Weather-Forecast [Project]

A Command-Line Weather Checker Using OpenWeatherMap API

Weather data plays a vital role in daily life, whether it’s planning activities or studying climate trends. To address this need, I developed a Command-Line Weather Forecasting Tool that retrieves real-time weather information and forecasts using the OpenWeatherMap API. This blog explores its features and functionality.

The project is available on GitHub: Weather-Forecast.

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Key Features

The Weather Forecasting Tool provides essential weather information for any city. Here are its standout features:

1. Current Weather
   Get real-time weather details, including temperature, wind speed, humidity, weather conditions (e.g., sunny, cloudy, rainy), and “feels like” temperature.

2. 5-Day Weather Forecast
   Access detailed hourly weather forecasts for the next five days, helping users plan their activities effectively.

3. Support for Metric and Imperial Units
   Choose between metric (Celsius, m/s) and imperial (Fahrenheit, mph) units for temperature and wind speed.

4. Help Documentation
   A built-in help feature guides users on available commands and options, ensuring ease of use.

5. Error Handling
   The tool gracefully handles errors such as invalid city names or API issues, providing informative error messages.

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How to Use the Tool

Using the Weather Forecasting Tool is simple. Follow these steps:

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

    git clone https://github.com/paulrounak/Weather-Forecast.git
   

2. Navigate to the project directory:

    cd Weather-Forecast
   

3. Obtain an OpenWeatherMap API key from OpenWeatherMap. Replace the placeholder key in the script with your API key.

Running the Script

Run the script directly from the terminal with the desired options:

Examples

• Current Weather in Metric Units:

    python weathermap.py -c Hawaii
  

• 5-Day Forecast in Imperial Units:

    python weathermap.py -F Hawaii
  

Help Command

To view available options, use the -h flag:

python weathermap.py -h

This displays:

• -c: Current weather in metric units.
• -f: 5-day forecast in metric units.
• -C: Current weather in imperial units.
• -F: 5-day forecast in imperial units.
• -h: Help documentation.

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How It Works

Validating Input

The script validates user-provided input to ensure correctness. Invalid city names or incorrect flags trigger a help message for guidance.

Fetching Weather Data

The tool uses the OpenWeatherMap API to fetch real-time weather and forecasts. Depending on the selected options, it constructs API requests for current conditions or 5-day forecasts in the chosen unit system.

Parsing and Displaying Data

The fetched JSON data is parsed and displayed in a user-friendly format. For forecasts, the data is organized by date and time.

Error Handling

The tool handles errors such as non-existent cities or API connectivity issues, displaying appropriate messages to ensure a smooth user experience.

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Development Insights

Role of GitHub Copilot

During development, GitHub Copilot proved invaluable by:

• Code Generation: Translating comments into functional code.
• Optimization: Suggesting efficient coding approaches.
• Auto-Suggestions: Recommending functions and libraries.
• Documentation Assistance: Generating comments and usage guides.

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Conclusion

The Weather Forecasting Tool is a simple yet powerful command-line application for real-time and forecasted weather data. Its support for different units, error handling, and detailed help documentation make it a reliable tool for users.

This project highlights the capabilities of Python, APIs, and tools like GitHub Copilot in enhancing productivity. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, this tool is a great resource to learn and build upon.

Feel free to explore the code, make modifications, or contribute to this open-source project!