[OSM-talk] [OSM-dev] The OSM Applet

[David Earl]

> Nick Black wrote:
>
> I have been taking a look at the OSM Applet code, and at peoples
> criticisms of it. Aside from the speed issues that are largely caused
> by tile rendering GPX points onto Landsat tiles, other criticisms
> point to the UI, so I have taken the JOSM icons and stuck them onto a
> very hacky mock up.
>
> I'd be interested to hear what people think about this - especially
> some of the newcommers to OSM who have been active on the list
> recently.

I wonder whether it is the best use of limited volunteer time to develop
online editing at all. The icons are really rather superficial. Once having
installed JOSM, I can't imagine any reason why I'd use the applet.

JOSM is a much more efficient editor, though it is too close to being a
visual representation of the underlying data structure rather than being
task oriented, I think. It has other advantages too - you deliver a batch of
related changes at once, rather than piecemeal.

I think the effort would be better directed at
- improving JOSM rather than a competing editor. The online one has the big
advantage of showing street names, which JOSM doesn't, but with the mappaint
and landsat plugins there's little other advantage. No doubt JOSM couldbe
coerced into showing street names etc.; improving visual cues to show
completeness or missing bits.
- improving the viewer (for example, by taking the entirely different
approach of pre-rendering tiles as data in them changes rather than trying
to do it on the fly),
- making an easy to use method for including maps on third-party web pages
(a la google maps) (maybe this has already been done)
- improving the final map presentation (improved algorithms for laying out
names, avoiding text and symbols conflicting with each other in dense areas,
reducing detail when zoomed out etc)
- more features on maps - especially ones which add value from local
knowledge, which other maps don't show - defined shops, petrol stations,
pubs with their names, ATM locations, post boxes with final collection
times - there's so much highly local detail that other maps don't show that
a collaborative project like this could add.
- improving search capabilities
- recruitment, which, as well as outreach, means making the tools much
easier to use, much more task oriented, improving documentation, better
indication of the quality and extent of data in an area, easier
installation.

David