Where to post OSM related questions?

General talk
1

Hi. I am new to OpenStreetMap concept, and GIS as well.

There is one thing that I do not understand about the OpenStreetMap:
Where should I post the questions about it?

There is this forum (https://forum.openstreetmap.org)
But there is also “Questions” section at: help.openstreetmap.org.

So should I post my OSM related questions here, or in “Questions” section at at: help.openstreetmap.org?

Thank you for the reply.

2

Both is possible but help.openstreetmap.org is more tailored to questions by newcomers.

3

Thank you for the quick reply Jojo4u.

It’s a bit confusing that OSM has two separate questions boards.

Also I can not log in to “Questions” section at: help.openstreetmap.org, so I can not post a question there.

When I came to www.openstreetmap.org, a registered a new account at: https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/new.

I am logged in with that same account on this OpeStreetMap Forum.

But when I try to log in with this account at “Questions” section at: help.openstreetmap.org, it simply rejects to do that, as if the account does not exist.

Not sure why is that happens. If need to register a second account there, then that would be a bit confusing again.

4

Only 2? There are probably dozens :slight_smile:

I’m not sure why you can’t login to help.openstreetmap.org (you should be able to use your normal OSM credentials). The site admins would be best placed to answer that question, and they’re normally to be found in the #osm-dev channel over on IRC (yes, that’s another place…) - see http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/IRC for details.

This forum tends to be relatively low volume for English-language development-type queries, but if you want to ask a question in (say) German, Russian or Dutch you’re more likely to find an answer here than elsewhere.

Other places include mailing lists (see https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo for those at openstreetmap.org), and other resources such as the forums and lists at http://openstreetmap.fr/ , and various other Slack and Telegram channels, and lots of other mailing lists. There’s also http://gis.stackexchange.com/ for GIS questions that aren’t really OSM ones.

5

Thank you for the detailed reply SomeoneElse!

I’ve never been using IRC in my life (I seem to be born too late), and I am not very fond of mailing lists. It’s a terrible way of communication.

In my modest opinion, forums are the best way for any sort of community related content.

I didn’t understand you this part.
If I would like to ask my questions exclusively in English language, then it’s “better” to ask them in here or in “Questions” section at: help.openstreetmap.org?

6

If you post them at the “Questions” section at help.openstreetmap.org, more English-speaking people will read it than if you post here.

7

The FAQ for the Openstreetmap help site may assist in deciding what is better suited to a particular site.
FAQ OSM Help and a few points on OpenStreetMap Help too

8

Thank you SomeoneElse and nevw.