Web Map API

[macpoetter]

Hi,

I am working on a GPS Tracking App for Developer. After installing the app and registering an account, the user can access the coordinates from my secure server via all possible programming languages. Here the link to my project website:

https://locationtracker.online

I would also like to show the devices location on a map. My first thought was to use the Google Maps JavaScript API. But unfortunately I found out today, that the maps api service from google is not for free for asset tracking apps. I think my app would fall under that category.

Does anyone of you know a good google maps api alternative, that allows me to display the users location for free? I liked the design of Mapbox streets a lot, but its the same problem here that its not for free.

I am looking forward to your suggestions. Thanks a lot in advance already!

Best,
Chris

 

[organicCPU]

An easy to use API besides google's would be really cool, probably no API such as google's, but take a look at:
- Mapnik
- I've also seen just OpenStreetMap (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenStreetMap) with custom scripts on a website for drawing the route to go.
Isn't the github code of Mapbox free to use?
Edit: O.K., I see the problem with Mapbox https://lwn.net/Articles/695337/

 

[macpoetter]

Hi organicCPU,

thanks for your answer! Yes, I know OpenStreetMap, but honestly, I think the map just looks awful. Take a look at this: https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=14/37.4399/-122.1607&layers=C

I visited Mapnik link you posted, thanks for the tip. But do they have cartographic data? Or just the algorithms behind it? I would like to show the users location on a map. And I do not have the underlying map data for it

Best,
Chris

 

[organicCPU]

AFAIK, Mapnik is just the renderer used for generating 2D maps. It expects PostgreSQL data that uses the PostGIS extension. The underlying cartographic map data can be rendered in various styles, so you are more flexible to modify the look to your liking. You could need an own setup of a map server or use one of the APIs for accessing and reading (already processed) data. Whether that would be some parts of the Web Map Frameworks or the Overpass API depends on your requirements.

 

[macpoetter]

Wow, organicCPU, thats an awesome explanation. Thanks a lot for that! But I think (at least for now) it feels like I am taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut like this. I am happy about my few users that I have for my free app, but this would be really too much. I was really more looking for a ready to use API that I just need to feed with my longitude and latitude pair and I get a nicely looking map for the user.

For now I think I will stick with google maps, because it is for free for me as long as the app is for free. If I decide to change the app to a paid model, i think I have to bite the bullet and pay google as well.

 

[organicCPU]

You're welcome. Maybe there are other MacRumors readers, who actively make use of OpenStreetMap data for their websites. I'm sure they could point you to the right direction, that is easy to manage and similar to a Google Maps API implementation.

 

[organicCPU]

GPU is an amazing tools for Web Map API

Can you provide a link?

i think I have to bite the bullet and pay google as well

While searching for GPU Web Map API I hit the following APIs:
- Open Layers 3
- Leaflet
I'm going to take a closer look at those, maybe they're interesting for you, too...