I am not knowledge in the area, but wouldn't it be better to work to add a Linux build to comaps, rather than starting from relative scratch?

https://flathub.org/en/apps/app.comaps.comaps

You work quickly. Next do an RCS messaging app for Linux.

Already exists: https://flathub.org/en/apps/app.comaps.comaps

RCS is a service that requires a closed source backend run by google and google authorized companies. It also requires google play services for the frontend. Its an inherently closed system. Google controls who and how it can be used.

Raaaaa I've been wanting exactly this for my phone, and I don't know how I didn't find it on f-droid. Thankssss

No doubt. I'm not exactly a fan, but SMS/MMS is painful. And my normies don't use Signal or other privacy oriented apps. There's no winning.

Since magic earth went freemium and started charging for the useful bit of it I'm waiting for an alternative. ME was closed source, but I was willing to overlook that since it at least wasn't google.

Basically I want a libre version of Waze not owned by Google.
Extra sweet if they could save the traffic data in an open format on a platform where volunteers could pool resources, like IPFS or Hyphanet or something like that.

No it doesn't. It's a federated service that's controlled by the GSMA. Services are either provided by your phone provider or Google. As far as I know it's not an open standard, meaning that you need a licence to develop a client. But the licencing is not controlled by Google but by the GSM Alliance (the same organisation that controls the GSM cell standard)

I was really annoyed whith the freemium of Magic Earth shipping with /e/OS, so went back to HERE WeGo that is perfect for my use.

OsmAnd~ is decent navigation app on mobile

Services are either provided by your phone provider or Google.

From what ive seen the phone providers are using googles backend software called "Google Jibe". Its theoretically open, but in practice everyone depends on googles stack and the entire concept of RCS would immediately cease existing if google willed it.

Also by the fact that it doesnt work on degoogled phones you can surmise that google has the ability to disable or limit the feature on any device with google play services.

Its just inherently flawed and clearly an attempt at "open washing"

Had a friend vibe-code an offline maps clone based on OSM data, and it has been amazing. They even synced it with local bus data, so very nice.

Excellent dataset and I really hope more people get access to it.

From what ive seen the phone providers are using googles backend software called “Google Jibe”

A lot of them are. But Google is not the only option. There are carriers that roll their own solution, rater than using googles white label solution. Chinese carriers are for example offering RCS under the name of 5GMessaging and they aren't using Jibe.

Also by the fact that it doesnt work on degoogled phones you can surmise that google has the ability to disable or limit the feature on any device with google play services.

but that's a client problem, not a server problem. There are providers in some regions who offer their own apps that still work with custom roms. It's just the Google Messaging app that does play services attestation. Almost everyone uses this client, but it is only almost everyone.

I don't disagree that there is some open washing going on, but that wasn't your original claim. You stated that Google needs to approve any client and that's just factually wrong.

I have a cow that shits little cows made if gold. Hope more people her access to it. Can't show you though.

The OSM data is open; go enjoy.

Does that have live traffic data and people reporting obstacles and traffic and such?

This might not be the best solution, but Sygic is great, often at a deep discount and Slovakian.

Depending on the country though. I heard osmand and co are great in the USA. In Germany I found them all very unhelpful.

Navigation was the "killer app" that paved my way from flip-phone to my first smartphone in 2014. The market for any smartphone would be pretty sparse without nav.

It costs money to host servers. If you want traffic data worldwide with live updates, you need servers.

Could it be done peer to peer? Well maybe, but people's phones would be running pretty hot if they had to double as nodes, or we'd have to have a fediverse of servers for it. Someone is always going to have to pay for it.

It has traffic data from national sources for a few countries.

I only rent a car when moving or going to shop for cheep alcohol in Sweden, normally on weekends or slow weekdays, so not sure for the status in Norway, but can check tomorrow morning.