OpenStreetMap
What if the OpenStreetMap.org mapview had it's own feedback button?
Posted by z-dude on 6 March 2011 in English.Some things I noticed.
1. Theres a lot of users in my area who took the time to sign up, but didn't actually make an edit. I'm sure they wanted to add to OSM, but didn't want to use the editor for whatever reason they had (ie, didn't want to break the map, confusing editor, etc)
2. Other apps and websites are what have been dropping those hated bug icons visible in our editors. (skobbler, mobile apps, etc)
What if OSM.org had it's own 'feedback' button, so that people can say things like "'Joes Coffee' here" "No, this street is called this" "road connects here" "private road".
Google has it's own 'report a bug' feature. We should have our own 'report a bug' feature.
I think human written notes would be better than the mobile app generated bugreports which have generic 'wasn't routed the right way' type of comment.
Discussion
Comment from compdude on 6 March 2011 at 21:33
I agree with your suggestions. This would be the best thing ever for OSM, definitely!
Comment from Richard on 6 March 2011 at 21:48
It's been suggested a zillion times. No-one has, however, ever come up with good convincing code to actually do it.
Comment from quikee on 6 March 2011 at 22:50
There is OpenStreetBugs ( osm.wiki/OpenStreetBugs ) for such situations however a better integration with OSM site is needed.
Comment from Baloo Uriza on 7 March 2011 at 00:30
I believe MapDust is what you're looking for.
Comment from z-dude on 7 March 2011 at 00:52
Openstreetbugs - just shows you the bugs on the main page. I, in 'new user' mode wont see where they can add a note.
Mapdust looks good.
We could add a link in the bottom right of the OSM map page, or on a tab on top of the map, call it 'report a bug', and have it go to mapdust page.
http://www.mapdust.com/?zoom=8&lat=82.22987&lon=-60.10651&layers=000BT
I think the 18 of 20 people who have no edits in my area likely wanted to add something to the map, so it would be what they are looking for.
Comment from Zverik on 7 March 2011 at 07:48
Almost every user of osm.org wishes for this feature and wonders why openstreetbugs hasn't been include yet. Well, now you too. We'll never know how much is "convincing" enough.
Comment from !i! on 7 March 2011 at 08:02
Well this whole usability discussion is quite long and AFAIK the result was that they are willing to adapt any platform that is better and running well. So you should ask your local chapter on adding this feature to your local osm page, first.
osm.wiki/Front_Page_Design
Comment from Richard on 7 March 2011 at 08:36
Zverik: "convincing" is pretty simple. Good UI, efficient, probably using OpenLayers, works in all browsers, API consistent with the rest of the site, coded in clean Ruby on Rails like the rest of the site. What isn't convincing: some hacky PHP with a MySQL backend on a third-party server.
Comment from amm on 8 March 2011 at 03:32
An initial attempt was made a while ago [1] to port OSB to the rails_code, but it was never finished or functional and development in it is currently dormant. So if anyone wants to pick up the code [2] and finish it (or indeed start from scratch), I am sure a lot of people would be very happy and hopefully some would be willing to help along with specific problems.
A PHP script with a MySQL backend on a third-party server would also not be totally impossible, if done well and as long as the frontend is written in rails. After all Namefinder and Nominatim work(ed) like that. But such a solution would be harder to convince the admins to deploy as it would mean more administrative trouble, which unfortunately is already somewhat of a limiting factor.
[1] http://openstreetbugs.dev.openstreetmap.org/
[2] http://git.openstreetmap.org/rails.git/shortlog/refs/heads/openstreetbugs