MapSCII, a detailed world map for the terminal

About MapSCII

In the next article we are going to take a look at MapSCII. I really just came across this application by chance in a forum and I found it extremely interesting. Is about a world map for the terminal from our Ubuntu system. At first I have to say that it did not catch my attention, but as I am curious I decided to give it a try. Once tried, I have to admit I was wrong. What they offer us for our terminal is really impressive.

This app is a Braille and ASCII world map renderer for Xterm compatible terminals. It is compatible with GNU / Linux, Mac OS and Windows systems. When we make use of it, we will be able to use our mouse (or keyboard) to drag and zoom. With this we can locate any part of the world on the world map that we will see.

Most notable general features of MapSCII

  • It is an application 100% Coffee / JavaScript.
  • We will be able place any point that interests us in any location in the world.
  • El layer design is highly customizable with support for styles of Mapbox.
  • We will be able to connect to any public or private vector server. Another option will be to use the one based on OSM2VectorTiles supplied and optimized.
  • This tool will allow us work offline, with which we can discover the VectorTile / MBTiles local
  • It is compatible with most of the Gnu / Linux and OSX terminals.
  • Its creators provide us with highly optimized algorithms for a smooth user experience.
  • The program uses OpenStreetMap to collect the data.

Run MapSCII via telnet

The first option to test this tool will be to do it through telnet. To open the map, simply run the following command from your terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T):

telnet mapscii.me

Keyboard shortcuts

As I have already said, we can move around the map using the keyboard. The keys that we can use are:

  • Arrows arriba, down, hand y right to scroll.
  • Press a o z for zoom in y Ward off.
  • Press q for leave.
  • Press c for the Braille version.

Mouse control

  • If your terminal supports mouse events, you will be able to drag the map and use the scroll wheel to zoom in and out.

After launching the tool in my terminal, this is the world map that is displayed.

MapSCII world map

This is the ASCII map, to switch to the Braille view, we will only have to press the c key.

MapSCII world map Braille

Press c again to return to the previous format.

To move around the map, as I have already said, you can use the arrow keys up, down, left, right. To zoom in / out a location, use the a and z keys. In addition, you can use the scroll wheel of your mouse (if your terminal allows it) to zoom in or out. To exit the map, we will only have to press q.

Although all this seems at first glance a simple project, it is not at all.

Now I am going to show some sample screenshots after enlarging the image.

MapSCII world map countries

You can zoom in to see the communities of Spain and some cities.

MapSCII world map cities and communities

If we continue to approach the city councils of Madrid we will see something like the following.

MapSCII world map city councils of Madrid

And if we continue to get closer, we will even see the neighborhoods that we can find next to the Retiro Park.

MapSCII world map retreat park

Although this is a terminal view, MapSCII displays it fairly accurately. MapSCII uses OpenStreetMap to collect the data that you are going to show us through the terminal.

Install MapSCII locally

If after trying this utility, you liked it, you will be able to host it on your own system. All you have to do is make sure you have installed Node.js on your system. If you do not have it, you can consult an article I wrote on this same page in which it indicated how to install NodeJs on Ubuntu.

Once NodeJS is installed, we just have to open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and execute the following command to install it:

sudo npm install -g mapscii

Now you will be able to start MapSCII by executing in the same terminal:

mapscii

Uninstall MapSCII

To eliminate this utility from our computer, we can do it from the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and writing in it:

sudo npm uninstall -g mapscii

If anyone needs learn more about MapSCII, you can check your GitHub page to solve your doubts.


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