OSM Apps Catalog
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| Website | osm-apps.org |
Search OSM Apps Catalog on Amazon.The OSM Apps Catalog is a web-based, comprehensive software directory for applications and services that use data from OpenStreetMap (OSM). The project presents OSM-based software in a structured and accessible form, enables comparisons between applications, and links information from various sources within the OpenStreetMap community. Its goal is to provide users with an overview of the OSM ecosystem, facilitate access to OSM-based applications, and support free and open-source projects.[1][2] The platform is available at osm-apps.org.
History
Given the large number of OSM-based applications, there was a need to present them in a centralized, clear, and comparable way. The OSM Apps Catalog was launched in 2020 by Markus Peloso (username "ToastHawaii") and developed through volunteer efforts.[3] At that time, Tobias Knerr’s TTTBot had been discontinued.[4] This bot had previously generated comparison tables of software, documented on the OSM Wiki. Remnants of this still exist. Additional inspiration came from the work of Dmytros Ovdiienko with his OSM Software Catalog, a Windows application that searches the OSM Wiki for software and displays the results.[5] The OSM Apps Catalog complements existing collections, such as the list of OSM-based services on the OpenStreetMap Wiki or the Awesome OpenStreetMap list on GitHub.[6]
In 2026, the OSM Apps Catalog was fundamentally redesigned by Markus Peloso. The goal was to appeal to a broader, less technically oriented audience. The redesign was funded through a microgrant from the OSM Foundation.[7]
Features
The directory provides a categorized overview of applications by topic, platform, and use case. Users can filter and compare applications based on criteria such as supported operating systems, geographic coverage, programming language, or features. Multiple applications can be compared side by side in a comparison view. Additionally, information on opportunities to contribute to individual projects and the broader OSM ecosystem is displayed.
Data Sources
The metadata for the more than 2,000 listed applications comes from several open sources. These include the OpenStreetMap Wiki, Wikidata, GitHub, and the Taginfo project list. The system consolidates this information. The data can be maintained by the community, which simultaneously improves the quality of the underlying documentation. Applications can be added to the directory via OpenStreetMap Wiki entries as well as through corresponding metadata in Wikidata, GitHub, and TagInfo.[8]
Technology
The OSM Apps Catalog is implemented as a web application and does not require installation. The software is written in TypeScript and is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL). The source code is developed publicly.[3]
Significance within the OSM ecosystem
The OSM Apps Catalog is the most comprehensive software directory for the OpenStreetMap ecosystem to date. The project serves as a central hub and helps end users, OSM contributors and developers alike to find their way around the OSM ecosystem. By bringing together documentation, software comparisons and ways to contribute, it raises the profile of open geodata projects and makes it easier to get involved in the community.
External links
- Official website
- Project page on GitHub
- 5-minute video about the OSM Apps Catalog – presented by Christopher Lorenz at FOSSGIS 2026 (in German)
References
- ↑ "Blog von ToastHawaii". Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ "Community Contribution Score (Beta)". Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Markus P (2026-05-17). "ToastHawaii/osm-apps-catalog". GitHub. Retrieved 2026-05-17. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name ":0" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ "User:TTTBot – OpenStreetMap Wiki". Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ "OSM Software Catalog". 2024-04-08. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ "List of OSM-based services – OpenStreetMap Wiki". Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ osmfoundation. "Microgrant Proposal: Redesign of the OSM Apps Catalog to reach a wider audience · Issue #31 · osmfoundation/ewg_bidding". GitHub. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ "OSM Apps Catalog – OpenStreetMap Wiki". Retrieved 2026-05-17.
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This article "OSM Apps Catalog" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:OSM Apps Catalog. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
