CreateMaps

PBFX maps, REST API, geocoder, routing, and vector tiles.

Live status: ready

Local-first PBFX map engine

Build live maps from local OpenStreetMap data.

CreateMaps turns preprocessed PBFX datasets into interactive maps and API responses. Write the query language directly or ask in natural language, prepare MapLibre vector tiles through the same server protocol, inspect features, geocode, route with editable profiles, export GeoJSON or CSV, and add terrain or external data sources without a public Overpass dependency.

Open the live map Query guide REST API test Request API key

Local geocoder Find places, addresses, POIs, and context-aware suggestions from local shadow indexes.

Vector tiles Prepare MVT styles by query and stream cached tiles through WebSocket or REST.

Routing + terrain Route with editable profiles, elevation profiles, and hillshade or relief backgrounds.

Current workflow

Natural language

show a light city map with water, parks, roads and place labels

PBFX query

$water = (natural=water)|(water=*)
$green = leisure=park|landuse=grass|natural=wood
$roads = highway=primary|highway=secondary

background:#f3f5f7
show($water|$green|$roads|place=city|place=town)
color($water):#9ec7f0; opacity=0.82; fill; for=ways|relations
color($green):#c7e0bd; opacity=0.55; fill; for=ways|relations
color($roads):#ffffff; width=3; for=ways; casing=1
label(place=city|place=town):name; priority=280

Protocols: /ws and /v1/...

Clients: Web UI, REST testers, and Android Atlas use the same server core.

Local PBFX core

Import OSM once, query compact PBFX data locally or from a hosted CreateMaps server, and add mmap-backed side indexes for geocoding, routing, terrain, and external sources.

The same interface works for plain-language prompts and direct PBFX query code, so casual exploration and exact filtering can live side by side.

Vector-tile rendering

Render query results as MapLibre MVT with query-defined styles, labels, overlays, cached tiles, background colors, optional hillshade, and debug tile diagnostics.

The same query can still be used for classic result lists, click inspection, and GeoJSON export when that is the better workflow.

Geocoder and routing

Use the geocoder for places, addresses, and POIs, then calculate routes from a segment graph with editable profiles, elevation output, and REST-visible route profiles.

It is still a prototype, but the current shape is clear: local map infrastructure that is easy to inspect, style, route on, and extend.

Known limitations

The hosted version is a limited public alpha for testing and feedback, not a frozen production service.

API shapes, credit costs, and response schemas may change during the alpha.
Natural-language translation is experimental and can produce invalid or visually suboptimal PBFX queries.
Geocoder ranking and routing profiles are usable, but not final product quality.
Routing is not intended for safety-critical navigation. Server routing now applies node-via turn restrictions for car-like profiles, but via-way restrictions, node-event costs, and emergency/special access policy are still incomplete.
near(...) and inside(...) are top-level filters; named result sets and set algebra are planned later.

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