• Weather Underground - End of Sevice for WU API - syncWX affected

    From KenDB3@1:103/705 to All on Wed Dec 12 05:07:58 2018
    Folks,

    It is with some sadness and uncertainty I get the word out on this one, although I am guessing some of you received some sort of email about this, as that was how I first heard.

    So, Weather Underground is owned by The Weather Company (it acquired WU back in 2012). And it is, in fact, now a subsidiary of IBM. So, while The Weather Company/IBM is shutting down the WU API, they offer that The Weather Company has their own suite of enterprise-grade APIs (Read: Paid APIs...).

    Read the notice I link to below, as it explains with some detail what is happening. However, what it doesn't explain is what is happening to Free Tiers. They mention that they plan to do something for folks who have Personal Weather Stations that send data back to WU, but they are *super vague* about the Free Tier for API developers.

    I am obviously posting this because it affects syncWXremix.
    1) I haven't seen any news about a replacement for the free WU API. So, that's a little concerning.
    2) At this stage, I'm not sure what would be the best replacement. There are a few out there.
    3) I've been extremely short on time for hobbies these days. So, I'm not sure when I will get the time to retrofit syncWX with a new API, from Weather.com or otherwise.

    I'm really happy how syncWXremix turned out and how well it worked for as long as it did. I had wanted to finish some additional stuff for it, but never got around to it (mostly little things). If anyone wants to work on their own version, feel free. You can fork the code right from GitHub.

    GitHub repository:
    https://github.com/KenDB3/syncWXremix

    WU API End Of Service announcement. I shortened the link to get it less than 80 characters (BBS friendly):
    http://a-k.us/wuapieos

    Long Link for those interested: https://apicommunity.wunderground.com/weatherapi/topics/end-of-service-for-the- weather-underground-api

    ~KenDB3

    ---
    * Synchronet * KD3net-Rhode Island's only BBS about nothing. http://bbs.kd3.us
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Android8675@1:103/705 to KenDB3 on Wed Dec 12 07:39:46 2018
    Re: Weather Underground - End of Sevice for WU API - syncWX affected
    By: KenDB3 to All on Wed Dec 12 2018 05:07 am

    It is with some sadness and uncertainty I get the word out on this one, although I am guessing some of you received some sort of email about this, as that was how I first heard.

    This kindda sucks, I REALLY love having Weather updates on my board.

    Read the notice I link to below, as it explains with some detail what is happening. However, what it doesn't explain is what is happening to Free Tiers. They mention that they plan to do something for folks who have Personal Weather Stations that send data back to WU, but they are *super vague* about the Free Tier for API developers.

    Sounds like it's time for someone to step up and come up with an open source alternative that's WU compatible?

    What happens to personal weather stations that utilize WU? Are they just high and dry now?

    Bah, I don't like this...

    -A.
    --
    Android8675@ShodansCore



    ... Death is mother nature's warning to slow down.

    ---
    * Synchronet * Shodan's Core @ ShodansCore.com
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Minex@1:103/705 to KenDB3 on Wed Dec 12 09:37:31 2018
    Re: Weather Underground - End of Sevice for WU API - syncWX affected
    By: KenDB3 to All on Wed Dec 12 2018 05:07 am

    So, Weather Underground is owned by The Weather Company (it acquired WU back in 2012). And it is, in fact, now a subsidiary of IBM. So, while The Weather Company/IBM is shutting down the WU API, they offer that The Weather Company has their own suite of enterprise-grade APIs (Read: Paid APIs...).

    Read the notice I link to below, as it explains with some detail what is happening. However, what it doesn't explain is what is happening to Free Tiers. They mention that they plan to do something for folks who have Personal Weather Stations that send data back to WU, but they are *super vague* about the Free Tier for API developers.

    I am obviously posting this because it affects syncWXremix.
    1) I haven't seen any news about a replacement for the free WU API. So, that's a little concerning.
    2) At this stage, I'm not sure what would be the best replacement. There are a few out there.
    3) I've been extremely short on time for hobbies these days. So, I'm not sure when I will get the time to retrofit syncWX with a new API, from Weather.com or otherwise.

    I'm really happy how syncWXremix turned out and how well it worked for as long as it did. I had wanted to finish some additional stuff for it, but never got around to it (mostly little things). If anyone wants to work on their own version, feel free. You can fork the code right from GitHub.

    Thanks for sending this out. This is the first I've heard of it and what a bummer. :( I actually use the Weather Underground API on many projects so I'll have to find some replacement.

    The Dawn of Demise BBS (tdod.org)

    ---
    * Synchronet * The Dawn of Demise (tdod.org:5000)
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Mortifis@1:103/705 to Android8675 on Thu Dec 13 08:50:26 2018
    Re: Weather Underground - End of Sevice for WU API - syncWX affected
    By: KenDB3 to All on Wed Dec 12 2018 05:07 am



    Sounds like it's time for someone to step up and come up with an open source alternative that's WU compatible?

    I am not sure if this is WU compatible but https://openweathermap.org/api does offer a free api. I use it in my voice command app; pulls a json file.

    ---
    * Synchronet * The Empty Keg BBS emptykeg.synchro.net:82 Lake Echo NS Canada
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Nelgin@1:103/705 to Android8675 on Fri Dec 14 03:23:09 2018
    Android8675 wrote:
    Re: Weather Underground - End of Sevice for WU API - syncWX affected
    By: KenDB3 to All on Wed Dec 12 2018 05:07 am

    It is with some sadness and uncertainty I get the word out on this one,
    although I am guessing some of you received some sort of email about this,
    as that was how I first heard.

    This kindda sucks, I REALLY love having Weather updates on my board.

    Read the notice I link to below, as it explains with some detail what is
    happening. However, what it doesn't explain is what is happening to Free
    Tiers. They mention that they plan to do something for folks who have
    Personal Weather Stations that send data back to WU, but they are *super
    vague* about the Free Tier for API developers.

    Sounds like it's time for someone to step up and come up with an open source alternative that's WU compatible?

    What happens to personal weather stations that utilize WU? Are they just
    high
    and dry now?

    Bah, I don't like this...

    A lot of companies are getting rid of free APIs. Google Maps and others APIs are no longer free. Yahoo is dropping its free weather API also.

    For those who have apps that need a weather API you could do worse than try https://openweathermap.org/api which is free upto a certain amount of usage.

    ---
    * Synchronet * End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From echicken@1:103/705 to KenDB3 on Sun Jan 6 03:35:19 2019
    Re: Weather Underground - End of Sevice for WU API - syncWX affected
    By: KenDB3 to All on Wed Dec 12 2018 05:07:58

    3) I've been extremely short on time for hobbies these days. So, I'm not sure when I will get the time to retrofit syncWX with a new API, from Weather.com or otherwise.

    I've just added exec/load/openweathermap.js to the Synchronet CVS repository. It's barebones, but lets you call an arbitrary endpoint on the OpenWeatherMap web API with whatever parameters are required. It has built-in cache and rate-limiting to help keep within the (currently generous) free-tier usage limits. If I end up exploring their API further I'll probably extend this library with some convenience methods.

    If you do end up with some time on your hands, this might be of some use to you in updating syncWXremix.

    I'm really happy how syncWXremix turned out and how well it worked for as long as it did. I had wanted to finish some additional stuff for it, but never got around to it (mostly little things). If anyone wants to work on their own version, feel free. You can fork the code right from GitHub.

    I may do that if you don't anticipate getting back to this soon (or ever), or perhaps some other interested party will pick it up.

    ---
    echicken
    electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com - 416-425-5435
    * Synchronet * electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)