Topic: Any Substitutions to WD

[txweather.org]

OK the point is - having extra features is always good. If you don´t want to use them - don´t, if you do - do so.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bloat

I dont think thats the case here...
Weather softwares are limited to what they can do. Everything you see on that screen are parse collections from a reading... I am sure the foot print of WD is not that big...
For every version release I dont think the application is crapping out, Instead is been enhanced...
Yes the interface is busy but for some it works.

An example of a software bloat is Android and what carriers do to it.
Thats software bloat!

[Bushman]

OK the point is - having extra features is always good. If you don´t want to use them - don´t, if you do - do so.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bloat

What he said... 

[txweather.org]

OK the point is - having extra features is always good. If you don´t want to use them - don´t, if you do - do so.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bloat

What he said... 

You guys dont understand the meaning of software bloat.
A busy interface is not a bloated software.

[Bushman]

The screen above (en francais) is exactly why my licensed copy of WD is gathering dust.

OK the point is - having extra features is always good. If you don´t want to use them - don´t, if you do - do so.

I understand WD could be at first sight confusing because of all the things it can do, but as I said already, in my opinion, there is unbeatable amount of info on the forum, there are now even videos and if still in doubt, you can always ask here or at the WD forum and you will soon get a reply from either Brian or others.

Back in the day, I used to design SW interfaces.  Taught courses on it actually.  WD still lacks any decent UI controls.  From simple things like aligning columns of numbers to horrendous, ill-advised graphics/controls.  Over the years it has not gotten better, only larger.  (I won't bother commenting on the particular screenprint in question, but let's just say that had a student of mine submitted that screen they'd have failed.  Of course, the poster may actually like it.)  All said, I understand why the OP wants an alternative.  Occam's Razor. 

[Bushman]

OK the point is - having extra features is always good. If you don´t want to use them - don´t, if you do - do so.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bloat

What he said... 

You guys dont understand the meaning of software bloat.
A busy interface is not a bloated software.

From Google on "bloatware"

software whose usefulness is reduced because of the excessive disk space and memory it requires.
"a nasty piece of cross-platform bloatware that's in serious need of a total overhaul"
unwanted software included on a new computer or mobile device by the manufacturer.
"users must initially contend with the usual bevy of bloatware (unnecessary toolbars, games of questionable value)"

WD knocks it out of the park IMNSHO

[ericfynne]

You guys dont understand the meaning of software bloat.
A busy interface is not a bloated software.

I know perfectly well what software bloat is. I was replying to the fallacious statement that "having extra features is always good".

"Busy" is an interesting word for that screen shot, it's not the one I'd use 

[txweather.org]

The screen above (en francais) is exactly why my licensed copy of WD is gathering dust.

OK the point is - having extra features is always good. If you don´t want to use them - don´t, if you do - do so.

I understand WD could be at first sight confusing because of all the things it can do, but as I said already, in my opinion, there is unbeatable amount of info on the forum, there are now even videos and if still in doubt, you can always ask here or at the WD forum and you will soon get a reply from either Brian or others.

Back in the day, I used to design SW interfaces.  Taught courses on it actually.  WD still lacks any decent UI controls.  From simple things like aligning columns of numbers to horrendous, ill-advised graphics/controls.  Over the years it has not gotten better, only larger.  (I won't bother commenting on the particular screenprint in question, but let's just say that had a student of mine submitted that screen they'd have failed.  Of course, the poster may actually like it.)  All said, I understand why the OP wants an alternative.  Occam's Razor. 

Without going in to details this true. WD UI seems to be stuck in the 90's.

[txweather.org]

OK the point is - having extra features is always good. If you don´t want to use them - don´t, if you do - do so.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bloat

What he said... 

You guys dont understand the meaning of software bloat.
A busy interface is not a bloated software.

From Google on "bloatware"

software whose usefulness is reduced because of the excessive disk space and memory it requires.
"a nasty piece of cross-platform bloatware that's in serious need of a total overhaul"
unwanted software included on a new computer or mobile device by the manufacturer.
"users must initially contend with the usual bevy of bloatware (unnecessary toolbars, games of questionable value)"

WD knocks it out of the park IMNSHO

I am not sure what WD you been running... And let me point out I dont use it often... I am more of a meteohub user here... I just been trying it out and to me its not bloat ware.

[Bushman]

I gave up on WD a couple years back.  Not sure that much has changed.  I am a Meteobridge user now.  In fact, not even using PC wx software any more.

