I've gotten a lot of use out of open source projects over the years.Eventually, I decided I wanted to give back.What can you do though when you've never coded an app or have money to contribute? It turns out, a lot.
I've been using open source maps for years I actually abandoned Google Maps in favor of open source alternatives years ago.There are several you can choose from, but they all rely on the same map data: OpenStreetMap.In fact, you may be using OpenStreetMap already without knowing it.
Apple Maps relies on it, as do several apps that with mapping functions.I've moved around over time.First, I used OsmAnd on my Android phone.
While it worked well, its power user orientation clashed with my simple use-case.OsmAnd's troves of advanced features and mazes of settings felt overwhelming when, most of the time, I just wanted to get from point A to point B.That's why I eventually replaced OsmAnd with Organic Maps.
It was far simpler and more focused as a navigation app.However, people in tune with the FOSS world know Organic Maps had a controversy in summer 2025 related to project governance and use of proprietary components.Since then, I've switched to CoMaps, a fork of Organic Maps created in the aftermath.
My friends, when getting into the car with me, give me a hard time over my use of these alternatives and how they don't always function perfctly.Namely, some locations—home addresses in particular—can be difficult to pinpoint.Some businesses just aren't listed at all, making it a sometimes multi-step process just to get a location and route.
Not to mention the missing quality-of-life features like traffic alerts.In my view, though, the net benefits of these open source alternatives outweigh the drawbacks.I'm willing to put up with a little inconvenience to keep my privacy and conscience intact.
I finally started giving back to OpenStreetMap After relying on OpenStreetMap for years to get around my town and the wider country, I decided it was time to give something back.Unfortunately, my programming skills are limited to some basic scripting, so contributing open source code seemed like a huge undertaking.While I have funds I can contribute (and I have found several open source apps worth donating to), I still wanted to do something more hands-on.
I also noticed that in CoMaps I had a huge personal collection of pins in my local area that still weren't labeled in OpenStreetMap's official data.As it turns out, contributing that kind of data is easy.In fact, the very app I was using to navigate has built-in map editing features that automatically upload your changes to OpenStreetMap system.
I was immediately able to start adding my knowledge based on what I know about the area I live in and places I visit.Related I don't use Linux for free anymore, and you shouldn't either—here's why What is the price of freedom? Posts 33 By Sydney Butler The best part is that by contributing, I'm solving the problem that my friends were ribbing me for earlier; by adding data and making existing data more accurate, I'm making open source replacements for Google Maps more feasible.How you can start contributing in your area If you have knowledge about your local area and want to contribute to the biggest open source database of topographical information, the first thing you need to do is go to OpenStreetMap.org and sign up for an account.
It's simple, as far as account creation goes: just provide an email address, a username, and password.Confirm your email and you're ready to start editing, and you can log into any map editing app, CoMaps include, with the account.To learn how editing maps works, the easiest and most informative beginner approach I found was just to use OpenStreetMap's own map editor called iD.
Click the walkthrough, and its interactive demo will show you how to make every important kind of edit, including drawing and modifying roads, drawing buildings, and adding points of interest.Once you've completed that, you're essentially given free rein to start making whatever edits you want.Other contributors will be reviewing what you do, though, so sure to read the OpenStreetMap welcome page and the expectations there.
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I learned a few things pretty quickly.First, not every app can make every type of map edit; CoMap's editing capabilities are relatively limited.There are other apps, web-based and otherwise, that make better, easier edits.
Additionally, it's crucial to read documentation on OpenStreetMap conventions.That way, you don't accidentally make misleading or unhelpful edits.I made a few mistakes at first confusing what OpenStreetMap considers a "coffee shop" versus a .
I'm embarrassed to admit I also didn't know the technical difference between a grocery store and supermarket until I started adding data about them.In that way, though I'm educating myself as I contribute.Don't stop with maps There are other open source projects that you can involve yourself in without needing to know how to code.
Just like with OpenStreetMap, it's also free to become a Wikipedia editor.Or, if you're a music nerd like me, you might be interested in contributing to the MusicBrainz database of music metadata.You can also do nothing at all; while not technically an open source database, passively running Folding@Home on your computer lets you put an idle computer to use in the name of medical research.
Opportunities for giving back to the community while enjoying open source freedom are all over the place.Related 5 free and open-source (FOSS) apps that are better than its paid alternatives Professional-grade software without the price tag.Check out these five free, open-source apps that rival their paid counterparts.
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