.
matkoniecz 3y ago
I love http://brouter.de/brouter-web/ http://brouter.de/brouter-web/ though it is website without a reasonable offline install on phone.
Doctor_Fegg 3y ago
cycle.travel’s Android app is in beta testing at the moment - it should be ready at the end of the month, and that’s exactly its UI. (My app and I’ve been doing things with OSM for 18.75 of those 19 years!)
ComodoHacker 3y ago
I do just that on a regular basis with OsmAnd+. It's not Google Maps, has its rough edges but does it's job, provided your area is well covered. For me two main drawbacks are no traffic and slow route [re]calculation, because it happens on device.
- maxerickson 3y ago
  OsmAnd generally has decent routing if the underlying OpenStreetMap data is good. Last I looked at it, the search didn't really support the obvious 'keyword near me' sort of query that most people are going to want to do. Later: just took a look and it does a lot better. OSM POI data can be pretty hit and miss though.
karussell 3y ago
GraphHopper has an app in fdroid store including navigation: https://f-droid.org/packages/com.graphhopper.maps/ https://f-droid.org/packages/com.graphhopper.maps/ Unlike most OSM apps it requires an internet connection but has the advantage of an address search with auto complete and alternative routes. And on bigger or wide screens you get lots of details about the path in an elevation widget in the bottom right. It also comes with a custom model editor (gear button in the top left) where you can tweak the routing preferences to your liking like preferring more official bike networks or elevation or a slower speed etc ... Or you can use the website https://graphhopper.com/maps/ https://graphhopper.com/maps/ (disclaimer: I'm one of the founders of GraphHopper)
- hooli_gan 3y ago
  The app is super responsive and the routing almost instant. Great work, I just knew about the website before I read this comment.
  - karussell 3y ago
    Thanks, the app is basically the website with CapacitorJS https://github.com/boldtrn/graphhopper-maps-capacitor https://github.com/boldtrn/graphhopper-maps-capacitor
- wink 3y ago
  Gave it a quick spin today, looks awesome. Thanks!

by wink 3y ago

NoboruWataya 3y ago

It's prety easy to do this on Organic Maps. Open app, search for destination, select "Route To" and then select bike option. Searching isn't as accurate as Google and I would guess the routing doesn't consider the same real-time data as Google does, but in terms of UI at least it's easy to get there.

kitebive 3y ago

You could try Organic Maps, then. It's way simpler than OsmAnd, but it lacks some features for bike routing (and routing in general). https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.organicmaps https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.organicmap...

pietervdvn 3y ago

Maybe Organic Maps? https://f-droid.org/en/packages/app.organicmaps/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/app.organicmaps/

kitebive 3y ago
Just want to point out that this user is the creator of the wonderful tool MapComplete (https://mapcomplete.osm.be https://mapcomplete.osm.be) which helps you adding more information to the data available in the OSM database. If you have some free time and have local knowledge of your area, I really suggest giving this tool a try, you can choose between multiple themes (which will show different quests) and add info that you know the most.

matkoniecz 3y ago

I love http://brouter.de/brouter-web/ http://brouter.de/brouter-web/ though it is website without a reasonable offline install on phone.

Doctor_Fegg 3y ago

cycle.travel’s Android app is in beta testing at the moment - it should be ready at the end of the month, and that’s exactly its UI. (My app and I’ve been doing things with OSM for 18.75 of those 19 years!)

ComodoHacker 3y ago

I do just that on a regular basis with OsmAnd+. It's not Google Maps, has its rough edges but does it's job, provided your area is well covered. For me two main drawbacks are no traffic and slow route [re]calculation, because it happens on device.

maxerickson 3y ago
OsmAnd generally has decent routing if the underlying OpenStreetMap data is good. Last I looked at it, the search didn't really support the obvious 'keyword near me' sort of query that most people are going to want to do. Later: just took a look and it does a lot better. OSM POI data can be pretty hit and miss though.

karussell 3y ago

GraphHopper has an app in fdroid store including navigation: https://f-droid.org/packages/com.graphhopper.maps/ https://f-droid.org/packages/com.graphhopper.maps/ Unlike most OSM apps it requires an internet connection but has the advantage of an address search with auto complete and alternative routes. And on bigger or wide screens you get lots of details about the path in an elevation widget in the bottom right. It also comes with a custom model editor (gear button in the top left) where you can tweak the routing preferences to your liking like preferring more official bike networks or elevation or a slower speed etc ... Or you can use the website https://graphhopper.com/maps/ https://graphhopper.com/maps/ (disclaimer: I'm one of the founders of GraphHopper)

hooli_gan 3y ago
The app is super responsive and the routing almost instant. Great work, I just knew about the website before I read this comment.
- karussell 3y ago
  Thanks, the app is basically the website with CapacitorJS https://github.com/boldtrn/graphhopper-maps-capacitor https://github.com/boldtrn/graphhopper-maps-capacitor
wink 3y ago
Gave it a quick spin today, looks awesome. Thanks!