CeBIT Open Source Project Lounge - Navit
Navit -- open source navigation software
ByNavit is among the 15 projects to present their work during CeBIT 2010, offering an open-source navigation with support for many mapping formats.

In a nutshell - describe your project in a few words.
Navit is a platform-independent and modularly built open source navigation software with support for various mapping formats. Its goal is to provide software based free mapping data such as OpenStreetMap that satisfies the needs of car drivers, bicycle riders and pedestrians in the commercial and public realm and that is flexibly suited for users.
When did the project begin?
Navit was registered with SourceForge on November 21, 2005, although it had already been in developmenty for a long time as a private project.
How many active members does the project have?
We currently have 36 international developers registered with SourceForge, with five to ten of them already active over many years.
How did the project come about?
Navit developed from a private need to have a Linux-based navigation system in a car PC.
What would make a CeBIT visitor interested in your booth?
To gather information about how to solve navigation problems by using open source software and a free mapping solution that is not possible or too cost-intensive with a commercial navigation system.
Who do you make your software for?
Navit is for interested home users, research facilities that are experimenting with navigation software, and companies who cannot meet or adequately meet their requirements with closed source navigation systems.
Where do you see your biggest current challenge?
Usability, performance and compatibility with OpenStreetMap.
If you were to hire a full-time project developer now, what problem should he or she be ready to solve?
He or she should be ready to improve usability and the GUI design.
Under which license is the software currently offered?
Navit is licensed under GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv).
Internet adress: http://www.navit-project.org.
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
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 is Available
Linus Torvalds has announced that the latest kernel has been released with plenty of core improvements and even more hardware support.
-
Kali Linux 2025.3 Released with New Hacking Tools
If you're a Kali Linux fan, you'll be glad to know that the third release of this famous pen-testing distribution is now available with updates for key components.
-
Zorin OS 18 Beta Available for Testing
The latest release from the team behind Zorin OS is ready for public testing, and it includes plenty of improvements to make it more powerful, user-friendly, and productive.
-
Fedora Linux 43 Beta Now Available for Testing
Fedora Linux 43 Beta ships with Gnome 49 and KDE Plasma 6.4 (and other goodies).
-
USB4 Maintainer Leaves Intel
Michael Jamet, one of the primary maintainers of USB4 and Thunderbolt drivers, has left Intel, leaving a gaping hole for the Linux community to deal with.
-
Budgie 10.9.3 Now Available
The latest version of this elegant and configurable Linux desktop aligns with changes in Gnome 49.
-
KDE Linux Alpha Available for Daring Users
It's official, KDE Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time.
-
AMD Initiates Graphics Driver Updates for Linux Kernel 6.18
This new AMD update focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs.
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.