Brolly

What it does

Brolly is a weather forecasting site that strips away visual design in favor of plain text and ASCII charts. Users can view weather for any location worldwide with a 7-day forecast, hourly conditions, previous day comparison, and additional data including UV index, air quality, and pollen information. The interface uses minimal styling and fast-loading text-based displays instead of images or animations.

Who it is for

The site appeals to users frustrated by modern weather site design—particularly those who found the UK Met Office's recent redesign bloated with whitespace and animations. It targets people who prioritize fast loading times, quick at-a-glance information, and accessibility over visual polish. The plain text format suits users on slow connections or those accessing weather from terminal environments.

Pricing

The site does not show prices. It appears to be free to use.

How it stands out

Brolly's distinctive approach is its deliberate rejection of contemporary web design trends. Where most weather apps add visual complexity, this site goes the opposite direction with ASCII tables, text-based charts, and monospace formatting. The interface loads data on demand, showing hourly breakdowns alongside weekly summaries. The previous day comparison feature lets users verify whether weather was actually warmer or cooler than they remember. The site sources data from Open-Meteo, an open data provider, and handles multiple locations through searchable URLs.

What a founder should check

First, verify the actual demand for this format. The original post criticizes one redesign, but most users have adapted to or prefer visual weather apps. Check whether nostalgia for text-based interfaces translates to sustained usage—this is a small audience.

Second, examine the data licensing and dependencies. Brolly relies entirely on Open-Meteo's free API. Understand Open-Meteo's sustainability, whether they could introduce paid tiers or restrictions, and what switching costs would involve if data access changes.

Third, consider competitive pressure from established weather services that offer both minimalist and visual options. DarkSky, Weather.gov, and dozens of smaller competitors already serve niche audiences. The minimalist weather site space is essentially unmonetized, so determine whether this can become a sustainable business or remains a personal project.