StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

(streetcomplete.app)

139 points | by kls0e 1 hour ago

15 comments

  • hexomancer 7 minutes ago
    This is very cool, I wish there was some way to use it on a bicycle though. For example, when moving into a street it could ask (using voice) if this street is paved, and I could answer it using voice too.
  • khernandezrt 8 minutes ago
    Does it have to be a mobile app? Id love to do this when im bored at work but i dont wanna make it seem like im just sitting on my phone.
    • circuit10 4 minutes ago
      A web app would also make it work on iOS (and other non-Android platforms) at the same time
    • stndef 3 minutes ago
      I think the reasoning behind this is that ideally you're at the location where you can confirm what you see, instead of maybe referring to older media or from memory.

      That being said, I agree with you and would like to see more ways to access the tool!

  • aweb 1 hour ago
    I discovered that recently, it's a very fun way to contribute to OpenStreetMap, and the UI is really well-done, it's totally beginner friendly! I wish there was a way to do more than labeling though, like add simple roads and footpaths
    • Ajedi32 47 minutes ago
      Usually if I need to add a footpath I use the "Create new track recording" feature to trace out the path with GPS, then come back to it later on desktop. Adding paths is pretty awkward to do on mobile, especially since there's no satellite overlay.
    • eskori 1 hour ago
      I have used it one (1) time in my life, ans it was my first experience with OpenStreetMap in general. It was pretty fun!

      It's very intuitive and makes you learn just how detailed and specific map data can be. Can't say much about missing features since I don't event know what can be done.

      Recommended experience, it's like playing Pokemon Go without the evil part :)

  • TeddyDD 1 hour ago
    Great app. There is also https://every-door.app/ that gives you slightly different set of tasks and allows you to place POI easily. I recently mapped a lot of trash cans and benches around my neighborhood while walking with my dog.
    • Ajedi32 51 minutes ago
      StreetComplete lets you place trash cans and benches too (among other things) using the "Things" overlay. IMO Every Door has a much more complicated UI, though it's also more of a full featured editor than StreetComplete. (Though still less so than something like Vespucci.)
    • deckar01 25 minutes ago
      The UX is really bad. POI loading is taking 10+ seconds to update, then any zoom or pan reorders the list of locations. Most of the missing info (around me) is just phone numbers and hours of operation, which are boring and should be trivial to collect automatically.
    • didip 46 minutes ago
      oooo what a fantastic idea. I have always wanted to map as many clothes donation boxes as possible.
      • ndriscoll 17 minutes ago
        You can do that, little free libraries, water fountains, etc. all in StreetComplete as well.
  • freakynit 20 minutes ago
    Just downloaded and made 15+ small contributions in the vicinity of my area. Very well built app. Super simple to use. And gamification is top-notch. Recommended.
  • hirako2000 36 minutes ago
    One thing missing on osm is pictures. Would defeats Google maps if it had some, where users would feedback and bad shots would get wiped to save space. We would get the best shots the world has to offer.
  • netfortius 1 hour ago
    Some more info in an earlier thread [1]

    [1] CoMaps – FOSS Offline Maps | https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48808928

  • endymion-light 30 minutes ago
    I really love this - fantastic that it's open source too as would love to contribute. Is there an opportunity to add fresh new sites on this?
    • ndriscoll 25 minutes ago
      As in can you add points of interest like shops? Yes, there's a places overlay with an add button, and a things overlay for things like benches, bicycle parking, etc. For adding buildings, roads, or paths you'd need something else.
  • piebro 9 minutes ago
    If anyone is interested in where StreetComplete is used or which quests are the most popular, you can check out: https://piebro.github.io/openstreetmap-statistics/stats/04_s...
  • santiagohzszmex 4 minutes ago
    Muy bien
  • Acrobatic_Road 45 minutes ago
    Every day I take a 2 hour walk and contribute as much data as I can to OSM using this app.
  • jmspring 30 minutes ago
    Is there something equivalent for iOS?
    • Quot 18 minutes ago
      StreetComplete has been making steady progress on an iOS port over the past few years.

      https://github.com/streetcomplete/StreetComplete/issues/5421

      • circuit10 2 minutes ago
        It would be nice if they made a web app, that would make it work on iOS but also desktop and every other platform with a web browser at the same time
    • tiffanyh 29 minutes ago
      > ANDROID WILL BECOME A LOCKED-DOWN PLATFORM IN XXX

      My guess is no because of the developer linking too below (and how it's always existed this way for iOS)

      https://keepandroidopen.org

      I wonder why this needs to be an app at all, instead of web based.

  • hadi121 54 minutes ago
    This is such a great idea. Are there ever any plans for a web app?
  • Schiendelman 1 hour ago
    Hi! Is this yours? Would you like help porting this to iOS?
  • myself248 55 minutes ago
    • kls0e 39 minutes ago
      scph1001.bin
      • Narishma 12 minutes ago
        More like scph1002.bin in this case. 1001 is for SCEA.