josm

Launch JOSM

$ josm

$ josm --maximize

$ josm --language [de]

$ josm --reset-preferences

$ josm --download [minlat,minlon,maxlat,maxlon]

$ josm --downloadgps [minlat,minlon,maxlat,maxlon]

$ josm --skip-plugins

josm [options...] [files/urls...]

--help
    Displays a help message with available command-line options and exits.

--version
    Prints the JOSM version information and exits.

--download=URL
    Downloads OSM data from the specified geographic bounding box URL (e.g., from an openstreetmap.org export link) directly into JOSM.

--download-and-zoom=URL
    Similar to --download, but also zooms the map view to the downloaded data's extent.

--load=FILE
    Loads a local OSM data file (.osm, .osc) or GPS trace file (.gpx) into a new data layer in JOSM.

--select=ID[,ID...]
    Selects one or more objects (nodes, ways, relations) by their OSM ID after loading data.

--language=LANG
    Sets the user interface language for the current session (e.g., en for English, de for German).

--splitview
    Launches JOSM with the editor window split into two views, useful for comparing data or different layers.

--geometry=WxH+X+Y
    Sets the initial window size and position. W and H are width and height, X and Y are coordinates.

JOSM, the Java OpenStreetMap editor, is a powerful desktop application primarily designed for creating, editing, and uploading geographic data to the OpenStreetMap (OSM) project. It provides an extensive set of tools for drawing new features, correcting existing data, and resolving mapping conflicts. Users can download raw OSM data from the server, perform detailed edits, and then upload their changes.

JOSM supports various data types, including GPS traces (.gpx files) and OSM XML (.osm) data. It is highly extensible through a robust plugin architecture, allowing mappers to customize its functionality with additional validation rules, rendering styles, and specialized tools. While primarily a graphical user interface (GUI) application, JOSM also supports command-line options for specific tasks like loading files or downloading data directly. It is a favored tool for experienced mappers due to its advanced capabilities for data cleaning, complex tag editing, and large-scale data manipulation, making it an indispensable part of the OpenStreetMap ecosystem.

JOSM is primarily a graphical application and not typically designed for extensive command-line scripting. It requires a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to run. Processing very large datasets or working with many layers can consume significant system memory and CPU resources, potentially leading to performance issues on less powerful machines.

As its name suggests, JOSM is a Java-based application. This means it requires a compatible Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to be installed on the system to execute the josm command successfully. Its cross-platform nature and ability to run on various operating systems are direct benefits of being written in Java.

One of JOSM's most significant strengths is its highly extensible plugin architecture. Users can browse and install a wide variety of plugins from within the application, adding new functionalities such as advanced validation tools, data analysis features, specialized drawing modes, and support for additional GIS data formats. This extensibility allows users to tailor JOSM precisely to their specific mapping needs and workflows.

JOSM was initially developed by Immanuel Scholz and first released in 2005. As one of the earliest and most enduring editors for OpenStreetMap, it quickly became a cornerstone tool for the OSM community due to its advanced features and flexibility. Over nearly two decades, JOSM has played a crucial role in the growth and quality of the OpenStreetMap database, maintained and continuously improved by a dedicated community of developers.

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