i stumbeld across this little gem of a project that looks like it could form the backbone of gps mapping for linux and OSS
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Its a user contributed database of roads, walking path and bike tracks. i have thoght about doing somthing like this before but i am gald to see someone has done it
current database wieghs in at 4GB of nav points (wow) however that is maps for every country in the world.
route planning is comming soon and will consits of a cmdline ruby app, which should be handy as it would be easy to then add route planning to any oss gps software, gust give it 2 points and it gives you the vectors between those two points, you then overlay that on top of your exsisting map
i plan to sign up and start mapping alot of my area on bike so expect a Dee Why map in Sydney NSW. gives me an ecscuse to test the 'portability" of my setup
there is also some links to some very nice platform independent oss software, its quite simple at the moment however i think once the route planning comes it we should see it start to catch up on tom tom for features.
at the very least we now have a small set of maps for several countries and anything that dosent exsist well perhaps next time you drive that route you might as well take you gps unit along
