mlnative

Render static map images from Python using MapLibre Native.

Platform: Linux x64, ARM64
Python: 3.12+

Uses the maplibre-native Rust crate for high-performance native rendering.

Quick Start

pip install mlnative

Check the local install and native renderer binary:

python -m mlnative doctor
# Optional full renderer check, no network tiles required:
python -m mlnative doctor --render

from mlnative import Map

with Map(512, 512) as m:
    png = m.render(center=[-122.4194, 37.7749], zoom=12)
    open("map.png", "wb").write(png)

For geocoding examples, install the optional extra:

pip install 'mlnative[geo]'

Features

• Zero config - Works out of the box with OpenFreeMap tiles
• HiDPI support - pixel_ratio=2 for sharp retina displays
• Batch rendering - Efficiently render hundreds of maps
• Optional geocoding extra - Use mlnative[geo] for address lookup examples
• Custom markers - Add GeoJSON points, lines, polygons

Screenshots

Map Styles

Different OpenFreeMap styles (rendered from "Sydney Opera House"):

Liberty (default)	Positron (light)	Dark Matter

Styles from OpenFreeMap

HiDPI / Retina Rendering

Same location, different pixel ratios:

Standard (1x)	HiDPI (2x)
400x300 px	800x600 px

Both displayed at 200px width. The 2x version has 4x more pixels for sharper details.

Both images show the exact same geographic area. The 2x version has 4x more pixels for sharper text and details on retina displays.

Examples

For the complete API reference, see docs/API.md.

Render from address (optional geo extra)

from geopy.geocoders import ArcGIS
from mlnative import Map

geolocator = ArcGIS()
location = geolocator.geocode("Sydney Opera House")

with Map(512, 512) as m:
    png = m.render(
        center=[location.longitude, location.latitude],
        zoom=15
    )

Install first with pip install 'mlnative[geo]'.

Fit bounds to show area

from mlnative import Map, feature_collection, point

# Show multiple locations
markers = feature_collection([
    point(-122.4194, 37.7749),  # SF
    point(-122.2712, 37.8044),  # Oakland
])

with Map(800, 600) as m:
    # Load style as dict to modify it
    style = {"version": 8, ...}  # your style
    m.load_style(style)
    m.set_geojson("markers", markers)
    
    # Fit map to show all markers
    center, zoom = m.fit_bounds(
        (-122.5, 37.7, -122.2, 37.9),  # xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax
        padding=50
    )
    png = m.render(center=center, zoom=zoom)

Batch render multiple cities (optional geo extra)

from geopy.geocoders import ArcGIS

geolocator = ArcGIS()

# Geocode multiple cities
cities = ["London", "New York", "Tokyo"]
locations = [geolocator.geocode(city) for city in cities]

# Create views for each city
views = [
    {"center": [loc.longitude, loc.latitude], "zoom": 10}
    for loc in locations
]

with Map(512, 512) as m:
    pngs = m.render_batch(views)  # Returns list of PNG bytes
    # pngs[0] = London, pngs[1] = New York, pngs[2] = Tokyo

HiDPI / Retina rendering

Use pixel_ratio to render high-resolution images for crisp display on retina/HiDPI screens.

center = [2.3522, 48.8566]  # Paris

# Standard display (1x) - 512x512 image
with Map(512, 512, pixel_ratio=1) as m:
    png = m.render(center=center, zoom=13)

# Retina/HiDPI display (2x) - 1024x1024 image
with Map(512, 512, pixel_ratio=2) as m:
    png = m.render(center=center, zoom=13)
    # Same geographic area, but text appears sharper

Key points:

• pixel_ratio=2 creates an image 2x larger in each dimension (4x total pixels)
• Shows the exact same geographic area as pixel_ratio=1
• Text, icons, and lines are rendered sharper, not smaller
• Common values: 1 (standard), 2 (retina), 3 (ultra-HD)

API Reference

Map(width, height, pixel_ratio=1.0)

Create map renderer. Context manager ensures cleanup.

