Cloudi

Project Background

Cloudi is a modern weather application designed to provide users with accurate and timely weather information. Utilizing data from OpenMeteo, NOAA, and NWS, Cloudi offers both hourly and daily forecasts, along with a comprehensive weather radar. The app features both light and dark modes to enhance user experience and accessibility.

Project Goals

The primary objective of Cloudi is to deliver a reliable and user-friendly weather application that meets the needs of users seeking detailed weather information. Key goals include:

1. Accurate Forecasts: Provide precise hourly and daily weather forecasts using data from trusted sources like OpenMeteo.
2. User-Friendly Interface: Design an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, with both light and dark mode options.
3. Comprehensive Radar: Integrate a weather radar powered by NOAA and NWS to offer real-time weather tracking.

Feature Overview

Cloudi combines essential weather functionalities with unique features designed for user convenience and accuracy. Notable features include:

1. Hourly and Daily Forecasts: Detailed weather forecasts that update regularly to provide the most current information.
2. Weather Radar: A real-time radar that helps users track weather patterns and anticipate changes.
3. Light and Dark Mode: Customizable display settings to suit user preferences and improve readability in different lighting conditions.

Development Stack

Cloudi is built using Next.js and React to ensure a high-performance front-end and seamless user experience. The stack includes:

1. Next.js and React: For creating a responsive, fast-loading interface and improving page load times across various devices.
2. Redis: To manage session data and caching, enhancing speed and ensuring that frequently accessed data is readily available.
3. PostgreSQL: As the core relational database, PostgreSQL manages data reliably and securely, while supporting the complex data requirements of a weather application.
4. OpenMeteo API: Provides the weather data for hourly and daily forecasts.
5. NOAA and NWS: Powers the weather radar with real-time data.

Development Process

The development of Cloudi has been an iterative process, incorporating regular feedback from users to prioritize the most useful features. Significant updates have included:

1. Radar speed improvements based on user feedback.
2. Enhanced UI/UX to make navigation and accessibility seamless.
3. Integration of light and dark mode for better user experience.

Current Status and Future Plans

Cloudi is currently live in beta, with continued feature additions based on real-world feedback. Upcoming plans include faster radar updates, custom fields for user name and location, and further enhancements to the user interface.