an open source geocoder for openstreetmap data
Star History
Momentum
+77
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
3
PER DAY
#102
MOST-STARRED Java
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +21 | +77 | +270 |
| Per day | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Forks gained | +2 | +8 | +19 |
photon gained 77 stars in the last 30 days, about 3 a day, and now has 3.1K. It is about 13 years old and has averaged roughly 237 stars a year. It ranks #102 among Java repositories and #1,473 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
5
DAYS ON TRENDING
#754
BEST RANK
Sep 24, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
photon has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #754. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
photon is an open-source project written in Java: an open source geocoder for openstreetmap data.
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in elasticsearch, geocoder, geocoding. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in Java for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ git clone https://github.com/komoot/photon.git
cd photon⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
JDK 17 or higher (OpenJDK / GraalVM)
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
photon coordinates its core functionality through a modular Java pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Production System Integration
Embed photon into Java backend services to handle core application logic.
CI/CD Automated Pipelines
Run automated validation, builds, and integration suites during deployments.
Developer Tooling & Workflows
Accelerate developer onboarding with pre-configured project utilities.
Open Source Extension
Fork and customize internal modules under the repository's open Apache-2.0 license.
🚀 Getting Started
Install photon using your package manager: `git clone https://github.com/komoot/photon.git`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for photon.
Import photon into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `photon --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with Java, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
komoot/photon is currently ranked #1,473 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1,467 | OmniNull/OmniWM | Swift | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,469 | apache/cloudstack | Java | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,470 | filegator/filegator | PHP | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,470 | Schneegans/Burn-My-Windows | JavaScript | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,470 | oceanbase/seekdb | C++ | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,473 | komoot/photon This Project | Java | ★ 3.1K | |
| #1,474 | twmb/franz-go | Go | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,475 | widelands/widelands | C++ | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,476 | uncrustify/uncrustify | C++ | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,476 | RevenueCat/purchases-ios | Swift | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,478 | anthropics/commerce-agents | Python | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does photon do? +
an open source geocoder for openstreetmap data
What language is photon written in? +
The primary language is Java. Topics include: elasticsearch, geocoder, geocoding, java, openstreetmap.
Is photon actively maintained? +
Yes, the last recorded push was on Sep 24, 2026 with 42 open issues being tracked.
How many stars does photon have? +
photon has 3,077 stars and 375 forks on GitHub.
How does photon rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 3,077 stars, komoot/photon is ranked #1,473 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #102 among Java projects.
What license is photon distributed under? +
The repository reports a Apache-2.0 license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.
