API Features Comparison
☀️ Weather APIs
The application supports two weather data providers: OpenMeteo (default) and OpenWeatherMap.
| Feature | OpenMeteo | OpenWeatherMap |
|---|---|---|
| Current Temperature | Available | Available |
| Weather Conditions | Available | Available |
| 3-Day Forecast | Available | Available |
| Sunrise/Sunset Times | Available | Available |
| Air Quality | Available | Available |
| API Key Required | No | Yes |
| Sunshine hours | Yes | No |
OpenMeteo (Default)
OpenMeteo is the default provider and requires no API key. It offers:
- Free, no registration required
- High rate limits
- Accurate weather data from multiple sources
To use OpenMeteo, simply set WEATHER_PROVIDER=openmeteo in your .env file (this is the default).
OpenWeatherMap
OpenWeatherMap is an alternative provider that requires an API key:
- Sign up at OpenWeatherMap
- Generate an API key in your account dashboard
- Add these to your .env file:
WEATHER_PROVIDER=openweather OPENWEATHER_API_KEY=your_api_key
Note: If OpenWeatherMap is selected but no API key is provided, the application will automatically fall back to OpenMeteo.
✈️ AeroAPI (FlightAware)
| Feature | Without API Key | With API Key |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Flight Detection | Available | Available |
| Flight Altitude | Available | Available |
| Distance from Location | Available | Available |
| Flight Identification | Tail number and callsign | Flight number and airline |
| Origin/Destination | Not available | Available |
| Aircraft Type | Available | Available |
How to Get an API Key
FlightAware's AeroAPI offers a free tier with $5 monthly quota:
- Sign up at FlightAware AeroAPI
- Get your API key
- Add the key to your .env file
Note: The application is designed to stay within the free tier limits unless specifically authorized.
🚌 Public Transport APIs
The application supports multiple public transport providers, with automatic fallback to static schedule data when realtime information is unavailable.
| Feature | Realtime Data | Schedule Fallback |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival Times | Live updates | Static schedule |
| Time Indicators | ⚡ for realtime | 🕒 when mixed |
| Update Frequency | Usually every 30 seconds | Twice a week |
| Data Source | Provider API | GTFS data |
Supported realtime providers
- Belgium:
- STIB/MIVB (Brussels) - RT: stib, Schedule: mdb-1088
- De Lijn (Flanders) - RT: delijn, Schedule: mdb-684
- SNCB/MIVB (Flanders) - RT: sncb, Schedule: mdb-1859
- Hungary:
- BKK (Budapest) - RT: bkk, Schedule: mdb-990
Supported schedule providers
All the providers listed above also have a schedule-only mode, which is used when realtime data is not available. For public transport companies where the processing of realtime data is not programmed in, you can use the schedule-only mode, as long as you can find the company in the Mobility Database.
Fallback mechanism
The system automatically handles fallback between realtime and schedule data:
- If realtime data is temporarily unavailable (e.g., during system startup or API issues), it switches to schedule data
- Periodically checks if realtime data becomes available again
- Uses exponential backoff to prevent overwhelming the system during outages
- Visual indicators (⚡/🕒) show data source when mixing realtime and scheduled times
🔧 Technical Details: APIs Used
Weather Data
- OpenMeteo API
- Purpose: Default weather data provider
- Usage: Temperature, conditions, forecast data, and air quality
- Free service, no registration required
- Data sources: National weather services (GFS, DWD, MeteoFrance, ECMWF)
- OpenWeatherMap API
- Purpose: Alternative weather data provider
- Usage: Temperature, conditions, and forecast data
- Free tier is sufficient for our needs
- Requires API key
Flight Tracking
- ADSB.one API
- Purpose: Basic flight tracking without authentication
- Usage: Receives real-time aircraft position data from a network of ADS-B receivers
- Free data source
- No API key required
- FlightAware AeroAPI
- Purpose: Enhanced flight information
- Usage: Provides detailed flight data including origin/destination
- Free tier includes $5 monthly quota (sufficient for typical use)
- Optional API key
Astronomy and Space
- Celestrak API
- Purpose: Real-time ISS orbital data
- Usage: Retrieves current ISS position and predicts passes
- Free service, no authentication required
- No API key required
- NASA JPL Horizons API
- Purpose: High-precision orbital calculations
- Usage: Downloads ephemeris data (positions of celestial bodies) to predict the future position of the ISS based on its current position and to calculate the phases of the moon
- Free service from NASA JPL
- No API key required
Location Services
- Nominatim API
- Purpose: GPS coordinate validation and reverse geocoding
- Usage: Validates location coordinates during setup and provides location names
- Free OpenStreetMap service
- No API key required
API Usage Notes
- The application is designed to work with minimal API requirements - only OpenWeatherMap is strictly required for full functionality
- All APIs are used with appropriate rate limiting to stay within free tier limits
- Fallback mechanisms are mostly in place for when optional APIs are unavailable