[OSM-talk] Actually using OpenStreetMap and the usability of the current maps

[Frederik Ramm]

Hi,

> So, what are other use cases for OSM? Are the current OSM renderings good for 
> those use cases? Do we need more different renderings for different use 
> cases?

We are not a map rendering project. We are a Geodata collection project. 
The fact that we have maps at all is more or less to show off what you 
can do with our data (plus, perhaps, as a feedback/debugging tool for 
our users); we do not aim to cater to every end-user's need with the 
pre-made maps we offer.

If anything, we should aim to make it easy for other people to create 
suitable maps for whatever community they are in. I.e. we should not 
change our maps to make them suitable for your purpose, but we should 
enable YOU to create maps that are suitable for your purpose and others 
with the same requirements.

We could waste an enormous amount of time trying to discuss which kinds 
of default maps we should offer and how they should be styled, and we'll 
probably never reach results. I hope that, in the long run, 
OpenStreetMap will *not* offer *any* maps, just map data from which 
loads and loads of third parties create whatever maps they need.

Bye
Frederik