[Imports] ArcGIS 10 will have OSM import, export and editing tools

[Robin Paulson]

On 7 July 2010 01:41, Stefan de Konink <stefan at konink.de> wrote:
> I think it would be a great idea too have a decentralized 'OSM' with
> different kinds of data. Opposed to a central repository that is
> unstructured and contains everything.

centralisation implies some form of illegitimate (generally top-down)
power or control forcing elements to work together/follow the same
path. osm is necessarily decentralised already due to the license, as
are all free culture projects.

there is always the option to split/fork, but the license keeps
everyone honest - fear of a fork encourages all to behave and take
account of other's opinions. the fact osm does keep going in one
direction shows that all are generally happy with the route chosen.

eric raymond wrote a good piece on this in his homesteading the noosphere essay

http://catb.org/~esr/writings/homesteading/homesteading/

if we fork, there is a real danger of license incompatibility, api
incompatibility, etc. keep it  as one, i think

> Don't forget we will hit the 64bit limit, eventually.

is that 18 exabytes? we're a way off yet then