Category "OSM Specials"

I hereby request the addition of top level category “OSM Specials”.

Category name

OSM Specials

Is this a top-level category or a subcategory?

This should be a top level category since it provides a generic home for various more specialized sub categories.

Description of its purpose and which open mapping groups it will serve

It should be a home for, for instance, “Android” or - what I am particularly interested in - “Garmin maps”: Discussion and help on using OSM data on specific systems, converting/adapting OSM data to specific devices.

Why is this new category needed instead of being hosted as part of the existing ones?

The existing categories here don’t cover these subjects.

Is this a new space or does it already exist on other platforms? Where?

The old forum exists at https://forum.openstreetmap.org/, segment “OSM Specials”.

Current volume of messages on the former platforms, if any (per week/per month)

Unknown to me.

Is there a transition plan for the old platform to this new one? (please link or describe)

Unknown to me.

(Optional) A link or list of the category specific guidelines

Unknown to me.

List the usernames of the category moderators

Unknown to me. I’m a new user looking for the “Garmin maps” category since it seems to be locked on the old forum. However, there seems to be no replacement here, also as of today I can’t see that the data has been migrated to here.

Hi @AndeHTDH

Thanks for the request. For low volume topics, the general recommendation is to start using a tag for related topics, and place them under #general o #help-and-support depending on their purpose.

If the volume of topics under one tag grows a lot, then it’s recommended that a category is requested.

Would that work for this?

Thanks!

To give some examples: We have tags for topics related to #3d, #wiki, #android and #indoor (which are “OSM Specials” categories on the old forum).

Okay, if you’re using tags, this category (which would only be for structure) isn’t needed. Not even as a tag.

The problem with tags is that essentially no-one uses them**, and (based on experience from the old help site) even those that do often do not use them consistently.

If you browse to https://community.openstreetmap.org/ you won’t see e.g. “Garmin” (apart from the companion thread to this one asking for it). If you browse to https://forum.openstreetmap.org/ you will. If we’ve made a decision to no longer offer the same features as the old forum, fine - but that needs to be communicated.

** For example, most entries at https://community.openstreetmap.org/c/help-and-support/7/none do not have tags