[Bug 706044] New: Add a nominatim instance or proxy on gnome.org

["sysadmin" (bugzilla.gnome.org) <bugzilla gnome org>]

https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=706044
  sysadmin | Other | unspecified

           Summary: Add a nominatim instance or proxy on gnome.org
    Classification: Infrastructure
           Product: sysadmin
           Version: unspecified
        OS/Version: Linux
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: enhancement
          Priority: Normal
         Component: Other
        AssignedTo: sysadmin-maint gnome bugs
        ReportedBy: mattias jc bengtsson gmail com
         QAContact: sysadmin-maint gnome bugs
     GNOME version: ---


Geocode-glib (and therefore GeoClue and Maps) uses Nominatim[1]
for geocoding[2]. 
OpenStreetMaps[3] and MapQuest[4] host the only two free and public
Nominatim-instances that I know of. During the 3.9.x series we have
used the Nominatim instance on OSM directly, but that probably needs
to change in time for 3.10. 

===

The usage policy for OSM's instance[5] states (among other) the 
following:

"No heavy uses (an absolute maximum of 1 request/s)."

"Note that the usage limits above apply per website/ application: 
 the sum of traffic by all your users should not exceed the limits."

"Apps must make sure that they can switch the service at our request
 at any time (in particular, switching should be possible without
 requiring a software update). If anyhow possible, set up a proxy and
 also enable caching of requests."

===

The Terms of Use for the MapQuest instance[6] basically states that
we can use it freely if we: 
 1) give OSM credit
 2) give MapQuest credit 
 3) mail them and let them know we'll start using their services
 4) mail them if we expect jumps in usage
 5) abide to the legal stuff stated in 9a here: 
    http://developer.mapquest.com/web/info/terms-of-use

Regarding #2 here we'd actually need to show a MapQuest logo and 
say “Nominatim Search Courtesy of MapQuest” next to it for all 
applications that uses it. I'm not sure exactly how that'd work
really since I think we want to use GeoClue in the control-center
for example to help us autofill stuff and possibly in other places
as well. 
Regarding #5 I have no idea. It's all gibberish to me.

===

As I see it this leaves us with three possible choices:

 - Install our own Nominatim instance
   The hardware requirements[7] are really high so this might be
   unfeasible. Might be necessary in the long run if we generate
   too much traffic for osm/mapquest. 

 - Use MapQuest Nominatim directly or via a proxy
   Someone would have to come with some input here on whether 
   MapQuests terms of use are reasonable for us. 
   If we don't put up a proxy we would also get into trouble if 
   MapQuest suddenly decided that our load is too high and blocked
   us since we'd have no way to redirect our requests to another
   server (since the url to MapQuest's nominatim would be hardcoded).

 - Set up a (caching) proxy to OSM Nominatim
   This is what I'd suggest right now. We would be pretty future
   proof while not having to install too much server software.
   We'd also not have to deal with the MapQuest Terms of Use-stuff
   (which might or might not be a deal-breaker, I have no idea).

Me and Andrea had a discussion about this on #sysadmin earlier today
and I told him I'd post here. 
Here's the log if anyone is interested: 
https://bugzilla.gnome.org/attachment.cgi?id=251641

--
1: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Nominatim
2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocoding
3: http://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/
4: http://open.mapquestapi.com/nominatim/v1/
5: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Nominatim_usage_policy
6: http://developer.mapquest.com/web/products/open/nominatim
7: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Nominatim/Installation#Hardware

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