Yweather Puts The Weather On Your OS X Desktop

I simply look out of the window in my office.
Still, impressive accomplishment!

Death

i can't seem to get it to run. i keep getting this long 'Can't locate XML/XPath.pm in @INC' error when i try to run it in terminal to check it out. i'm apparently very bad at perl.

@Bill Clark: Nevermind, the google code link wasn't showing up yet :)

@The How-To Geek: Still getting an error:

Cannot open file '/Users/billclark/Scripts/yweather/data/weather.xml' at /System/Library/Perl/Extras/5.8.8/XML/XPath.pm line 53.

Am I missing something for PERL?

I love that he has XRG as the running application in the screenshot. One of my favorite apps on OSX, and one of the 5 I install on a new build. (Quicksilver, Growl, XRG, MacPar Deluxe, Saft for Safari)

XRG could easily be a pay for program,

operator207

@FarmanStitch: Daniel just posted a new version of the script, might want to test that one out.

I'm getting an error Cannot open file: 'data/weather.xml'

FarmanStitch

Is it me or is it really slow?

Brandon Gabbard

@[code.google.com] should fix the weather.xml problem, the other is a problem with a missing module in perl. if you don't have xpath, run this command from terminal:

cpan install XML::XPath

the next version will check for xpath and prompt the user to install. thanks, daniel

Hey guys anyone else getting this error? I've got it all working but I get 'Can't call method "getAttribute" on an undefined value at ./yweather.pl line 112.' when I try and run the script.

GrosvenorCadiots

How do you get the weather image to display?

orliville

@Gonzie: got an errot there. Can't Access `file://localhost/Users/Chris/[www.google.com]'
Alert!: Unable to access document.

I don't think I have lynx set up right. could you do sort of a walk though. I have been searching for this for months now.

ctferrarajr

I'm getting the XPath error too. Blah. I really wanted this to work!

SurabhiKole

@apaugustin: that is odd, .pl is the default file extension for perl (as well as prolog but that's another story/language). All I can guess is that VMWare Fusion uses the .pl file type and registers all files with that type as belonging to VMWare...

@loudambiance: just mailed you...

@mindplunge: are you using the pastie version or the google codes version, and did you change the script home variable?

I put together a shell command together that returns the unread item count in google reader. hell of a palaver for something so simple but just make sure you set lynx up to store your google cookie so it logs you in automatically and don't forget the carrage return on the first sed command

lynx -source '[www.google.com]'| sed 's/{/\
/g' | sed 's/,/\ /g' | sed 's/:/\ /g' | awk '/reading-list/ {print $4}'

@nekochan: you need to install the xpath extension in perl, I thought it was a default, maybe not...

run this command to install XML::XPath

cpan install XML::XPath

@[www.flickr.com])

@Bill Clark: Is it working now? If you find anymore bugs fill free to contact me @ danl@loud-soft.com :-)

@Bill Clark: I'm getting the same error message. I downloaded the script again just to be sure I had the right version.

tobiah

Same problem with the xml file here...

Cannot open file: ../bin/yweather-dir/data/weather.xml'

exception_handler::die in XPath.pm at line 52
XML::XPath::new in yweather(2).pl at line 148

Program exited with code #2 after 0.55 seconds.

Any ideas? Running script through Textmate..

Has anyone tried this with VMWare Fusion installed? When I try to edit/view the script OS X wants to start my bootcamp vista VM (where i do have perl installed). Interesting.

apaugustin

@rapamatic: I get the same error. Anybody know how to fix?

TaterSalad

I just use geektool
[www.grabup.com]

works really well and allows for other options. I used yahoo's image from weather.com to put the image down
[smrekart.com] - here is my php page.

Joseph Smrekar

@darthbrulees: I wonder if it is some package we don't have installed? This seems to be working for some people, so if something basic like that variable wasn't defined you'd think it wouldn't work for anybody...

rapamatic

@rapamatic:
yeah, I'm getting that error too. It's because he hasn't defined $iconfile but I don't know what it should be.

darthbrulees

I'm pretty new to this sort of stuff, any idea why I'd get the following error message in terminal when I try to run the script?

