[OSM-newbies] OSM newbie questions about using it professionally

[Paul Ojanen]

Hello,

I have some initial questions as I begin designing an OSM-based commercial
product.  Please let me know if I should switch over to the osm-professional
list or cross-post.  I'm a newbie to OSM, so I figured I should start here.

I'm still investigating all the OSM tools available.  I'm currently trying
to find out if I should consider deploying a complete OSM server (Rails
port) internally.  I'd like to, but it seems complex, and I see warnings
against doing so.

Most of my application needs can be met by combining JOSM and Maperitive.
We can use OSM data files as a go-between, and my own internal application
can contribute its private data the same way.

But there are advantages to keeping all the GIS data in a SQL db.  Plus, the
built-in web-based editing and rendering capabilities of an OSM server would
be very nice.  I do not intend to upload or update any GIS data to the
public OSM system.  We may make changes that do not reflect reality, and we
definitely have private customer data that should not be uploaded.

Is the OSM server setup never appropriate for internal uses?

Is it appropriate (possibly more helpful?) for me to post a more lengthy
explanation of my needs to this list or to the osm-professional list?

Thank you,
Paul