CoMaps emerges as an Organic Maps fork
10 days ago
- #navigation
- #community-fork
- #open-source
- Organic Maps originated from MapsWithMe, which was later sold to Mail.ru Group and rebranded as MAPS.ME.
- MAPS.ME was open-sourced in 2016 but reverted to proprietary in 2020, leading to the creation of OMaps (later Organic Maps) as a community fork.
- Controversy arose in Organic Maps over privacy concerns due to a KAYAK affiliate link feature and hidden server components.
- An open letter demanded governance changes, financial transparency, and assurances against commercialization.
- CoMaps was forked from Organic Maps, emphasizing community-driven, non-profit development and horizontal governance.
- CoMaps and Organic Maps may coexist as soft forks or diverge into hard forks, with potential relicensing under AGPLv3.
- Alternatives like OsmAnd and StreetComplete exist for open-source navigation, offering different features and licenses.