Maps no longer updating on new vector tile server, out-of-date with quests

[dbdean]

Firstly, thanks to @Akasch for his great work in setting up a new vector tile server for rescue StreetComplete from the demise of Mapzen.

I am opening this issue to mention that as the server is not updating at the moment (and I'm sure it is probably not trivial to do so easily or cheaply), and therefore the map is no longer up-to-date with the quests that are appearing, as in this screenshot:

Is it possible to add an alternative background map to StreetComplete that pulls direct from osm.org rendered tiles, or perhaps satellite imagery, like https://github.com/ENT8R/streetcomplete-mapstyle/blob/master/streetcomplete-satellite-style.yaml?

Alternatively, given that StreetComplete is about editing the map, is there anyway on quest download, to download the OSM data directly using the API and render that locally using Tangram?

[ENT8R]

The quest download has nothing to do with the map... All quests are downloaded via the Overpass API which is independent of Mapzen or Tangram...

Edit: Sorry. I think I misunderstood you... I don't think that there is a proper way to display OSM data using Tangram... But there should be the geometry of the element shown if you click on the quest. Isn't that enough?

[matkoniecz]

Isn't that enough?

No. Context is important.

[dbdean]

It's hard to work out which building is being referred to without the surrounding buildings, and new roads, etc would be missing too. I think it's important we have an up to date background layer.

[Akasch]

The Updates of the map is in work. I think it will take one or two weeks until it is fully working.

[matkoniecz]

Thanks! Can you consider making notes how one may setup map server?

So in case you will be unable to continue somebody else may setup new map server without figuring out everything from scratch?

Maybe such notes may be committed to this repo, after all as Mapzen died such map server is part of StreetComplete project.

[westnordost]

Also, unfortunately (for whom a current background layer is important), probably StreetComplete will use a tileserver soon which will update even less frequently.

Basically, a proper and up-to-date tileserver requires a dedicated server whose costs of about 200$ per month need to be raised somehow while the other solution (nextzen / Tapalcatl) uses old/very infrequently updated tiles but costs about 10$ per month, an amount I can easily pay myself without looking for sponsors.

Of course it may be of benefit to have a proper vector tileserver around for use in OpenStreetMap related projects and probably it will be not a big problem to find sponsors, but that is not something that I want to concern myself with while I have more than enough work with StreetComplete already and the other solution is so conveniently close.

[rugk]

BTW people repeatedly asked for ways to donate to the project. So i think you would get some support to keep a server running…

[dbdean]

Can we add a background layer option to the app, with Aerial Imagery being one of them? And maybe the current main OSM map?

Also, you should consider a setting up a Patreon perhaps, I reckon a lot of OSMers would be interested in supporting your SC development and back-end costs.

[rugk]

…or… with lower fees, easy payment and more FLOSS-like LiberaPay, but yeah… also proposed that.

[ENT8R]

Can we add a background layer option to the app, with Aerial Imagery being one of them? And maybe the current main OSM map?

This is tracked with #673.

[westnordost]

Anyway, whether or not a vector tile server with current tiles is available or not, is out of my hands. If a server like this would be available, that would be cool of course, but trying to maintain the costs for a server through variable donations to this project is a too shaky foundation for my taste. And TBH, I don't believe I would receive a steady $200 donations for this project in any case.

[Akasch]

The Update is working now. It does roughly 12 hours of updates in 4 hours, so it will need some time to catch on. The State of the map at the moment is from 15.01. at 23:00.

[dbdean]

@Akasch, is your vector server still updating? The map in StreetComplete seems to have gotten stuck for me, and is still at least a few months old, I think.

[matkoniecz]

@Akasch for start - thanks for map data server! But is it possible to either restart updates or reload data from time to time? It seems that at this moment data is simply not updated at all.