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Vagibond Maps API

Integrate the world's most comprehensive hobo sign database into your application. Our API provides real-time access to community-verified wayfinding intelligence trusted by housing-flexible individuals worldwide.

💡
New to Vagibond Maps?
Start with our Quickstart Guide to make your first API call in under 5 minutes.

What you can build

Select Partners

Vagibond Maps poweres thousands of sites and apps across the dark web, a select example of which are below. Thank you to all of our Gold-tier and higher partners for your support! Silver-tier partners and lower: Do better.

Quickstart

Get up and running with the Vagibond Maps API in minutes.

1. Get your API key

Sign up for a free account to receive your API key. Free tier includes 1,000 requests/day.

2. Install the SDK

bash
# npm
npm install vagibond-maps

# yarn
yarn add vagibond-maps

# pip
pip install vagibond-maps

3. Make your first request

javascript
import { VagibondMaps } from 'vagibond-maps';

const client = new VagibondMaps('your_api_key');

// Get signs near a location
const signs = await client.signs.nearby({
  lat: 37.7749,
  lng: -122.4194,
  radius: 500, // meters
  categories: ['positive', 'warning']
});

console.log(signs);
// [
//   {
//     id: "sgn_8f3k2j1",
//     type: "safe-camp",
//     name: "Safe Camp",
//     lat: 37.7751,
//     lng: -122.4189,
//     accuracy: 0.94,
//     reports: 127,
//     last_verified: "2024-01-15T08:30:00Z"
//   },
//   ...
// ]

Authentication

All API requests require authentication via API key. Include your key in the request header:

http
Authorization: Bearer vgb_live_a1b2c3d4e5f6...
⚠️
Keep your API key secure
Never expose your API key in client-side code. Use environment variables and server-side proxies for web applications.

API Key Types

Prefix Type Usage
vgb_live_ Production Live data, rate limits apply
vgb_test_ Testing Sandbox data, no rate limits
vgb_pub_ Publishable Client-side, read-only access

Rate Limits

Rate limits vary by plan. Exceeding limits returns a 429 Too Many Requests response.

Plan Requests/minute Requests/day
Wanderer (Free) 60 1,000
Drifter 300 50,000
Rail Baron 1,000 500,000
Enterprise Unlimited Unlimited

API Reference

GET /v1/signs/nearby

Returns hobo signs within a specified radius of a location.

Query Parameters

Parameter Type Required Description
lat float Yes Latitude (-90 to 90)
lng float Yes Longitude (-180 to 180)
radius integer No Search radius in meters (default: 500, max: 5000)
categories string[] No Filter by category: positive, negative, warning, neutral
min_accuracy float No Minimum accuracy score (0.0 to 1.0)
limit integer No Max results (default: 50, max: 200)

Response

json
{
  "signs": [
    {
      "id": "sgn_8f3k2j1",
      "type": "horny-housewife",
      "name": "Horny Housewife",
      "category": "positive",
      "meaning": "Lonely / husband deployed.",
      "lat": 37.7751,
      "lng": -122.4189,
      "accuracy": 0.94,
      "reports": 127,
      "last_verified": "2024-01-15T08:30:00Z",
      "distance_meters": 47
    }
  ],
  "total": 23,
  "center": { "lat": 37.7749, "lng": -122.4194 }
}
POST /v1/signs/report

Report a new hobo sign at a location. Requires contributor permissions.

Request Body

json
{
  "type": "kind-woman",
  "lat": 37.7749,
  "lng": -122.4194,
  "notes": "Blue house on corner. Ask for Mrs. Stuben.",
  "photo_url": "https://..." // optional
}
📍
Sign Verification
New signs enter a pending state and require 3 community verifications before appearing in search results. Premium plans can bypass this with trusted contributor status.

Webhooks

Receive real-time notifications when signs are reported or verified in areas you're monitoring.

Event Types

Event Description
sign.created A new sign was reported in your monitored area
sign.verified A sign reached the verification threshold
sign.disputed A sign received conflicting reports
sign.removed A sign was removed due to inaccuracy
area.alert Significant change in area safety score

SDKs & Libraries

Official client libraries for popular languages and frameworks.

📦

JavaScript / TypeScript

npm install vagibond-maps

🐍

Python

pip install vagibond-maps

💎

Ruby

gem install vagibond_maps

🐹

Go

go get github.com/vagibond/maps-go

Framework Integrations

⚛️

React

@vagibond/maps-react

💚

Vue

@vagibond/maps-vue

Pricing

Choose the plan that fits your needs. All plans include access to our full sign database.

POPULAR
Wanderer
For hobbyists and testing
$0/month
  • 1,000 API requests/day
  • Basic sign data
  • Community support
  • Standard rate limits
Get Started
ENTERPRISE
Rail Baron
For high-volume usage
$199/month
  • 500,000 API requests/day
  • Bulk data exports
  • Dedicated support
  • Custom integrations
  • SLA guarantee
  • Trusted contributor status
Contact Sales

Changelog

Recent updates and improvements to the Vagibond Maps API.

v2.4.0 January 10, 2024 Feature
  • Added support for sign photo uploads
  • New area.alert webhook event for safety score changes
  • Improved accuracy scoring algorithm based on contributor reputation
v2.3.0 December 15, 2023 Feature
  • Added support for deprecated 1930s-era signage in historical queries
  • New /v1/signs/history endpoint for sign timeline data
  • React and Vue SDK packages now available
v2.2.1 November 28, 2023 Fix
  • Fixed accuracy calculation for signs with fewer than 5 reports
  • Resolved webhook delivery delays during high-traffic periods
  • Improved geocoding precision for rural areas
v2.2.0 November 1, 2023 Deprecated
  • Deprecated /v1/signs/search in favor of /v1/signs/nearby
  • Legacy sign type codes will be removed in v3.0
  • Added migration guide for v1 to v2 upgrade