[OSM-talk] create a rendering test zone somewhere on the planet ?

[J.D. Schmidt]

Pieren Pieren skrev:
>> You can create a standalone .osm file with all this in it if you/we
>> need a test file. That's a much better idea than polluting the
>> database with junk!
> 
> 
> ok, forget my comment for developers who have a local environment anyway...
> but I'm only thinking about the 99% of the OSM contributors who will never
> install a renderer but would like to see the best practices described in the
> wiki (when they are) in action.
> And the database is already polluted by junk, exactly because of lake of
> guidelines.
> 
> With a separate environment, the problem is the maintenance. Here we are
> sure that it would use the latest renderers as they are used by osm.
> 
> When I say 'island', it could be in the middle of a desert as well and
> tagued as 'test area' or whatever
> 

So you think that just because there are "some junk" in the database 
currently, it's a good idea to add some certified junk to the database ?

Let me guess, if you are already speeding 15 mph over the speedlimit in 
your car, you would think it's a good idea to go even faster ?

The idea of having a test rendering of an area, for users to see is 
valid, but no need to pollute the DB with it. Make an OSM XML compliant 
file, render it with Osmarender and Mapnik, and put the examples up as 
static bitmaps on the Wiki. Something similar is already done on the 
mapfeatures page, for the various tags.

Having larger bitmaps on the wiki where several items are rendered as if 
they were a map, is easily achieved, without polluting the DB with made 
up data.

An even better approach would be to set up a page containing links to 
the map, of different areas which does contain the various features, and 
a subsequent description of the features in question. No need to enter 
fake data into the db, and it will show the rendering of the tags on 
live actual valid data.

Dutch