MacPro:yweather ray$ perl yweather.pl
Global symbol "$iconfile" requires explicit package name at yweather.pl line 164.
Execution of yweather.pl aborted due to compilation errors.

rapamatic

@rapamatic: getting the same problem too *sighs* this looked really promising

@Gonzie:
lynx -source 'www. google. com/reader/api/0/unread-count?all=true&output=json'| sed 's/{/\
/g' | sed 's/,/\ /g' | sed 's/:/\ /g' | awk '/reading-list/ {print $4}'

sorry to post again but my first post cleared out the http bit and the important 'Apostrophe bit might have been missed so I've left out the http bit and made it clearer above

@ctferrarajr:

well you need lynx installed and you need to check in the .cfg files to make sure persistent cookies are set to true if you have it installed.

I'll do a walkthough but it will make reference to lynxlet [habilis.net] as that is far easier installing for people who don't use admin accounts all the time

1) After installing lynxlet in the application folder, follow the instructions for "Directly Running the Embedded Lynx" to ensure that typing lynx into the terminal runs the application.

2) Now try logging into your google account with lynx make sure "remember me" is ticked (or x'd) ignore the ssl errors and select always for the cookie, once logged in press q for quit then yes to confirm and repeat if it logs you straight into your google account go to step 4 otherwise continue on with 3

3) after a quick email to the Chuck the guy behind lynxlet, as the present version of lynxlet has cookies disabled quite hard for this you need Smultron as it lets you authorise changes to files where normally you wouldn't have write ability. now go to lynxlet in your application folder right or command click and select show package contents from the context message. now follow these instructions from Chuck

For the Lynxlet.app, add PERSISTENT_COOKIES:TRUE to the lynxlet.cfg file:

Lynxlet Config: /Applications/Lynxlet.app/Contents/Resources/lynxlet.cfg

PERSISTENT_COOKIES:TRUE

If you are using the embedded lynx directly from the command line (ie running /Applications/Lynxlet.app/Contents/Resources/lynx/bin/lynx from Terminal or scripts), then you will need to add the same thing to its config file:

lynx config: /Applications/Lynxlet.app/Contents/Resources/lynx/etc/lynx.cfg

PERSISTENT_COOKIES:TRUE

Once you've changed the config, Lynxlet/Lynx will put cookies in the ~/.lynx_cookies file. You can change the file using COOKIE_FILE if you want.

(thanks Chuck) now you also need to make sure that you go through those files searching for cookie and make sure nothing cookie related is #commented out. hopefully now once you log in to your google account you will stay logged in

4) open your fav text editor, if it's TextEdit make sure you go to the format menu and select "make plan text" (because we don't want any formatting mucking this up) copy and paste the following;

lynx -source '[] www. google .com/reader/api/0/unread-count?all=true&output=json'| sed 's/{/\
/g' | sed 's/,/\ /g' | sed 's/:/\ /g' | awk '/reading-list/ {print $4}'

remove the spaces I've put in with the address so you can hopefully see it and make sure there is a carriage return after "json'| sed 's/{/\ " otherwise this will not work. Select all the text then copy and paste into a terminal window and press return to test it. Providing you actually have unread items in Google Reader it will return a value otherwise it will return nothing at all (I've not worked that bit out yet) providing this works in the terminal you can now copy and paste it into a new geektool command.

@FarmanStitch: I had to create the data folder by hand to get it running.

Viva-La-Diva

This article needs a bit more information on how to properly get your system to run this.

Here's what I did:

I'm running MacPorts and its version of Perl. You can find out where Perl is stored in your system by typing:

which perl

Mine is in: /opt/local/bin/perl

A number of libraries are required for this script to run. I had to install (these are the update/install commands used on MacPorts):

sudo port install perl5 (To make sure I had the latest version of Perl)

sudo port install ps-xml-xpath (to install the XML::XPath library)

sudo port install ps-yaml (to install the YAML library, which some of the other libraries were sceraming about)

sudo port install ps-lwp-authen-wsse (to install the LWP::Simple)

You also need to make the following changes to the script. Open the yweather.pl script with your favorite text editor and under the # Variables sections change:

my $zipcode to your preferred zipcode
my $scripthome to the location of your yweather.pl script

Then, in the directory pointed at by $scripthome create two additional directories: images & data

Finally, from within Terminal, go to the directory where your script is located and type:

chmod +x yweather.pl

to make the file executable.

