JOSM () ''(Java OpenStreetMap editor)'' is a

free software Free software, libre software, libreware sometimes known as freedom-respecting software is computer software distributed open-source license, under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, distribut ...

desktop editing tool for

OpenStreetMap OpenStreetMap (abbreviated OSM) is a free, Open Database License, open geographic database, map database updated and maintained by a community of volunteers via open collaboration. Contributors collect data from surveying, surveys, trace from Ae ...

geodata Geographic data and information is defined in the ISO/TC 211 series of standards as data and information having an implicit or explicit association with a location relative to Earth (a geographic location or geographic position). It is also ca ...

created in

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

, originally developed by Immanuel Scholz and currently maintained by Dirk Stöcker. The editing tool contains advanced features that are not present in OSM's default online editor, iD.

Features

Some notable features of JOSM are importing GPX files (GPS tracks), working with

aerial imagery Aerial photography (or airborne imagery) is the taking of photographs from an aircraft or other airborne platforms. When taking motion pictures, it is also known as aerial videography. Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-wing airc ...

(including WMS,

TMS TMS may refer to: Broadcasting * TMS (entertainment data), data provider * ''Test Match Special'', BBC cricket coverage * ''This Movie Sucks!'', a Canadian TV show on bad movies * ''That Metal Show'', a US TV talk show Media * Hobby of Mode ...

and

WMTS WMTS may refer to: * WMTS-FM, a radio station (88.3 FM) licensed to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States * Wireless Medical Telemetry Service Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) is a wireless service specifically defined in the United Stat ...

protocols), support for multiple

cartographic projection Cartography (; from , 'papyrus, sheet of paper, map'; and , 'write') is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an imagined reality) can ...

s, layers, relations editing, data validation tools, data filtering, offline work, presets and rendering styles. JOSM provides more than 200

keyboard shortcut In computing, a keyboard shortcut (also hotkey/hot key or key binding) is a software-based assignment of an action to one or more keys on a computer keyboard. Most Operating system, operating systems and Application software, applications come ...

s for the core functions. Many additional features (like tools for drawing buildings, adding Wikipedia links or viewing data in 3D) are available through the plugins. There are more than 100 of them in the repository.

History

* The first changeset was created on 27 September 2005. * The first beta version (which required Java 5) was made available on 4 October 2005 and JOSM 1.0 was released on 22 January 2006. * The current versioning scheme, using code

changeset In version control software, a changeset (also known as commit and revision) is a set of alterations packaged together, along with meta-information about the alterations. A changeset describes the exact differences between two successive versio ...

number, was introduced in 2008. * In 2014 the project logo was replaced with new one, which won a design contest. From this year stable releases are identified with additional YY.MM internal version number (following r6763 - 14.01), however they may not exactly reflect the release date. * Since revision 10786 (16.07) released on 12 August 2016, support for

versions earlier than 8 has been dropped. * Compatibility with

9 added on 2 September 2017, revision 12712 (17.08). * JOSM logo refreshed on 8 August 2019 to the current artwork. *

16 support added on 18 March 2021 Since revision 17580 (21.02). * JOSM had new

macOS macOS, previously OS X and originally Mac OS X, is a Unix, Unix-based operating system developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple since 2001. It is the current operating system for Apple's Mac (computer), Mac computers. With ...

and

Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

installers that both ship

16 and

JavaFX JavaFX is a software platform for creating and delivering desktop applications, as well as rich web applications that can run across a wide variety of devices. JavaFX has support for desktop computers and web browsers on Microsoft Windows, Linu ...

16 and

Debian Debian () is a free and open-source software, free and open source Linux distribution, developed by the Debian Project, which was established by Ian Murdock in August 1993. Debian is one of the oldest operating systems based on the Linux kerne ...

launcher required openjfx since revision 18193 (21.08) released on 2 November 2021.

Usage

The highest number of edits in OSM are done using JOSM. The software was used to perform several large scale OSM imports, including

TIGER The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is a large Felidae, cat and a member of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Asia. It has a powerful, muscular body with a large head and paws, a long tail and orange fur with black, mostly vertical stripes. It is ...

data in the United States. JOSM can also be used for editing an OSM sister project

OpenHistoricalMap OpenHistoricalMap (also spelled Open Historical Map and abbreviated OHM) is an online collaborative mapping project developing a Historical atlas, historical map of the world using OpenStreetMap technology and processes. Whereas OpenStreetMap on ...

. It's included as a package in many Linux distributions like

Ubuntu Ubuntu ( ) is a Linux distribution based on Debian and composed primarily of free and open-source software. Developed by the British company Canonical (company), Canonical and a community of contributors under a Meritocracy, meritocratic gover ...

Fedora A fedora () is a hat with a soft brim and indented crown.Kilgour, Ruth Edwards (1958). ''A Pageant of Hats Ancient and Modern''. R. M. McBride Company. It is typically creased lengthwise down the crown and "pinched" near the front on both sides ...

Arch Linux Arch Linux () is an Open-source software, open source, rolling release Linux distribution. Arch Linux is kept up-to-date by regularly updating the individual pieces of software that it comprises. Arch Linux is intentionally minimal, and is meant ...

and the

OSGEO The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo), is a non-profit non-governmental organization whose mission is to support and promote the collaborative development of open geospatial technologies and data. The foundation was formed in February 20 ...

Live DVD A live CD (also live DVD, live disc, or live operating system) is a complete bootable computer installation including operating system which runs directly from a CD-ROM or similar storage device into a computer's memory, rather than loading fro ...

Various tutorials are available. The LearnOSM Tutorial, translated in 16 languages, has a section on JOSM. It covers the editing process, the tools, the plugins, the presets, the imagery functionalities, conflict resolution and other features.

References

External links

*
JOSM help system

JOSM page on OSM Wiki
{{OpenStreetMap Free GIS software OpenStreetMap