Wikimedia Foundation has implemented a new vector tile service Kartotherian
<https://github.com/kartotherian/kartotherian> (Mapbox+Mapnik stack) and
launched an experimental tile and static maps service available at
https://maps.wikimedia.org. Using this service, you can browse and embed
map tiles into your own tools using OpenStreetMap data. Currently, we
handle traffic from *.wmflabs.org and *.wikivoyage.org (referrer header
must be either missing or set to these values) but we hope to open it up to
Wikipedia traffic if we see enough use.
Getting started is as easy as
https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Maps#Getting_Started
Tiles are served from
https://maps.wikimedia.org, but can only be accessed
from *.wmflabs.org and *.wikivoyage.org. Kartotherian can produce tiles as
images (png), and as raw vector data (pbf Mapbox format or json):
*
https://maps.wikimedia.org/
<https://maps.wikimedia.org/>{source}/{zoom}/{x}/{y}[@{scale}x].{format}*
Additionally, Kartotherian can produce snapshot (static) images of any
location, scaling, and zoom level with
*
https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/ <https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/>*
*{source},{zoom},{lat},{**lon},{width}x{height}[(a){scale}**x].{format}*
For example, to get an image centred at 42,-3.14, at zoom level 4, size
800x600, use
https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/osm-intl,4,42,-3.14,800x600.png
(copy/paste the link, or else it might not work due to referrer
restriction).
Editing map style <https://github.com/kartotherian/osm-bright.tm2> is very
easy using the Mapbox Studio, and does not require any data on your machine
- simply point it at Wikimedia server.
How can you help?
* Provide us feedback <https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Talk:Maps> to help
guide future features <https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Talk:Maps>
* Improve our map styles <https://github.com/kartotherian/osm-bright.tm2>
* Improve our data extraction
<https://github.com/kartotherian/osm-bright.tm2source>
* File bugs in Phabricator
<https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/tag/discovery-maps-sprint/>
* Adapt your labs tool to use this service - for example, use Leaflet js
library and point it to
https://maps.wikimedia.org
Based on usage and your feedback <https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Talk:Maps>,
the Discovery team <https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Discovery> will decide
how to proceed. We could add more data sources (both vector and raster),
work on additional services such as static maps or geosearch, work on
supporting all languages, switch to client-side WebGL rendering, etc.
Please help us decide what is most important.
https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Maps has more about the project and related
Maps work.
We would like to thank WMF Ops (especially Alex Kosiaris, Brandon Black,
and Jaime Crespo), services team, OSM community and engineers, and the
Mapnik and Mapbox teams. The project would not have completed so fast
without you.