You can now run the script by typing:

./yweather.pl (or /path-to-script/yweather.pl).

I still don't know how to run the script by simply typing "yweather" as shown in the article. I'm assuming that has to do with default system paths... but would appreciate any info if you know how to do it.

You should be able to get today's weather by typing:

echo `./yweather.pl -fd1` " - " `./yweather.pl -ft1`

Hope this helps someone...

cgranier

@loudambiance: also the problem remains in 0.7.2

@loudambiance: btw could you put the version number in the file? sorry if you done this already but I'm already confused about it

@[code.google.com]

@Brandon Gabbard: The first time it runs it is going to be really slow, it is downloading 80+ images from the yahoo servers.

@rapamatic: I am sorry, I created a new bug when fixing another one. There was a check that was suppose to ensure the file existed and i used the variable iconfile when I meant imagefile, version 0.7.2 fixes this.

I really like WeatherDock. free, easily customizable, supports many locations. very very nice. http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/24689

KimballNaslund

So I had alot of trouble getting this to work. After fiddling around with the code, I believe I have got a working version for those who are having problems. Try this:

1. Make sure you have Perl installed and the necessary libraries. Follow cgrainer's directions above. If you have run Perl scripts before you can probably skip this step.

2. Download my modified script from here:

[dl.getdropbox.com]

3. I'm gonna borrow cgrainer's directions for this next step....

"You also need to make the following changes to the script. Open the yweather.pl script with your favorite text editor and under the # Variables sections change:

my $zipcode to your preferred zipcode
my $scripthome to the location of your yweather.pl script

Then, in the directory pointed at by $scripthome create two additional directories: images & data

Finally, from within Terminal, go to the directory where your script is located and type:

chmod +x yweather.pl

to make the file executable."

4. Now you can run the script by typing ./yweather.pl (or /path-to-script/yweather.pl). But at this point I got struck with another error. If you see the following output...

File /Users/Austin/bin/yweather-dir/images/n.png cannot be copied. at ./yweather.pl line 142

Try this workaround. Go to your image directory as pointed to by $scripthome and you should see a bunch of pngs with file names like 32d.png 22n.png etc. Pick any of these files and copy it. Then rename the copied file to weather.png. This will fix the above error.

Hope that helps. Props to cgrainer for some of his directions and loudabiance for the awesome script.

Hopefully these bugs will get worked out in future versions, but it works for now.

TaterSalad

@KimballNaslund:

++++ WeatherDock is the best weather app for the Mac out there.

markbowman

@cgranier: A small correction to the explanation above:

$scripthome actually points to the directory where you want the script the store its data (and not the folder where you keep yweather.pl, as mentioned). It's also the directory where you need to create the data and images folders.

cgranier

@loudambiance: I am experiencing the same issue in 0.7.2. I have a feeling that the wrong version was uploaded to Google code though because when I download 0.7.2 it still says 0.7.1 in the comments at the beginning of the file.

TaterSalad

@ctferrarajr:

nevermind I got it.

I love it. Thanks

ctferrarajr

@Gonzie:

1) After installing lynxlet in the application folder, follow the instructions for "Directly Running the Embedded Lynx" to ensure that typing lynx into the terminal runs the application.

Hate to be the Noob here, but that is the only step that is killing me now. I have

ctferrarajr

Sorry for all the bugs everyone, it worked for me and I didn't realize it would break so easily for everyone else. keep filing issues at [code.google.com] and I will keep fixing them and updating the source.

@cgranier: sorry for the confusion on using just yweather, I have custom compile of Geektool that uses the system PATH variable as well as fixes a few bugs I have found :( Sorry again for the confusion

I am having the same trouble. The image is not displaying. I tried creating a file "weatherp.ng" in yweather/images/ but still no joy. Any ideas?

