Switch to new tile provider

[jancborchardt]

Following the MapQuest open API shutdown we need to check for a new tile provider.

GNOME Maps uses Mapbox with a community API key over a GNOME proxy: https://mail.gnome.org/archives/commits-list/2016-July/msg07462.html
I contacted them to find out how we can do it: https://twitter.com/jancborchardt/status/796054542144176131

A possible alternative would be the Wikimedia Cartographical project: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Maps#Production_maps_cluster

cc @v1r0x @nextcloud/maps @schiessle

[v1r0x]

Definitely a problem. I remember that we switched from vanilla osm aka nominatim to something else for the routing/geocoder stuff, but is there a reason we don't use nominatim as tile server?
Gnome's solution would be great too!
Beside that, I'll look for another solution.

PS: I ordered a new laptop, thus I hope I'll have some more time for maps 😃

[jancborchardt]

@v1r0x yeah, sounds great! :) Also, @mattiasb of GNOME Maps replied to the tweets with further info, so we should contact Mapbox: https://twitter.com/jancborchardt/status/796054542144176131 (also cc @freenerd whom I know working there :)

(And cc @Dokhra @e-alfred @thomas-mc-work from the original issue cause we moved the repository here and will continue work here. :)

[Henni]

Mapbox would be great, but I haven't found any information on this "community API key" you mentioned @jancborchardt

[jancborchardt]

@Henni I’m pretty sure it’s something we need to mail them about. It sounds like mainly a courtesy & community support thing, not an official API key they offer. :)

[e-alfred]

Good to see the idea of a maps app isn't dead. Is Openstreetmap also of interest? Offline maps would be quite interesting as well to avoid the problem with an external provider cutting access suddenly.

Maybe this link could be of help:

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Offline_Openstreetmap

[jancborchardt]

@e-alfred while having a tile server or offline maps sounds good, it’s hardly doable:

Planet.osm contains the entire planet. This is a snapshot of the current data, usually from last Wednesday. This is almost 40 GB compressed.

Just Germany is 2.5 GB. ;)

[Henni]

@e-alfred still... Feel free to open an issue. It might be possible to implement something like offline area support, similar to others like Google Maps do it.

[e-alfred]

@Henni already did that #12

Well, if it is that big, then there is probably no way around it (except for single countries for example).

[DNkRockzzzzZ]

I need this app running too.

[Revertron]

The settings of maps provide entering Mapzen API key, does it work?

[v1r0x]

The Mapzen API key in the settings is currently only for the routing machine.

[jancborchardt]

@Henni did you already mail Mapbox btw? :)

[e-alfred]

This bug report from Gnome seems to be a good reference point:

https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=764841
https://mail.gnome.org/archives/maps-list/2016-July/msg00017.html

[e-alfred]

Wikimedia is also working on a maps cluster, this would most probably be the best fit for an Open Source project like Nextcloud (Maps):

https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Maps#Production_maps_cluster