[OSM-newbies] layers in OSM?

[Serge Wroclawski]

On Sun, Sep 5, 2010 at 5:22 AM, Xan <dxpublica at telefonica.net> wrote:
> Al 04/09/10 21:30, En/na Serge Wroclawski ha escrit:
>>
>> If you're looking to make a custom rendered map, this is a bit more
>> complex. You need to tell the renderer to only represent certain
>> items.
>
> This is what I refering...
>>
>> The short answer for this is, you have roughly two options. First is
>> to use a commercial service like CloudMade to make your own custom
>> maps, or you can run them yourself.
>
>> You could also make your own service like the one you describe where
>> people could enter their own renders on the fly
>
> This is a pain. I think the usefulness of this feature could launch OSM as
> one killer apps of the web.

There's a bit of disagreement in the OSM community about this very
idea: Is OSM a service with downloadable data, or a database with a
demo service.

Depending on how you answer this question changes your orientation to
how the service works.

Being a "killer app on the web" may be interesting, but it's quite costly.


> I understand cpu and memory limitations of this. But certainly there is no
> real limitation. OSM developers are good and I think it's a thing they could
> do...

OSM is still, for the most part, a do-ocracy. There are no OSM wizards
atop a high mountain, only regular people like you and I who work on
these things.

If you want OSM to have a dynamic rendering service, OSM developers
are most convinced if you can demonstrate the technology in use.

In other words:  If you think it's valuable, build it, and then
demonstrate the utility of your new service. Then the debate about its
complexity goes away, and you have real numbers to back up your claim
that CPU and storage are (in your words) "no real limitation".

- Serge