Parameters:

• width, height: Output dimensions in CSS/logical pixels
• pixel_ratio: Scale factor for HiDPI (1=normal, 2=retina, 3=ultra-HD)
  • Output image dimensions will be width × pixel_ratio by height × pixel_ratio
  • Geographic coverage remains the same regardless of pixel_ratio
• timeout: Optional renderer command timeout in seconds. Defaults to MLNATIVE_TIMEOUT or 30.

render(center, zoom, bearing=0, pitch=0)

Render single view. Returns PNG bytes.

• center: [longitude, latitude]
• Center can be a list or tuple of two finite numbers.
• zoom: 0-24
• bearing: Rotation in degrees (0-360)
• pitch: Tilt in degrees (0-85)

render_batch(views)

Render multiple views efficiently.

views = [
    {"center": [lon, lat], "zoom": z},
    {"center": [lon, lat], "zoom": z, "bearing": 45},
]

# Per-view GeoJSON updates are not supported here. Use set_geojson()
# and render() in a loop when each image needs different source data.
# Large batches are capped to keep memory use predictable.

fit_bounds(bounds, padding=0, max_zoom=24)

Calculate center/zoom to fit bounding box. Bounds must stay within Web Mercator latitude limits (about ±85.0511°). Bounds can be a list or tuple: (xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax).

center, zoom = m.fit_bounds((xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax))
png = m.render(center=center, zoom=zoom)

set_geojson(source_id, geojson)

Update GeoJSON source in style (requires dict style, not URL). Each update reloads the full style in the current backend, so keep source payloads modest.

m.set_geojson("markers", {"type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [...]})

load_style(style)

Load custom style (URL, file path, or dict).

# OpenFreeMap styles
m.load_style("https://tiles.openfreemap.org/styles/liberty")
m.load_style("https://tiles.openfreemap.org/styles/positron")

# MapLibre demo
m.load_style("https://demotiles.maplibre.org/style.json")

# Custom style dict
m.load_style({"version": 8, "sources": {...}, "layers": [...]})

GeoJSON Helpers

from mlnative import point, feature_collection, from_coordinates, from_latlng, bounds_to_polygon

# Create point
sf = point(-122.4194, 37.7749, {"name": "San Francisco"})

# From coordinate tuples
fc = from_coordinates([(-122.4, 37.8), (-74.0, 40.7)])

# From GPS (lat, lng) order
fc = from_latlng([(37.8, -122.4), (40.7, -74.0)])

# Convert bounds to polygon
poly = bounds_to_polygon((-122.5, 37.7, -122.3, 37.9))

Notes

pixel_ratio and HiDPI rendering

The pixel_ratio parameter controls the resolution of the output image:

• Higher pixel_ratio = larger output image
• Same geographic area shown regardless of pixel_ratio
• Text and icons scale properly (sharper, not smaller)
• fit_bounds() automatically accounts for pixel_ratio

Other notes

• Default style: OpenFreeMap Liberty (no configuration needed)
• GeoJSON updates: Requires style loaded as dict, not URL
• Platform: Linux x64 and ARM64 wheels are published. Other platforms require a source build and compatible native dependencies.

Troubleshooting

• Start with python -m mlnative doctor; add --render for a local renderer smoke check.
• Native renderer binary not found: install a platform wheel or run just build-rust for source builds. PATH lookup is disabled unless MLNATIVE_USE_SYSTEM_BINARY=1 is set.
• Protocol version mismatch: rebuild the Rust renderer with just build-rust; the Python package and binary are out of sync.
• Timeout waiting for renderer: increase MLNATIVE_TIMEOUT for slow tile/style services. A timed-out renderer is stopped; create a new Map to retry.
• set_geojson() fails with URL-loaded style: load the style as a dict before mutating sources.

Server example safety

The FastAPI and web UI examples bind to 127.0.0.1 and use a small style allowlist. Before exposing a render endpoint publicly, add authentication, per-client quotas/rate limits, cache hot responses, cap worker concurrency, and restrict renderer network egress.

Development

See CONTRIBUTING.md for local development, CI/CD, style, and release guidance.

License

Apache-2.0