ArcherLexis

This is what I get with the updated script: File cannot be copied. at ./yweather.pl line 141. Any suggestions?

ShrigeetaGadgey

Works perfectly, thanks! To get the image to display, just select "Picture in geektool, and point it at "file:///path/to/images/weather.png"

ErnestineCursor

Can anyone give more specific instructions as to how to get this to run? I am a newbie at Geektool and don't know where to put the perl script what commands to put into Geektool, etc. Any help?

EllaPen?lop

I remember geektool, that thing that mucked up my desktop for the novelty of it.

@ctferrarajr:

revised version now with constant presence on your desktop

lynx -source 'www. google. com/reader/api/0/unread-count?all=true&output=json'| sed 's/{/\
/g' | sed '{s/}/ /g;s/,/ /g;s/:/ /g;}' | sed 's/\[/0/;s/\]//' | awk '/max/{gsub(/max/, "reading-list")}; /reading-list/ { sum += $4 }; END { print sum " unread articles"}'

@ctferrarajr: no probs, I'm just cleaning up a 2nd version that provides a constant presence rather than disappearing when you have no unread items

@[screencast.com] I have it so it only shows unread if needed(right below time).

Thanks for all your help

ctferrarajr

@[www.dustin.li]

however since I'm not sure how to install it properly (or get rid of the macports version that doesn't quite work right) I've had to hard code the file address into my shell command. You need to open elinks in the terminal and login to your google account just like you had to do with the greader command but it should save your cookie fine first time

/usr/local/bin/elinks -dump 'ht tps://mail. google. com/gmail/feed/atom' | awk '/Gmail/ {print $7 " unread emails"}'

(don't forget to remove the spaces in the web address and this command is one line so yours should be too)

@Gonzie: That is fantastic. I eliminated two apps with these 2 tiny scripts.

I would guess that you have more. Do you have a page for them, or could you post a summary here. I'm sure many people are looking for these.

ctferrarajr

@ctferrarajr: the two I've posted about already are those I've created from scratch because I didn't like the fact the scripts kept my details out in the open. although I'm not sure how secure the text web browser cookies are but I'm sure it's better.

I do have other scripts and commands which I've been hoarding up over time from the internet and most I've had to fix for one reason or another.

I was planning on doing a write up sometime later when I had perfected my desktop a bit more but I shall sum up what I have.

ram and cpu usage stats, monthly calendar, Timezones of countries I chat to, highest usage of ram and cpu apps, scripts for IP addresses of ethernet, wifi and external, wifi network and channel, uptime and hdd stats including trash size, two day forecast from yahoo, current weather conditions from wunderground for my local area.

hopefully now I have a working elinks app I will be looking to do something with my google agenda

this looks great, but I wish the author of the post had mentioned all the extra steps required to get this to work, for those of us who don't know anything about perl. I just spent the last hour fiddling with geektool and this script before seeing cgranier's comment. the way the original post is written, it sounds like all you have to do is enter those scripts as shell commands in geektool, and you're good to go. thanks anyways, and keep up the good work, loudambiance.

David Bell

@Gonzie: I've been trying to figure out if it is possible to get not only the number of unread items in google reader, but also get it to output a list of all the articals (titles only). any suggestions.

p.s. Google ageanda would be sweet. Keep me in the loop. :)

ctferrarajr

@GrosvenorCadiots: I am also getting this error, albeit it on line 114 on the modified script posted by TaterSalad below. As a total command line rookie I have managed to get over all the other hurdles, and hope to get past this final problem... anybody else getting this problem or can show me what I've missed?

David Atkinson

@ctferrarajr: best place to start is with the un/official google reader api pages and see what you can get dumped or sourced in a terminal window with elinks or lynx.

google agenda is going to be a while as I'm not sure where to begin

Noce Job! I use WEATHER DOCK which displays on your desk top and auto hides when needed. You can have it speak the weather, can have an icon on the dock and can display the weather on the menu bar. So far it has been great!

UbertoAndromache