This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/opensource by /u/DaTurboD on 2026-01-21 12:40:27+00:00.

Hey r/opensource,

I got tired of GPS apps that force you through their cloud or make you run complex middleware just to log locations to your own database.

So I built Colota - it’s dead simple:

  • Point it at your server (any HTTPS endpoint)
  • It POSTs JSON with your GPS coords
  • Done.

Why you might care:

  • Works offline-first - saves to local SQLite, syncs when it can
  • Custom JSON fields - your API wants latitude instead of lat? Just rename it in settings
  • Geofences - auto-pause tracking at home/work (privacy + battery)
  • No cloud/telemetry/tracking - your data stays on your device or YOUR server
  • Open source (Github)

Example use cases:

  • Live map on your personal website
  • Simple INSERT INTO locations to PostgreSQL
  • Home Assistant webhook
  • Literally any server that accepts POST requests

Current integrations that work:

  • Dawarich (works great out of the box)
  • OwnTracks Recorder
  • Home Assistant
  • Custom backends (just needs to accept JSON)

Features in roadmap:

  • Smart Geofence Management (Visual geofence editor (drag to resize) and Statistics: "You spent 8 hours at work today"
  • Location History Trail with Date Filter (See your movement paths over time)
  • Statistics Dashboard (Distance traveled (daily/weekly/monthly; Most visited locations)

I need 12 beta testers for Google Play requirements (14 days)

If you have:

  • ✅ Android phone
  • ✅ Your own server (or want to test offline mode)
  • ✅ 5 minutes to install and give feedback

Join the Google Group [colota-beta-testing@googlegroups.com](mailto:colota-beta-testing@googlegroups.com) and then you can download the beta version at play.google.com/apps/testing/com.Colota

FAQ:

Q: Does it drain battery?

A: ~5-10% per hour with optimizations. Silent zones help a lot.

Q: What’s the difference vs OwnTracks?

A: Persistent SQLite (OwnTracks uses memory), better retry logic, built-in export, no server software required.

Q: Do I NEED a server?

A: Nope. Works 100% offline. Server is optional. You can export data from the app and use it e.g. in QGIS

Q: What data does it send?

A: Only GPS coords to YOUR endpoint. Zero telemetry.

Free forever. No ads. Open source.