WeatherBug For Linux!

Posted by matt hartley on Oct 11, 2007 | 8 Comments

Update: The new release is out, uninstall Tempest and head over to this link for more up to date info!

With WeatherBug weather applications for Windows and OS X, WeatherBug is excited to anounce a brand new beta for the Linux platform. The application is known as Tempest and it is designed for Linux distributions using the Debian base and those distributions using RPM package installation.

This video below gives you about a seven minute overview of what Tempest offers:

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/q2wLLuQnNL0" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

In this video demo, you will learn how to set the default color settings for the tray applet, how to manipulate what is known as ‘buglets’, and where to pick your preferred weather station from your hometown.

Interested in helping us beta test this newest application? Great, just head on over to Weatherbug Labs and download the latest Deb or RPM, install it and then consider participating in the forums so WeatherBug can add new funcionality and make sure any bugs can be squashed as well.

8 Comments

marius
October 18, 2007
Did you have any problems starting the application? When I start tempest I get an error, and it just dies. I have tried Feisty and Gutsy.
Matt Hartley
October 25, 2007
Do me a favor, open a terminal and type:

java -version

Then paste the results here. I suspect that you do not have Java installed.

If it is not coming up with anything, try using automatix to get Java installed.
http://tinyurl.com/l5egr

Automatix will appear in Applications, system tools after its install.
otto gvert
May 10, 2008
The video was a big help. It mentioned how to start weatherbug in
sessions. But no directions were given, I’m rather new to Hardy Heron.
Directions would be helpful.
I like your program.
tia
O
Matt Hartley
May 10, 2008
otto: Hi Tia, this is a rather dated blog post, so it was never intended as anything other than a beta.

This is the current release:
http://wp3.lockergnome.com/insideweatherbug/2008/05/09/weatherbug-for-linux-is-live/

Assuming you installed the latest Weatherbug without issue, to autostart it, from Ubuntu’s menu, goto System, Preferences, Sessions.

With the Sessions tool open, click the New button, name the entry WeatherBug and in the command box, enter weatherbug . The letters for the command box are case sensitive. Hit okay, then close the Sessions dialog. That’s it.

A more advanced way is listed on the link above, but this may be a bit more user friendly.

WeatherBug not installed yet?

You will also want to make sure you have your Ubuntu Mutiverse repositories enabled. This is where Java is going to automatically be downloaded from.Goto System, Administration, Software Sources and look for (Multiverse) in those brackets where you see “software restricted by copyright or legal issues. Check that box, it will prompt you to reload, then it will either need to be closed afterward or close on its own.
carl
May 11, 2008
I am on fedora 9, with gcj, and I get an exception when I try to start weatherbug:

[hmeyer0002@evilgnome ~]$ weatherbug
Exception in thread “Thread-1″ java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: nu.xom.Builder
at java.lang.Class.initializeClass(libgcj.so.9)
at com.aws.java.tempest.service.impl.SettingServiceImpl.startUp(SettingServiceImpl.java:124)
at com.aws.java.tempest.Tempest$LoadThread.run(Tempest.java:208)
Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.apache.xerces.parsers.SAXParser not found in gnu.gcj.runtime.SystemClassLoader{urls=[file:/usr/share/java/weatherbug.jar], parent=gnu.gcj.runtime.ExtensionClassLoader{urls=[], parent=null}}
at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(libgcj.so.9)
at gnu.gcj.runtime.SystemClassLoader.findClass(libgcj.so.9)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(libgcj.so.9)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(libgcj.so.9)
at java.lang.VMClassLoader.defineClass(libgcj.so.9)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(libgcj.so.9)
at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(libgcj.so.9)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(libgcj.so.9)
at gnu.gcj.runtime.SystemClassLoader.findClass(libgcj.so.9)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(libgcj.so.9)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(libgcj.so.9)
at java.lang.Class.forName(libgcj.so.9)
at java.lang.Class.initializeClass(libgcj.so.9)
…2 more

anticipating the next question:

[hmeyer0002@evilgnome ~]$ java -version
java version “1.5.0″
gij (GNU libgcj) version 4.3.0 20080428 (Red Hat 4.3.0-8)

Copyright (C) 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
[hmeyer0002@evilgnome ~]$

I am going to investigate the lack of a SAXparser, I think I have eclipse installed, and it should depend on it.
Matt Hartley
May 11, 2008
Carl: Thanks for the bug report. I will begin my own testing on Fedora 9 as I have generally, had more issues with the RPM than the Debian based installs.

I myself, am running:

java version “1.6.0″
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0-b105)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.6.0-b105, mixed mode, sharing)

Now because I am the promoter and tester, correct me if I miss this, but Fedora uses GCJ as the compiler, right?

If this is the case, it might be worth trying a clean install of the Java JRE from Sun directly?

For making the Java system switch, I found some help from this article based on Fedora 7:
http://liquidat.wordpress.com/2007/05/31/howto-sun-java-on-fedora-7/

Let me know how it goes, really want to see this working on Fedora 9. Again, not a total java expert, so if I miss a dot or forget to cross a T, bear with me. I just promote and test the application.
otto gvert
May 12, 2008
Yes, I was premature in asking for help. I have it up and
running.
I guess my only wish would be to have the option of displaying
the weatherbug only on the desktop or as is.
Thanks. Great addition to my system.
O
Matt Hartley
May 12, 2008
Otto: Glad you like it.

If I am understanding you correctly, you would like an option to have WB on the desktop without the system tray component? Or are you talking about making a wallpaper?

In any case, from the settings feature (see video in recent post above dated this month), you can set it to run “as is” without running next to the clock at all, if you like.

Hope this helps.