Systeme D

11 December 2006

Potlatch: almost there

Just a couple more days' hacking and the first version of Potlatch, the Flash-based online editor I'm developing for Openstreetmap, should be ready.

Over the past few days I have:

  • finished most of the tagging functionality, including lots of entertaining arguments with ActionScript's almost-really-helpful ability to associate an editable textfield with a variable;
  • implemented a couple of UI improvements suggested by Nick Burch, such as better highlighting when you select a way or point;
  • ironed out a few problems with the Yahoo! background layer (which goes really weird if you set _visible=false);
  • and done a whole load of bugfixes and incremental improvements, including even the opportunity to create some small loops in ways, which I wasn't planning to do.

Two more pieces of work to do before the first release. First of all is GPS trace support, though this is going to be pretty rudimentary at first - just a Ming-powered background image for the area you're currently working on. This should be fairly simple. Second, and a bit more complex, is writing edits back to the database.

This first release will definitely be a 0.1 rather than a 1.0. Having read Daring Fireball's neat skewering of beta releases, I do feel a little guilty about so obviously labelling it as "unfinished". But then John Gruber is much better when he's writing about turning white Zunes into brown ones.

Unfortunately a lousy cold on Friday and a couple of church services on Sunday meant I couldn't go to any of the Oxford Openstreetmap/OpenGuides events this weekend, blogged here. But the carol service in the medieval church at Shorthampton was wonderful. The organ/harmonium has never been electrified, and a few years ago was probably destined for the scrap-heap. I started using it for a few services, rather than carting an electric keyboard over from Charlbury; subsequently it was decided not to throw it out after all. Then a kind benefactor paid for a full restoration, and it now has an entertaining array of stops, including the world's least celestial Voix Celeste and a real rumble of a Sub Bass. Still no power, though, so you have to pump frantically with your feet to get any sound out of it!

Comments

More power to your elbow (what DOES that mean!). Look forward to using it, particularly if way splitting is implemented.

Posted by Steve Chilton on 14.12.06 16:47

I believe it was traditional to get a choirboy to pump. Fnarr.

Posted by David Cantrell on 18.12.06 14:34

Well done!

Posted by Savannah Underdal on 14.5.08 21:26

Hehe! Good work!

Posted by Elizabeth Yergin on 14.5.08 21:45

Your are Great. And so is your site! Awesome content. Good job guys!

Posted by Mason Lima on 14.5.08 22:27

I am so thankful for finding your website!

Posted by Tabitha Silva on 2.8.08 17:00

Thank you!

Posted by Zoe Perle on 2.8.08 17:58

Very, very nice work! Thak you.

Posted by Jenna Reed on 8.8.08 22:06

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