[txweather.org]

I gave up on WD a couple years back.  Not sure that much has changed.  I am a Meteobridge user now.  In fact, not even using PC wx software any more.

I started that way from the get go.
I had meteobridge from day one... Than tried weewx... Than broke down and bought a meteohub... now I run meteobridge/meteostick and meteohub... Now I am looking for a 24/7 weather display software that can get data from meteohub or meteobridge.

[Bushman]

Why not just PUSH to an SQL db?  Manipulate to your heart's content from there?

[txweather.org]

Why not just PUSH to an SQL db?  Manipulate to your heart's content from there?

Lazy I guess...
I might do something like that...

[gfmucci]

My software comfort zone is a program where I immediately understand how 50 to 60% of its features work, with some room to grow as I discover what it can do.  It is indimidating (for me) to jump head first into a program like WD where it takes a bit of time for a relative newbie (as I was at the time a few years ago) to understand how to get the basic 10% up and running.

Having recently discovered and set up Cumulus, I find it fits my comfort zone the best at the moment, a few notches more flexible than EasyWeather, less flexable than WD with a lot smoother user interface than WeatherLink.

I may explore WD more in the future to understand and add features.  But at this point with WD I haven't even figured out how to change the display yet.

[Jáchym]

I guess I won't comment too much on what was said because there probably isn't much point, but I strongly disagree with some of you.

Also I noticed you are contradicting yourself.

On one hand you bitch about WD for having old-looking design - yet in a different post you say you don't like when things change....

In my template, I used the design which is quite common these days - the so-called Material design - with relatively simple colors, no gradients, no shadows, etc etc. It is exactly something you would call "modern". And you know what? In the latest version I implemented the possibility to add gradients for example - because I was getting so many questions about it... same with the gauges. I created simple and clean looking gauges - and again, I had to make different versions, because so many people were asking for gauges which have colors, shadows, 3D effects...

My point is - you can never and I emphasize NEVER make a software or a webpage to everyone's likings. I really think some of you have absolutely no idea how much work and time goes into development of software in general, and if you also do the support, it is probably at least 50% more time. But I have that impression that some people will always complain and try to find the negative side of things no matter how good something is - and now I am not talking about WD in particular, but in general.

[txweather.org]

I guess I won't comment too much on what was said because there probably isn't much point, but I strongly disagree with some of you.

Also I noticed you are contradicting yourself.

On one hand you bitch about WD for having old-looking design - yet in a different post you say you don't like when things change....

In my template, I used the design which is quite common these days - the so-called Material design - with relatively simple colors, no gradients, no shadows, etc etc. It is exactly something you would call "modern". And you know what? In the latest version I implemented the possibility to add gradients for example - because I was getting so many questions about it... same with the gauges. I created simple and clean looking gauges - and again, I had to make different versions, because so many people were asking for gauges which have colors, shadows, 3D effects...

My point is - you can never and I emphasize NEVER make a software or a webpage to everyone's likings. I really think some of you have absolutely no idea how much work and time goes into development of software in general, and if you also do the support, it is probably at least 50% more time. But I have that impression that some people will always complain and try to find the negative side of things no matter how good something is - and now I am not talking about WD in particular, but in general.

Yup That's life .
I agree software development is not tailored to a specific person. But it is tailored to a point. For one the UI is something that does tend to progress on most applications as times passes by.
I am now testing WD and I like it but you have to be honest the UI could be better and by that I mean more modern is all.

[Jáchym]

Also,
notice one very important thing. The reason why WD now has so many features is not because Brian is extremely bored and so wants to make his SW complicated. It is because people very often ask for some new functionality. And in this perspective, it is absolutely rare that he usually tries to implement what they want. Usually, the developers at most reply to you "sorry this is not possible because...bla bla". In other cases you don't even get a reply, and this is the case even though sometimes these companies have a group of people only respobsible for support.
So just imagine a situation where a user asks for something - you spend hours trying to create what they've asked for. Then you finally make it work, they are very happy and then you get a feedback that your software is bloat software full of useless and over complicated features... ok, so what should you do next time when someone asks you for something? Reply no because others don't want it? Not reply at all?

[txweather.org]

Also,
notice one very important thing. The reason why WD now has so many features is not because Brian is extremely bored and so wants to make his SW complicated. It is because people very often ask for some new functionality. And in this perspective, it is absolutely rare that he usually tries to implement what they want. Usually, the developers at most reply to you "sorry this is not possible because...bla bla". In other cases you don't even get a reply, and this is the case even though sometimes these companies have a group of people only respobsible for support.
So just imagine a situation where a user asks for something - you spend hours trying to create what they've asked for. Then you finally make it work, they are very happy and then you get a feedback that your software is bloat software full of useless and over complicated features... ok, so what should you do next time when someone asks you for something? Reply no because others don't want it? Not reply at all?

