How can I display OSM tiles using Python?

Question

I'm in the process of generating tiles with generate_tiles.py and I'd like to write a Python app to display them instead of having a web interface. Does anything like that already exist or is there information somewhere on how to write such an app myself?

Answer 1

Quoting the OP:

I'd like to write a Python app to display them instead of having a web interface

I have the same request (more specifically, I need to show an interactive map within an already existing GTK+ desktop application), I didn't see the question answered here, so I went to look for direct reference information. There I see three options:

• if you're on KDE: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/KDE_Marble
• if you're on GTK+: http://nzjrs.github.io/osm-gps-map/
• again in GTK+: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Libchamplain

Paulo Scardine very complete overview focuses on web interface, and does not mention them.

Answer 2

You can look/edit your map using a desktop application like Tilemill or QGIS (I can't really guess why are you generating tiles if it is not for a web application).

Tilestache has an internal webserver you can use for testing, it's easy to get it running just using config files.

A few pointers to get you started (or keep you busy for a few weeks):

Server side libraries and applications

• TileStache: very easy to use tile server and tile cache
• Mapnik: underlying library behind tilestache and tilemill
• TileLite: lightweight Python tile-server
• MapOSMatic: written in Python/Django + mapnik ?

Client side libraries

• Leaflet: client side library a lot like Google Maps API
• OpenLayers: makes it easy to put a dynamic map in any web page
• Wax: adds common utilities to minimal mapping libraries
• Modest maps: a simple platform to build upon
• Mapstraction: common interface for numerous javascript mapping libraries

Tools for custom map creation

• Tilemill: like css for maps (awesome)
• OSGeo4W: must have geospatial toolbox for windows

Markers

• MakiIcons: A clean point of interest icon set made for web cartography
• Map Icons Collection: 700 free icons to use as placemarks

Some related videos from PyCon2012

• A gentle introduction to GIS
• Making maps with Python
• Spatial data and web mapping with Python
• Making interactive maps for the web

Some interesting applications to get you inspired:

• 8bitcity: if Google Maps was running into an Atari 2600 River Raid cartridge
• OpenWhateverMap: a patchwork of different rendering styles