Using the Marble mapping tool
World Atlas
Although Marble might look like a rather bare-bones map application, it has a few tricks up its sleeve that make it a useful mapping tool.
With the proliferation of map apps on mobile devices, you will be forgiven for thinking that desktop map applications like Marble [1] have outlived their usefulness. However, even if an Android smartphone with Google Maps or OsmAnd [2] is your tool of choice for navigation and mapping, don't write off Marble just yet. This desktop map application might not replace Google Maps, but it provides a viable alternative that has its advantages.
Unlike Google Maps, which is based on proprietary map data, Marble uses OpenStreetMap (OSM) as its primary map source. OSM is built by a global community of contributors (you can think of OSM as Wikipedia for maps), and all of the project's map data is open and free to use. The quality of OSM maps is excellent, and the project often beats Google Maps at its own game, providing the most up-to-date and complete maps. For obvious reasons, OSM doesn't provide a street view option or high-resolution satellite imagery, but Marble taps on other data sources to provide useful information, such as points of interest, photos, weather info, satellites, and more.
The application also features navigation functionality, so it can be used for planning trips and finding directions. As a native desktop application, Marble is lightning fast, and it features a user-friendly interface that puts all essential features at your fingertips. In short, Marble might not replace Google Maps or a smartphone with a map app, but it definitely deserves a closer look.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
There's a New Linux AI Assistant in Town
Newelle is a Linux AI assistant that can work with different LLMs and includes document parsing and profiles.
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Released with Minor Fixes
The latest Linux kernel doesn't really include any big-ticket features, just a lot of lines of code.
-
EU Sovereign Tech Fund Gains Traction
OpenForum Europe recently released a report regarding a sovereign tech fund with backing from several significant entities.
-
FreeBSD Promises a Full Desktop Installer
FreeBSD has lacked an option to include a full desktop environment during installation.
-
Linux Hits an Important Milestone
If you pay attention to the news in the Linux-sphere, you've probably heard that the open source operating system recently crashed through a ceiling no one thought possible.
-
Plasma Bigscreen Returns
A developer discovered that the Plasma Bigscreen feature had been sitting untouched, so he decided to do something about it.
-
CachyOS Now Lets Users Choose Their Shell
Imagine getting the opportunity to select which shell you want during the installation of your favorite Linux distribution. That's now a thing.
-
Wayland 1.24 Released with Fixes and New Features
Wayland continues to move forward, while X11 slowly vanishes into the shadows, and the latest release includes plenty of improvements.
-
Bugs Found in sudo
Two critical flaws allow users to gain access to root privileges.
-
Fedora Continues 32-Bit Support
In a move that should come as a relief to some portions of the Linux community, Fedora will continue supporting 32-bit architecture.