We are happy to announce the deployment of Vector Tiles on OpenStreetMap Foundation servers and the publication of the layer on the OSM website! We have been working hard to bring you a fresh look to OSM data, paired with exciting technological upgrades.
Work has been progressing since last year. In June 2024 we shared progress, including the launch of the vector tiles demo site, as well as details on the technical background on the tools being used. Since then we have put the tile generation process through months of testing, focused on reliability and speed improvements, and gotten ready for full production use.
Now, with integration of the vector tiles as a feature layer on the OpenStreetMap website, mappers and visitors get a visual layer that is sharper and quicker, based on an entirely new backend.
A major benefit of vector tiles is adaptability, so developers can leverage this vector source to develop their own styles based on the existing Shortbread styles or write a new one and use the new OSMF-hosted tiles. To use OSMF vector tiles in a project, in a development or production environment, consult the Vector Tile Usage Policy. Note that the policy may be subject to change to address any issues that come up after this launch.
From this point, you can expect further evolution of the Shortbread spec and styles. Input on the direction, ideas, and issues with OSMF vector tiles are welcome. Share in the appropriate repository: spirit for styles, tilekiln for tile generation, and shortbread-tiles for the tile content specification.
