If you’re the kind of person who lives in the terminal, loves ASCII art, or just enjoys exploring clever open-source tools, you’ll appreciate MapSCII—a world map rendered entirely in your terminal window.
Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a real-time, interactive map of the world, drawn with nothing but characters.
What is MapSCII?
MapSCII is a Braille and ASCII world map that runs in your terminal. It’s open source, built with Node.js, and fetches live map data from OpenStreetMap. Think of it as the lo-fi, text-based cousin of Google Maps—built for command-line purists and people who appreciate minimalist software done right.
It’s not just a static map either. You can zoom, scroll, and pan across the world, from major continents down to street-level details (depending on the resolution and data availability).
Why Use It?
Here’s the thing: you don’t need MapSCII. But once you try it, you’ll probably want to keep it.
- It’s lightweight – No need for a browser or GUI. It runs in a terminal.
- It’s portable – Works across Linux, macOS, and even Windows (with a proper terminal).
- It’s just cool – For developers, sysadmins, or tech hobbyists, it’s a fun and geeky tool to show off or get lost in.
- It works offline – You can install a local version if you don’t want to rely on the public tile server.
How to Try It
You don’t need to install anything to use MapSCII. Just open your terminal and run:
telnet mapscii.meThat’s it. You’ll instantly be connected to a live ASCII-rendered map. Use your keyboard to navigate:
↑ ↓ ← →– Move around+and-– Zoom in and outq– Quit
If telnet isn’t available, you can also install it locally via npm:
npm install -g mapscii
mapsciiBehind the Scenes
MapSCII uses vector-tile data and renders it in Braille characters (which offer higher resolution than standard ASCII). It’s built with Node.js and relies on open map data, making it both open-source and community-driven.
Who Made This?
MapSCII was created by Felix Bruns, and the project is hosted on GitHub. It’s actively maintained and has contributions from a small but passionate group of developers.
You can check it out or contribute here:
https://github.com/rastapasta/mapscii
Final Thoughts
MapSCII is a perfect example of how creativity and code can make something both fun and surprisingly useful. Whether you’re showing off to friends, exploring OpenStreetMap data in a unique way, or just need a little break from your workflow, this tiny tool is worth a few minutes of your time.
Give it a try. It might be the nerdiest way you explore the planet today.
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