Overview
An elegant weather dashboard that provides detailed weather information including current conditions, hourly forecasts, and 7-day predictions. Built with Vue.js for reactive UI updates, the app features location search with autocomplete, interactive charts for temperature and precipitation trends, and a beautiful, intuitive interface that adapts to current weather conditions.
Key Features
- Current Weather - Detailed metrics including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and UV index
- 7-Day Forecast - Extended forecast with high/low temperatures and conditions
- Hourly Forecast - Hour-by-hour breakdown with temperature trends
- Location Search - Autocomplete search with geolocation support
- Interactive Charts - Beautiful visualizations for temperature and precipitation
- Weather Alerts - Important weather warnings and advisories
- Favorite Locations - Save and quickly switch between multiple locations
- Dynamic Backgrounds - UI adapts to current weather conditions
- Unit Support - Toggle between metric and imperial units
Technical Details
API Integration
Integrated with OpenWeather API for comprehensive weather data. Implemented a caching layer with localStorage to reduce API calls and improve performance. Added retry logic with exponential backoff for reliability.
Data Visualization
Used Chart.js for interactive temperature and precipitation charts. Customized tooltips and animations for a polished user experience. Implemented responsive charts that adapt to screen size.
State Management
Leveraged Vue 3's Composition API with Pinia for state management. Created composables for reusable logic like fetching weather data and managing user preferences.
User Experience
Designed smooth transitions between weather conditions with CSS animations. Implemented skeleton loaders for better perceived performance. Added error states with helpful messages and retry buttons.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: Handling API rate limits efficiently while providing real-time data.
Solution: Implemented an intelligent caching system that stores weather data with timestamps. Fresh data is fetched only when cache is older than 10 minutes or user explicitly requests refresh. This reduced API calls by 85% while maintaining data freshness.
Challenge: Creating smooth animations for weather condition transitions.
Solution: Used Vue's transition system with custom CSS animations. Pre-loaded background images for different weather conditions to prevent flickering. Implemented progressive enhancement so animations only run on capable devices.
Design Highlights
- Adaptive UI - Background colors and icons change based on weather conditions
- Micro-interactions - Subtle animations for temperature changes and icon transitions
- Accessibility - Full keyboard navigation and screen reader support
- Mobile-First - Optimized for mobile devices with touch-friendly controls
- Dark Mode - Automatic dark mode based on time of day
What I Learned
- Mastered Vue 3 Composition API and composables pattern
- Advanced data visualization techniques with Chart.js
- API optimization strategies including caching and rate limiting
- Creating delightful micro-interactions and smooth animations
- Progressive enhancement for better performance across devices
- Working with geolocation APIs and browser permissions