Get Weather Command Line Finger Graph?

The finger command on Unix-like systems can show a text-based graph of recent weather conditions if your system is configured with a weather daemon or a compatible plugin. You typically enter finger weather@ to retrieve a simple ASCII graph of temperature and conditions, though the exact output depends on your local setup.

Formula

The calculator above estimates a linear temperature trend over a given period. The formula is:

Trend = (End temp − Start temp) / Hours

Where:

• Start temp (°C) – the temperature at the beginning of the period
• End temp (°C) – the temperature at the end of the period
• Hours (h) – the forecast duration
• Trend (°C/h) – the average rate of temperature change per hour

Worked Example

Using the default values: Start temp = 15 °C, End temp = 21 °C, Hours = 24.

Trend = (21 − 15) / 24 = 6 / 24 = 0.25 °C/h.

So the temperature rises on average 0.25 °C per hour over the 24-hour period. The midpoint is (15 + 21) / 2 = 18 °C.

What the finger Weather Graph Actually Shows

The classic finger weather graph is a simple text plot that displays temperature and conditions (sunny, cloudy, rain) over a 24-hour or 48-hour period. It uses ASCII characters like |, -, and letters to represent the temperature curve and weather symbols. The output is often generated by a local daemon (like fingerd with a weather module) that fetches data from a weather service or a local sensor.

To use it, you typically need:

• A Unix-like system (Linux, macOS, BSD) with finger installed.
• A weather daemon or script that provides the data (e.g., fingerd configured with a weather backend).
• Network access or a local weather source.

How to Get the Graph

If your system is set up, you can run:

finger weather@localhost

or

finger weather@your-server

This will return a text block with the graph. If you don’t have a weather daemon, you can install one (e.g., weathereye or a simple script that fetches from an API) and configure it to respond to finger requests.

Common Problems and Fixes

• “finger: weather: no such user” – The weather service is not set up. You need to install and configure a weather daemon.
• Graph shows no data – The daemon cannot reach the weather source. Check network or API keys.
• Output is garbled – The terminal may not support the character set. Use a UTF-8 terminal or adjust the daemon’s output.

Alternatives to finger Weather

If finger is not available or you want a more modern approach, you can use:

• curl wttr.in – a popular command-line weather service that returns a similar ASCII graph.
• weather command (from weatherapp or ansiweather) – provides detailed forecasts.
• Terminal widgets or scripts that fetch data from OpenWeatherMap or NOAA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the finger weather graph still used?

It’s mostly a legacy feature, but some hobbyists and retro-computing enthusiasts still use it. Modern systems prefer curl wttr.in or dedicated weather apps.

Can I get a finger weather graph on Windows?

Windows does not have a native finger client, but you can use WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) or install a third-party client like finger.exe from GnuWin32. The daemon must run on a Unix server.

What does the graph look like?

It varies, but typically shows a timeline with temperature numbers and symbols like sun, rain, or cloud. Some versions use a simple line plot of asterisks.

How do I set up my own finger weather service?

You need a Unix server with fingerd installed. Then create a script that outputs the weather (e.g., using curl wttr.in or a local sensor) and place it in the ~/.finger directory or configure fingerd to run that script for the user “weather”.

Is the finger weather graph accurate?

Accuracy depends on the data source. If it pulls from a reliable API, it’s as accurate as that API. If it uses a local sensor, it reflects only that location.

Why Use a Command-Line Graph?

Command-line weather graphs are lightweight, fast, and work over SSH. They are ideal for minimal setups, servers, or users who prefer text interfaces. They also consume very little bandwidth compared to graphical web pages.

The trend calculator above helps you interpret the graph: if you see a rising line, you can estimate the hourly change. That’s useful for planning outdoor activities or understanding a forecast’s trajectory.

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in t | Forecast hours | h | 24 | 1
in s | Start temp | °C | 15 | -50
in e | End temp | °C | 21 | -50
out trend | Temp trend | °C/h | (e - s) / t | 2
out mid | Midpoint temp | °C | (s + e) / 2 | 1