# metars_cgi: reconstructing the NCAR Java METAR viewer server

> metars_cgi reconstructs the data server used by NCAR's Java METAR viewer. Its PHP scripts answer the viewer applet's requests from a MySQL or MariaDB METAR database, while a Python script fetches updates from NOAA. The author uses decompiled applet binaries to guide the reconstruction and notes unresolved handling of cloud-layer chunks.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: App
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-09
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://codeberg.org/PurpleJillybeans/metars_cgi>
- Primary source: <https://codeberg.org/PurpleJillybeans/metars_cgi/src/commit/2595939b7d6c83a79f87c950e6748c97af664d7a/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/metars-cgi-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/metars-cgi-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/metars-cgi-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** A MySQL or MariaDB database with the documented metars table is required for metars_cgi.php.
- **Scope:** metartest.php uses fixed data and needs no database.
- **Limits:** Ceiling altitudes do not work; the author has not resolved the viewer's handling of cloud-layer chunks.
- **License:** No licence stated on the project page.

## Primary sources

1. <https://codeberg.org/PurpleJillybeans/metars_cgi/src/commit/2595939b7d6c83a79f87c950e6748c97af664d7a/README.md>

## More in Apps

- [Xbox Demos Decompilation: a functional reconstruction of the Xbox demo launcher](https://awesomerea.org/resources/xbox-demos-decompilation-case/index.md) · Case study
- [ag-psd: reconstructing PSD document reading and writing](https://awesomerea.org/resources/ag-psd-case/index.md) · Case study
- [locus-poi-db: LoMaps POI database format](https://awesomerea.org/resources/locus-poi-db-case/index.md) · Case study
- [JADX-AI-MCP](https://awesomerea.org/resources/jadx-ai-mcp/index.md) · Integration
- [apktool-mcp-server](https://awesomerea.org/resources/apktool-mcp-server/index.md) · Integration
- [frida-mcp (yfe404)](https://awesomerea.org/resources/frida-mcp-yfe404/index.md) · Integration

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.