startmap

Startmap is a term used in several domains to denote the initial or origin map used to establish a starting state, layout, or view. The exact meaning depends on the context, but it generally involves defining where things begin within a mapped space or structure.

In computing and systems software, a start map often refers to an initial map of memory or resources created during system startup. This typically lists available regions, their base addresses, lengths, and types (for example usable RAM, reserved areas, or I/O regions). The start map guides the kernel or firmware in configuring memory allocators, resource ownership, and early boot processes. It may be produced by the firmware, parsed by bootloaders, and translated into internal structures that the operating system uses during initialization.

In game development and level design, a start map describes the starting state of a level. It defines spawn points, initial environmental conditions, and the arrangement of objects at the moment the player begins. This start map serves as a template for live gameplay and is often distinct from the main level geometry or progression maps.

In geographic information systems and web mapping, the term can refer to the initial base layer or viewport loaded by a map viewer. This start map establishes the default extent, zoom level, and reference layers from which users begin exploration.

Startmap data is commonly represented as a list or table of entries, each indicating a start coordinate, range, or region, and can be serialized in formats such as JSON, XML, or YAML.

See also: memory map, base map, spawn point, level design.