Weather Forecast PWA

A beautiful, fast, and reliable weather application that works offline and provides detailed forecasts with stunning visualizations.

Features

• Current Weather: Real-time weather conditions for any location
• 7-Day Forecast: Detailed daily and hourly forecasts
• Interactive Charts: Beautiful weather data visualizations
• Offline Support: Works without internet connection
• Location Detection: Automatic location detection with manual search
• Multiple Units: Support for metric and imperial units
• Weather Alerts: Severe weather notifications

Tech Stack

• Core: React 18, TypeScript, Vite
• PWA: Service Worker, Web App Manifest
• Charts: Chart.js with react-chartjs-2
• API: OpenWeatherMap API
• Styling: Tailwind CSS with custom animations
• Storage: IndexedDB for offline data
• Icons: Custom weather icon set

Technical Highlights

Progressive Web App Features

• Installable: Can be installed on mobile and desktop
• Offline-first: Caches essential data for offline use
• Background Sync: Updates data when connection is restored
• Push Notifications: Weather alerts and daily summaries

Performance Optimizations

• Lazy Loading: Dynamic imports for different chart types
• Image Optimization: WebP images with fallbacks
• Data Caching: Smart caching strategy for API responses
• Code Splitting: Separate bundles for different features

User Experience

• Responsive Design: Optimized for all screen sizes
• Smooth Animations: CSS transitions and loading states
• Accessibility: Full keyboard navigation and screen reader support
• Dark Mode: Automatic theme switching based on system preference

Architecture Decisions

Offline Strategy

Implemented a “Cache First, Network Fallback” strategy for weather data, ensuring the app works even with poor connectivity.

Data Management

Used a custom hook system for managing weather data state, with automatic background updates and error handling.

Chart Performance

Optimized Chart.js configuration for smooth animations with large datasets, including data point reduction for better performance.

Challenges & Solutions

Battery Life Optimization

Implemented intelligent background sync that respects device battery levels and network conditions.

Cross-browser Compatibility

Ensured PWA features work consistently across different browsers, with graceful degradation for unsupported features.

Data Visualization

Created responsive charts that work well on both mobile and desktop, with touch-friendly interactions.

Future Plans

• Weather radar integration
• Social sharing of weather conditions
• Widget for home screen
• Integration with calendar apps for weather-aware scheduling