Group-9: Open Weather App

Description:

The Open Weather App is a web application designed to provide users with real-time weather information and forecasts based on their specified location. The application serves as a convenient tool for users to check the current weather conditions, forecast data and other weather-related metrics for any city or ZIP code.

Purpose:

The primary purpose of the app is to give users a user-friendly and intuitive interface to access up-to-date weather data including current temperature, humidity, wind speed and forecasted weather. Users can search for weather information using a city name, ZIP code or their current geographic location (with geolocation support).

Key Features:

• Current Weather: The app fetches current weather data, including temperature, humidity, wind speed and weather conditions for the specified location.
• Weather Forecast: Provides a 3-hour up to 5-day weather forecast for the specified location showing future temperature, weather conditions and wind speed.
• Multiple Search Options: Users can search for weather data using a city name, ZIP code or their current location.
• Temperature Units: Users can toggle between Celsius and Fahrenheit for temperature display.
• Responsive Design: The application is designed to be responsive and adaptable to various screen sizes and devices.
• Real-time Data: Weather information is fetched in real-time using the OpenWeatherMap API ensuring up-to-date data for users.

Installation Instructions:

Ensure you have the following things installed on your machine:

• Node.js and npm (Node.js includes npm the Node Package Manager)
• Java Development Kit (JDK) version 21
• Spring Boot for the backend server (it will use the JDK installed)
• Git (optional, for cloning the repository)

Clone the Repository:

• If you haven't already, clone the repository to your local machine using Git.

Install Frontend Dependencies:

• In terminal, navigate to the react directory: cd openweather/src/main/react
• npm install

Open project in IDE and Start Server:

• Open "OpenweatherApplication.java" file in IDE
• In terminal Navigate to the project root directory: cd openweather
• Start server by running: ./gradlew bootRun
• Alternative way to start server is to click start/run app button on IDE interface
• Server should start in localhost port 8080

Usage Instructions:

• Accessing Application: Open web browser and go to http://localhost:8080 to access the app.

Geolocation:

Enable geolocation permissions in your browser for the app to use your current location.

Search Current Weather:

• Location Type: Choose either City or ZIP Code from the dropdown menu.
• Enter Location: Enter the city name or ZIP code in the input field.
• Temperature Unit: Select Celsius or Fahrenheit for temperature display.
• Search Button: Click the Search button to fetch the current weather and forecast data.

View Weather Information:

• Current Weather: See current temperature, humidity, wind speed, weather conditions and more.
• Weather Forecast: View the 3-hour / 5-day weather forecast for the specified location.

Configuration:

API Key:

• Replace API_KEY in the WeatherServiceImpl class with your OpenWeatherMap API key.

Application Settings:

• The application uses the OpenWeatherMap API. Make sure the base URL (https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5) is set correctly in the WeatherServiceImpl class.

Client-Side Configuration:

• In the WeatherDashboard component you may customize the temperature units, location type and other input defaults as per your preferences.

Deployment Instructions:

Frontend Deployment:

• Build the React application using the command npm run build.
• Serve the built application using a web server like Apache or Nginx.

Backend Deployment:

• Build the Java Spring Boot application using gradle
• Deploy the backend application on your preferred hosting platform or server.

Contributing Guidelines:

Code Contributions:

• Fork the project repository and create a branch for your feature or fix.
• Follow the coding standards and best practices outlined in the project.
• Submit pull requests with clear descriptions of your changes.

Bug Reporting and Feature Requests:

• Use the issue tracker in the repository to report bugs or request new features.
• Include clear and concise descriptions of the bug or feature along with any relevant steps to reproduce the issue.

License:

• The project is licensed under a permissive license such as the MIT License.
• Refer to the project's LICENSE file for detailed terms and conditions.

Credits:

Third-Party Libraries:

• React: Used for building the frontend user interface.
• Java Spring Boot: Used for building the backend services.
• OpenWeatherMap API: Used to retrieve current weather and forecast data.
• Other libraries such as Axios for handling HTTP requests and React Router for routing.

Resources:

Acknowledge any additional resources such as tutorials, guides or documentation that were helpful in building the project.