Checking weather from a System 7?



Welcome, Guest \| Home \| Search \| Login \| Register


Author	Checking weather from a System 7? (Read 13866 times)
Bolkonskij Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023	on: December 20, 2021, 16:07 So I've been playing with an API for weather data some time ago. I created a little prototype that allows checking your local weather from your System 7 Mac as well as a forecast for the next days. It's just some HTML 3 + PHP and works really well (and fast) from even a lowly 68k machine and Netscape 3. Would that be something you'd be interesting in? This might as well be interesting for Hypercard to tinker with. I haven't read into it, but I distinctly remember reading that there's an add-on adding the ability for http requests to Hypercard. So this could be made a stand-alone app probably too.

ovalking 128 MB Posts: 199	Reply #1 on: December 21, 2021, 10:49 Yeah that would be cool Bolkonskij. Usual place to check weather forecast in UK would be https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ but this doesn't work in Sys 7. It partially works with Classilla. I'm limited to checking the current conditions via my most local weather station http://www.holmessoft.co.uk/homepage/Weather/ Sorry I'v no experience to help with the project.rr
Last Edit: December 21, 2021, 10:51 by ovalking
wove 1024 MB Posts: 1363	Reply #2 on: December 21, 2021, 17:53 Wonderful link! I always wanted a weather station, but whenever it seems like it was close to happening, something came up that bumped it down the list. It is a bit warmer where you are than it is in the Upper Midwest of the USA. If the indoor temperature is you home, it is a bit warmer as well. It is calm today (which means it will be windy after sun set). We have 25mph winds a couple times a week and 40-50mph winds are not unusual. Low overnight was ~-10C (12F) with the high espected about -2C (30F). Geez why does anyone even live here?

Bolkonskij Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023	Reply #3 on: December 27, 2021, 11:25 Had the passion and time this morning, so I patched up a first version that works on your old Mac: Click me No full error handling yet, not optimized yet, not 100% HTML 3.2 yet. This is working progress. Try it. But please don't share it. But you can check the weather in any city and a 48 hours forecast. Which will be helpful for me answering my daughters question ("daddy, when will it snow?") even when I'm on my 8600 now Like I said, first version, name, styles etc. may all be subject to change. Any suggestions welcome!
Last Edit: April 30, 2022, 14:57 by Bolkonskij
ovalking 128 MB Posts: 199	Reply #4 on: December 28, 2021, 09:59 Wow! I'm very impressed such excellence was created so quickly.¿

Bolkonskij Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023	Reply #5 on: January 04, 2022, 13:28 Actually it's pretty basic still, if I can manage, I'll add up a decent error handling among other things this weekend. I wonder if we should "outsource" this from System 7 Today and offer it on its own domain, much like 68k.news does (like it a lot!). Do you guys think that is something that you and other would be interested in using on your old gear? In the meantime, I'm busy busy busy playing with Hypercard in whatever free time can I find these weeks :-)

cballero 1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever	Reply #6 on: January 05, 2022, 00:24 Haha, you're going to get lost in Hypercard my friend! This is a lovely weather tracker!! My only observation would be that since Fahrenheit is the standard that's used in the U.S., even though it's a minor detail, its inclusion would be nice (no conversion tables or calculators would be needed for U.S.-based users)!

Bolkonskij Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023	Reply #7 on: January 05, 2022, 20:52 oh I am, it's dangerous! I already have three stacks I'm working on in parallel. Very dangerous You're absolutely right, I should add some Fahrenheit values for our American friends. That'll be in the next update - thanks!

ovalking 128 MB Posts: 199	Reply #8 on: January 05, 2022, 22:52 Using this daily, it's great - even the forecast is pretty accurate! On the subject of temperature, I suggest we don't need it to a 100th°, which would make it a little easier to read. Wind direction would be a nice addition. Cyclists like to know this!

68040 512 MB Posts: 950 68k - thy kingdom come, thy will be done !	Reply #9 on: February 07, 2022, 12:24 MacWeather is no option I suppose? https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/macweather

ovalking 128 MB Posts: 199	Reply #10 on: February 07, 2022, 14:37 I've never been able to get a response from the MacWeather server.:

68040 512 MB Posts: 950 68k - thy kingdom come, thy will be done !	Reply #11 on: February 08, 2022, 11:01 Hello ovalking, I don't think the developer ran hhis own server back in the day. Rather that he went on one of the public weather stations on the Internet and their IP addresses have changed over time. So you could try and patch that IP# directly in the source code or try your luck at routing it to another desitnation.

Bolkonskij Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023	Reply #12 on: February 08, 2022, 20:43 MacWeather breaks for me in OS9. (error type 3 / illegal instruction) Given it's age (1994), it might be wise to code up a new and much more flexible app. @all - thanks for your suggestions! I haven't got around further working on it (or making up my mind if this should have its own place) but it's on the to-do list.

Bolkonskij Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023	Reply #13 on: April 17, 2022, 15:06 Finally got around writing some more code for the weather service. I think I've implemented all feedback I've gotten so far. - added Fahrenheit temps (thanks cballero!) - cut decimals after point (thanks ovalking) - added wind direction in degrees (thanks ovalking!) - extended the table for easier reading (i hope) - shrank top graphics to 9kb for speed on real 68k Macs. Need to further improve. What do you think? Should I push this weather service to its own domain?
Last Edit: April 30, 2022, 14:57 by Bolkonskij
Bolkonskij Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023	Reply #14 on: April 30, 2022, 15:00 Changed the URL to its final destination: system7today.com/weather Please update your bookmarks if you have any. It's near finished for now I think, unless I get some bug reports. I've decided to have it stay on System 7 Today. Feel free to use it and pass the URL on to others. I'll keep using it with my System 7 Macs as well :-)

	Pages: [1] 2

© 2021 System7Today.com.
The Apple Logo, Macintosh™, Mac OS™, and others property of Apple Computer, Inc.
This site is in no way affiliated with Apple Computer, Inc.