Add your first OpenStreetMap edit in under 15 minutes

Contributing to OpenStreetMap used to feel daunting, but a new plugin drops the learning curve to under 15 minutes.

A new tutorial introduces Website Wizard, a plugin for desktop editor JOSM that helps beginners add missing store links to OpenStreetMap. The plugin filters a local neighborhood for unlinked shops and opens DuckDuckGo queries to help you verify official URLs. The walkthrough hit the top of Hacker News with nearly 600 points.

Why it matters: OpenStreetMap powers dozens of free navigation tools worldwide. Adding a website link is a high-value edit: once an official URL is on the map, it makes adding phone numbers, emails, and opening hours far easier for future contributors.

Here's the gist:

1. Download JOSM (~365 MB) and sign into your free OSM account.
2. Grab map data for a few city blocks you know well.
3. Apply a query filter to hide shops that already have website tags.
4. Use Website Wizard to find official URLs, paste them in, and upload your changeset.

With over one million shops in the US alone, a quick sweep of your neighborhood makes the open web just a bit better.