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Hi all - author of Pike here. Happy to answer any questions.

sbecker 7mo ago
Hi, great write up and very cool project! I was wondering how you arrived at the idea to use OSRM and pre-computing the drive time from every exit to every POI. Was that something you learned existed along the way? Did Claude/codex point the way to this?
- tjohnell 7mo ago
  Hello, I appreciate the kind words. When I realized that radial search just wasn't going to be accurate (and potentially harmful given people might exit onto another interstate thinking they could grab some Wendy's), I posited to Claude: "I need to understand reachability of a POI from an exit, reachability being defined as driving time less than X amount of time". Claude then suggested two open-source projects: Valhalla & OSRM. I haven't done much research on Valhalla - Claude ultimately recommended OSRM for its "simplicity" but again, I don't honestly know if that's true. Claude can definitely be credited with my decision to choose OSRM.
projektfu 7mo ago
Not available on Android? I do notice several other apps with the same name and different purposes on the Play Store.
- tjohnell 7mo ago
  No Android app - however, using the current app as the spec, it would be interesting and fun to take on creating the Android version. I really don't believe it would be that hard. Stay tuned.
jmx02 7mo ago
Hi Tom, this app looks great! Would you consider making it available in App Store regions outside the US? (I understand it's meant for US drivers but e.g. my Apple Account predates my move to the States)
- tjohnell 7mo ago
  Hi jmx, I hadn't considered that scenario. I'd be happy to as long as Apple doesn't have me jump through too many hoops. I don't mind a few hoops though.
nicwolff 7mo ago
Hi, using the app now and it's been great fun. (Now if my wife would actually take an exit so we could eat!) However, we're on 290 E and it's showing me the exits that are behind us – as if it thinks we're westbound. Is there any way to convince it we're not?

Hi, great write up and very cool project! I was wondering how you arrived at the idea to use OSRM and pre-computing the drive time from every exit to every POI. Was that something you learned existed along the way? Did Claude/codex point the way to this?

tjohnell 7mo ago
Hello, I appreciate the kind words. When I realized that radial search just wasn't going to be accurate (and potentially harmful given people might exit onto another interstate thinking they could grab some Wendy's), I posited to Claude: "I need to understand reachability of a POI from an exit, reachability being defined as driving time less than X amount of time". Claude then suggested two open-source projects: Valhalla & OSRM. I haven't done much research on Valhalla - Claude ultimately recommended OSRM for its "simplicity" but again, I don't honestly know if that's true. Claude can definitely be credited with my decision to choose OSRM.

projektfu 7mo ago

Not available on Android? I do notice several other apps with the same name and different purposes on the Play Store.

tjohnell 7mo ago
No Android app - however, using the current app as the spec, it would be interesting and fun to take on creating the Android version. I really don't believe it would be that hard. Stay tuned.

jmx02 7mo ago

Hi Tom, this app looks great! Would you consider making it available in App Store regions outside the US? (I understand it's meant for US drivers but e.g. my Apple Account predates my move to the States)

tjohnell 7mo ago
Hi jmx, I hadn't considered that scenario. I'd be happy to as long as Apple doesn't have me jump through too many hoops. I don't mind a few hoops though.

nicwolff 7mo ago

Hi, using the app now and it's been great fun. (Now if my wife would actually take an exit so we could eat!) However, we're on 290 E and it's showing me the exits that are behind us – as if it thinks we're westbound. Is there any way to convince it we're not?