[OSM-dev] Naming streets without applet

[Tom Carden]

On 23/05/06, Nick Whitelegg <Nick.Whitelegg at solent.ac.uk> wrote:
>
> I did experiment with the Canvas tag and with SVG a while back, in March,
> as applet alternatives. SVG was a bit slow though probably optimisable,
> the Canvas tag was actually quite usable (though only works in Firefox,
> Safari, Opera).

A kind Google soul on 20% time developed a canvas wrapper for Internet
Explorer which works using VML.  It's not perfect, but it's pretty
good for lots of things.

http://excanvas.sourceforge.net/

>
> I believe Richard Fairhurst is working, or thinking of working, on a
> Flash-based alternative to the applet. A combination of that and some
> basic AJAX functionality on the slippy map a la Freemap would perhaps be
> the way forward.
>

I agree that in theory Flash is a better user experience than Java
applets (because Java applets are undeniably a nightmare in many
respects), and I am also not precious about the applet.

But... as with Erik's suggestion that adapting the tiles interface
would somehow be easier to use than the applet, I have to point out
that Flash is just another tool, and that it won't magically solve
usability problems.  Sure, redesigning the interface from scratch may
be quicker than fixing the current one (it was last time) but lets not
throw out the baby with the bath water - I've never actually heard a
coherent critique of the applet, just occasional whining that it's too
slow* or it crashes browsers** or that it doesn't work at all*** or
that it doesn't support all the features JOSM or osmeditor do****.

* as Lars has pointed out it's just not defensive enough - it's
incredibly dependent on server speed
** but generally obscure ones, on obscure distributions of Linux
*** if you have a Java VM, it should! Please submit a trac ticket and
describe your platform: http://trac.openstreetmap.org
**** that's because Imi and Nick are amazing ;)

Now being a good designer/cartographer/coder, /Richard/ might solve
the usability problems, but that won't be because he's using Flash :)

Also, even though it uses a slightly obscure graphics library the
applet is easily hackable by a majority of people with Java experience
- this is important as the interface shouldn't be a one man band
unless the one man has enough stamina to maintain it.  I didn't :(

Best,

Tom.