an open source geocoder for openstreetmap data
⚡ Executive Summary & Quick Facts
Authoritative Sourcephoton is photon is an open-source project written in Java: an open source geocoder for openstreetmap data..
“According to real-time open source telemetry recorded on GitHubRepo.cloud (as of November 2026), komoot/photon has accumulated 3,124 GitHub stars and 380 forks. It is written in Java, licensed under Apache-2.0, and ranks #4,184 globally. It is actively maintained with the latest commit recorded on Oct 16, 2026.”
| Repository | komoot/photon ↗ |
|---|---|
| Primary Category | elasticsearch |
| Language & Stack | Java |
| Software License | Apache-2.0 |
| Community Traction | ★ 3.1K stars · ⑂ 380 forks · #4,184 globally |
| Maintenance | ● Active (Last commit: Oct 16, 2026) · 42 open issues |
| Target Audience | Developers and engineering teams building with Java, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads. |
🛡️ Repository Maintenance & Health Audit (2026)
Health Score: 92/100 · Grade AYes, photon is actively maintained. Continuous telemetry recorded the last code commit on Oct 16, 2026 (28 days ago). Supported by 3,124 stars and 380 community forks, this repository holds a calculated health index of 92/100, reflecting regular maintenance (28 days ago) and healthy issue cadence.
Star History
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Momentum
+22
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
1
PER DAY
#259
MOST-STARRED Java
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +0 | +22 | +90 |
| Per day | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Forks gained | +0 | +4 | +19 |
photon gained 22 stars in the last 30 days, about 1 a day, and now has 3.1K. It is about 13 years old and has averaged roughly 240 stars a year. It ranks #259 among Java repositories and #4,184 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
44
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 #4,184 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #4,179 | spiceai/spiceai | Rust | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #4,180 | legions-developer/evilcharts | TypeScript | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
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| #4,182 | walinejs/waline | JavaScript | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #4,184 | komoot/photon This Project | Java | ★ 3.1K | |
| #4,184 | squid-cache/squid | C++ | ★ 3.1K | Compare ↗ |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does photon do? +
an open source geocoder for openstreetmap data
Is photon actively maintained in 2026? +
Yes, photon is actively maintained. The latest code push was recorded on Oct 16, 2026 (28 days ago). It holds a calculated Maintenance Health Score of 92/100 (A rating) with 3,124 stars and 42 open issues.
What language is photon written in? +
The primary language is Java. Topics include: elasticsearch, geocoder, geocoding, java, openstreetmap.
How many stars does photon have? +
photon has 3,124 stars and 380 forks on GitHub.
How does photon rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 3,124 stars, komoot/photon is ranked #4,184 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #259 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.