Merkaartor – a Qt-based OpenStreetMap editor | Hacker News Reader

Merkaartor – a Qt-based OpenStreetMap editor

github.com

121 pointsapp4soft24 comments

Merkaartor is pretty old and not really actively maintained.

For desktop the main choice has long been JOSM (https://josm.openstreetmap.de/). Potlatch, the former online Flash-based editor, has now been repackaged as a desktop app (https://github.com/systemed/potlatch3 and https://systemed.net/potlatch/ - disclaimer: I'm the maintainer).

There's also iD (the JavaScript editor embedded in osm.org), of course, and a number of mobile editors such as Vespucci (Android) and Go Map!! (iOS).

I would also mention StreetComplete and level0 - both on extreme ranges of being user friendly vs full data access.

(StreetComplete is Android app usable by people with 0 experience and knowledge but with limited editing, level0 is Matrix-style access to raw data).

Maybe good to mention that StreetComplete works similarly as a Question & Answers on already existing nodes/paths on OSM. "What kind of surface does this road have?" "Is there street lighting here?"

Great way to improve local maps when walking around downtown

And a good way to kill time when waiting outside for groceries (when the bakery only allows 3 people inside) etc :-)

Also OSMGo for adding new points to the map https://osmgo.com/ I have both on my phone, Street Complete and OSMGo

Josm has commits 34 hrs old (screenshot: https://screenshots.debian.net/package/josm ). Metkaator's last release is late 2019 and commit is mid-2020.

Edit: new commits on Merkaator!

> Edit: new commits on Merkaator!

Yeah![0]

[0] https://github.com/openstreetmap/merkaartor/commits/master

> Merkaartor is pretty old

To be honest, JOSM is older than Merkaartor:

- JOSM v1.0 was released on January 22, 2006.

- Merkaartor v0.00 was released on October 17, 2006.

> and [Merkaartor] not really actively maintained.

It is NOT true! See latest commits in Merkaartor repo on GitHub.[0]

[0] https://github.com/openstreetmap/merkaartor/commits/master

No screenshots on github and non on the website. I think that is the very first thing people should do when publishing some kinf of GUI app.

The website has a nice stats page though: http://merkaartor.be/p/stats

These did not load for me most of the time - I had to refresh the page. It's likely due to trying to manipulate the DOM before it is loaded.

On any case, these other stats are probably more useful and updated: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editor_usage_stats

See them on OSM Wiki.[0,1]

UPD: More screenshots coming soon on GitHub & website![2]

[0] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_...

[1] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots

[2] https://github.com/openstreetmap/merkaartor/issues/223

The missing screenshots are at

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots

Looks like a clean and sensible design. Reminiscent of classic desktop map programs.

Here is v0.18.2 screenshot[0] from Merkaartor article.[1]

[0] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_...

[1] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor

Is Merkaartor still viable? In my experience Java-based JOSM is the only stand-alone editor that can deal with all the complexities of OpenStreetMap if you go beyond basic editing in the web-based ID or various feedback mechanisms of apps like StreetComplete.

Barely anyone uses Merkaartor, but the project is not entirely dead; it seems to receive some updates.

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editor_usage_stats

Just curious, how much of those editors (except Merkaartor) are NON JavaScript/Java-based?

Vespucci for Android also works in general, I heard good things about "Go Map!!" for Apple devices.

Potlatch 3 is also existing but I never used it.

level0 may be ridiculous to mention, but it is actually useful and in some cases more powerful

To answer the question: no.

OpenStreetMap is constantly evolving in many dimensions. A fully fledged editor requires a significant investment to remain current (think at least one FTE).

I preferred Merkaartor to JOSM when I was using them.

As a Dutch person, I appreciate the name. "Kaart" is the Dutch word for "map" (or "card").

And Mercator is the well-known cartography guy. Love the wordplay.

No screenshots, no care.

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Merkaartor_v0.18.2_...

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Merkaartor/Screenshots

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