Ajker Akash — Weather Dashboard
A weather app whose sky changes with the actual weather
01. Overview
Ajker Akash (meaning 'today's sky') is a weather dashboard that makes the app itself feel like the sky outside. It uses the free Open-Meteo API, so there is no API key to manage, and it works for any city in the world.
02. The Challenge & Problem Scope
Most weather apps show the same static background no matter what is happening outside. I wanted the app itself to feel like the sky you would see if you looked out the window.
03. Strategic Approach & Solution
Built a Next.js dashboard on the Open-Meteo API with city autocomplete and a 5-day forecast. The background gradient is computed from the actual weather code and the local time, so a rainy evening and a clear noon look completely different.
04. Execution & Process
API shape and city search
Mapped the Open-Meteo forecast and geocoding responses, then built a debounced autocomplete so typing a city feels instant.
Weather-driven gradients
Wrote a small module that turns a weather code plus hour of day into a gradient, so the visuals always match the data.
Responsive and readable
Tuned the layout from a 390px phone up to desktop, and made sure text stays readable over every sky state.
05.What I Learned & Key Takeaways
- Working with a real third-party API: shaping requests, handling errors, and designing loading states.
- Deriving the UI directly from data instead of hardcoding visuals keeps the app honest.
- Small details like debounce timing make a search box feel fast.