Weather apps are everywhere, and nearly everyone has at least one installed on their phone. Apple includes a solid weather app with every iPhone, but it lacks certain features, allowing third-party developers to add their own innovations. In 2022, Apple introduced its own weather service, ๏ฃฟ Weather, after acquiring the popular Dark Sky. This new service gave developers like me access to high-quality weather data without the high costs typically associated with weather APIs.
Most weather apps offer paid features because they need to cover the cost of accessing weather data. Apple, however, provides a generous amount of free weather requests as part of the annual developer subscription before additional charges apply. I have been a longtime subscriber of CARROT Weather, but I recently realized that I only use a small portion of its paid features. That led me to an idea: why not build my own weather app?
My Own Personal Weather App
After spending nine months developing my first iOS app, HerePix, I wanted to apply my skills and experience to a new type of weather app. Just like HerePix, I originally created this app for myself, but I decided to share it with the world for free. My focus has been on building the features I use most often and presenting the data in a way that suits how I consume it.
Behind The Dumb
The name Dumb Weather came from the idea that the app would be โdumbโ in the sense that it would not include radar, AI-driven insights, or other advanced features. It was simply going to display the weather without unnecessary extras. However, as I continued working on it, the app became more capable over time. Despite these improvements, I remain committed to the original vision of keeping it a straightforward weather app without gimmicks.
Developing A New App
When I first planned Dumb Weather, I had a clear set of features in mind that I use daily on my iPhone and Apple Watch. However, Appleโs development ecosystem required me to create both iOS and watchOS apps to support my widgets and complications. This added significant complexity to the development process, making it more challenging than my work on HerePix.
This project has been a great learning experience, encouraging me to explore more of Appleโs weather offerings and further refine my development skills. The result is a lightweight but functional weather app designed for quick, easy access to essential weather information.
Features and Availability
As of version 1.3, Dumb Weather is available on the App Store for iPhone and Apple Watch. The app includes:
- A main iOS app
- Two iPhone Lock Screen widgets
- An Apple Watch app
- Five Apple Watch complications
One of the most useful features, which I have not seen in other weather apps, is the ability to quickly check when the high and low temperatures for the day will occur. This is especially helpful in places like Pittsburgh, where the high temperature can be misleading. For example, if the high for the day is forecasted to be 60ยบF but occurs at 1 AM, and by noon it is only 40ยบF, the โhighโ does not accurately reflect the dayโs conditions. Dumb Weather helps clarify these fluctuations by displaying temperature trends in a practical way.
More Dumb To Come
Development on Dumb Weather is ongoing, and I am excited to continue refining and expanding its features. My goal is to keep it simple yet effective, providing weather data without unnecessary distractions.
If you are looking for a no-nonsense weather app, give Dumb Weather a try. It is free, designed for practical use, and built with simplicity in mind.
Download it today and let me know what you think!
Some fun stats about Dumb Weather
- 42 files
- 5239 lines of code
- 83 commits
- 5 releases
