Search introduce Ranking places and better categorization

[NohWayJose]

Search is very frustrating because some (many) searches return pages and pages of results. For example, try searching for London. If I'm after a hotel or hairdresser or bus stop, I have to scroll at top speed for about a minute before I get beyond the most populous categories. Firstly, I can't know what the categories are called as there are soooo many. but if I choose the categories tab, with expectation that I'll be able to see and filter from all the categories, it seems that's a highly constrained list. I can't, for instance search on a name and then refine the returned list by picking a category (or categories); I'd have to refine my search by correctly remembering & typing the name of a category. I'd expect to be able to search by name string (or substring), category, sub-category, in any order and with equal ease, preferring to use selection to refine the search criteria over lots of navigation, using my memory, return navigation and error free typing.

1. Selecting one category from the small subset available in the categories tab shows instances nearby, ranked, it seems, by distance, which is fine.
2. Selecting a category, as above and augmenting the search field does offer more specific results and again ranked by distance.
3. Selecting some categories (e.g. Food) includes several other categories (pubs, cafes, restaurants, etc). If there is a hierarchy it should be explicit and complete, such as showing a tree of hierarchies (even just an indented list). Then a user can choose any category at any level, from the full list as one of their search criteria, with the expectation that child categories will apply when parent categories are selected (making explicit what is currently implicit).
4. I see no easy way to centre the search around a different location or along a route. if for example I need to pick up drinks or flowers near my destination or go for a pee, fuel the car or grab a bite en route, then I'd like to be able to specify 'near destination' or 'along route'.
5. How about ranking by recommendation too? (Do Trip Adviser have a free API?)

[NohWayJose]

How does this make it from nice to have to let's design and deliver it? I'm happy to design it if there's a commitment to deliver it.

[NohWayJose]

Any progress? The unusable search results is the major reason OSMAnd is difficult to use. This would be the single most useful enhancement you could make to the App! (well maybe near tie with an intelligent strategy to improve rendering time - see my other feature request)

[vshcherb]

No public api ranking for OSM places today exist, so it's not feasible. About tree hierarchy I didn't understand, search works near map view location (if it's far enough from my location) or it's present in context menu search near by.