This is true and this is what makes WD Awesome.

[virusdunil]

Absolutely...perfect description i have to admit,

I probably use 1/16th of WD when its running, showing the interface and uploads to website/organisms like WU/cwop ect. Sometimes i get really mad about WD.....to the point of leave it for good so thats why

I use VWS too,with a real nice configurable interface  and it updates my website the same as WD...but with less Organism...and really less ressource/system hungry

its each others choice/opinions and now,you know mine

[Jáchym]

Absolutely...perfect description i have to admit,

I probably use 1/16th of WD when its running, showing the interface and uploads to website/organisms like WU/cwop ect. Sometimes i get really mad about WD.....to the point of leave it for good so thats why

I use VWS too,with a real nice configurable interface  and it updates my website the same as WD...but with less Organism...and really less ressource/system hungry

its each others choice/opinions and now,you know mine

I am surprised you say that Carl, given you in particular are one of those who want things their way and very often asks for something new, tries to change the way things are - which is actually a good thing - but then it surprises me you complain about having new requested features, I wonder how you would like if you asked for something and me, Brian or whoever replied to you - too bad, it would make my SW/template more complicated.

[virusdunil]

That depends for everyone...
all weather software are pita to configure but...they're all easy to
all templates are pita to install and/configure but...theyre all easy to do as well.

again,it all depends on each others knowledge,degree of understanding on how those things ''work'' (along with php/html ect)

yess...i do ask often for things...sometime silly/not doable/not a necessity..... thats just me hehehe

[Jáchym]

That depends for everyone...
all weather software are pita to configure but...they're all easy to
all templates are pita to install and/configure but...theyre all easy to do as well.

again,it all depends on each others knowledge,degree of understanding on how those things ''work'' (along with php/html ect)

yess...i do ask often for things...sometime silly/not doable/not a necessity..... thats just me hehehe

I completely agree but my point is not that it is not good to have simple software, my point is that you guys are complaining here about things that you would complain even more if were not this way.

Carl, I just noticed you sent me some messages on FB, where you also often ask things, I am more than happy to help you everytime you do so, so do you now want me to rather say "OK Carl, sorry, bad luck, my template already has too many features, also no more plugins, there is already too many of them, the menu is then too big, I will now just stop further development and only offer support and help with what is already existing."

Again, I am absolutely ok with the opinion that simpler can be better, but what pisses me off is that some people here always try to find problems and reasons to complain. Again, an example - so to make things easier for YOU - the users - Brian started to make these videos. I would expect people appreciate it, or at least stay quiet. But... instead I read here things such as "it will be outdated soon anyway" etc. Just imagine than how frustrating it is when you devote some of your precious free time to make life of others' easier and this is what you get for it.

[txweather.org]

Just imagine than how frustrating it is when you devote some of your precious free time to make life of others' easier and this is what you get for it.

Jachym,

I understand your frustration. Relax and just ignore the rest... No need to get worked up

[Jáchym]

Just imagine than how frustrating it is when you devote some of your precious free time to make life of others' easier and this is what you get for it.

Jachym,

I understand your frustration. Relax and just ignore the rest... No need to get worked up

I am not frustrated, I feel sorry for those who dedicate their time and try to help and then this is what they get - which I can imagine is not something that will further encourage them to do things the way they do. I was not talking about myself.

[Bushman]

Uh... not to put too fine a point on it, but WD is not free.

[swyman18]

I've been reading this thread with interest, and thought I would chime in. I've used WD off and on for over 10 years.  Every so often I will come back to it because sometimes I will need or want something that only WD can do. The number of options is impressive yet can be rather overwhelming.

I think the issue of development can be a double edged sword. One of the reasons why WD is at where it is today is because Brian will sometimes instantly add a feature/request by adding a check box or toggle anywhere it will fit in the GUI. He sometimes is able to do this within hours of the person making the request. Obviously, that makes us the users very happy and appreciative.  But, over the course of 15 years or more, all those options/features crammed into multiple setting screens has perhaps gotten a bit out of hand.

So what's the alternative? I guess that would be to compile a list of feature requests and then once or twice a year release a new version with all the new settings implemented into a redesigned settings/options screen. I suppose some might say that is the "proper" way of doing it. But of course, some won't like that especially the ones that are used to the instant gratification that Brian has always provided for many years.