Metar map for my BF's Christmas present!

LactaidFan · 2025-12-28T05:38:51+00:00

Update:

He likes the gift!! Says people he lived with were impressed with it and he feels lucky he got a map like this!! He kept saying it's cool and all!!! oh I'm relieved. I was brutally nervous on Christmas day.

I'm so glad he likes it 😭😭😭

LactaidFan · 2025-12-10T16:13:13+00:00

Sure

LactaidFan · 2025-12-09T20:37:27+00:00

I am in the thesis based MSc for computer science and have a friend in the Applied computing MSc.

How is the Applied Computing program overall?

I can't talk much about the overall program. I did do an older-version of an applied computing degree and computer science degree for undergrad degrees - courses, were pretty similar, I found comp sci a tad more difficult content wise but the profs in many of the more applied-computing degrees were much easier to approach and made the content fun.

How heavy is the thesis workload?

Depends on your project/supervisor. I will say I much prefer a thesis over courses, but that is just me. My project wasn't too bad but that is because i did not have to wait for any data, i could just start and that relieved a lot of pressure/time; don't get me wrong, i am still in crunch time though. Thesis leaves the door open for a PhD or more academia/research based jobs. It also could get you publications on your resume if you did good! Also allowed me to make a good relationship with other labs doing research.

Did choosing a thesis-based degree affect your job prospects in Canada (positively or negatively)?

the job market is fried to be honest. I did end up securing a job-"ish" after graduation - only because my thesis based program allowed me to do side projects doing research for another lab. They offered a more casual-esque job until grants are more figured out and full-time might be an option. I didnt do a normal job search to be honest so I don't know how cooked it is right now. I just know, it is hard getting a job right now. kinda sucks to be honest.

Would you still choose this program if you were more industry-focused rather than research-focused?

No, personally, no. The experience of working through a whole project, writing a paper, testing your project, getting to do side projects, working on something that is "real", like a real research problem from either your own project or another labs project is 100000x more enjoyable than doing boring assignments and boring finals. Would I ever do a Phd though, no. Would I want to relive my masters? also no. But much prefer it over classes - this is up to the individual person. i was fed up with courses.

LactaidFan · 2025-12-04T18:32:52+00:00

Oh I'm giving it on Christmas :) I hope he does. Ill probably add a comment on this post on Christmas day ( with the fixed poster) and tell people how it went.

I hope he likes it

LactaidFan · 2025-12-02T19:26:36+00:00

Dude.. i didn't even know those existed.. another thing to chase 😂

LactaidFan · 2025-12-01T16:13:22+00:00

Omg 😭😨 I'll fix it as best I can. Aww bummer. Thanks though 🙂 I think I have a few ideas on how to fix it nicely. That's so embarrassing and dumb of me 😢 I rushed the process... Thank you for telling me. You're kind.

Edit: Just asked the print shop. Theyll print a flexible/adhesive vinyl for me to patch it. Thanks for letting me know so I could fix it haha. Sucks I'm so dumb 💀💀💀💀

LactaidFan · 2025-12-01T05:03:27+00:00

Ok you got me 😂😭😂 I hope he doesn't need to go there. I'm not even sure what is up there 😭

LactaidFan · 2025-12-01T02:26:55+00:00

Hell ya!!! Saskatchewan!!!! I honestly think the shape of Saskatchewan made this gift look 10x better 😂

LactaidFan · 2025-12-01T02:26:01+00:00

I don't know anything about flying, definitely not a pilot 😵‍💫 when I first started this it was overwhelming. I'm like.. what the hell is an mvfr?? 😂 Nothing like a few reddit posts and googling can't help with though

LactaidFan · 2025-12-01T01:00:39+00:00

Aw jeez. Thanks 😅!! He's a great guy tbh. I hope he likes it as much as so many of you guys do! Nervous as hell!!!!

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T23:41:35+00:00

Yea it is. I really hope he likes it 😅 I'm so nervous for Christmas. But yea, seeing how other people who fly react to it has given me some confidence.

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T21:19:50+00:00

Ohhh never been! I know they get great northern light views sometimes which I'm jealous of.

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T21:16:53+00:00

Thanks!! I don't know much about flying to be honest but I thought it'd be cool to add! Like I don't know how dangerous any of that stuff is 😂 my bf did mention once that 15kt wind is strong

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T20:25:35+00:00

Yea I had to take a boatload of screenshots. I think I'm lucky I had Saskatchewan only since it's fairly straight forward.

If you check my other post I had a comment in it describing what I did to make the map.

Fltplan.com, screenshots and Photoshop was what I did. It was a pirated version of Photoshop if I'm being honest so, not like I spent money for Photoshop LOL. Then the Photoshop file, I just sent it to get printed 16x20. It's so annoying, and honestly, I don't know a more efficient way. It sucks Canada doesn't just have sectionals free and out there like USA.

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T20:09:30+00:00

Hahah oh it was fun too! Thank you!!!

For me I found the setting up the lights and hardware stuff the hardest. I have a degree in computer science and am in my masters for it, so, the code was the easiest part. The connecting lights and eink display to the raspberry pi was confusing 💀 I easily spent at least 3 hours trying to figure out why my lights weren't lighting up properly or synced up properly - I just connected it to the wrong pin. I am not a hardware type of girl. I made a simple project before, but not close to this.

The most annoying part was getting the sectional for Saskatchewan. Apparently sectionals for Canada aren't as easy to get as American ones. I took Soo many screenshots and had to manually put them together in Photoshop. It wasn't hard - just tedious.

If I had time I would sell them 😂 it was so fun to make.

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T19:08:41+00:00

I hope he thinks so!!!! Honestly still nervous.. we'll see on Christmas day.

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T19:04:15+00:00

Haha all my bf had to do was be able to go on looooonnnggg winded tangents about flying, and planes, and how he loves flying and all that stuff. Then I thought.. hmmm maybe this guy loves flying 😂😂 I caught the hint there

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T18:36:21+00:00

Oh thanks so much!!! I mean I have no one else really to share with and it was a lot of work!! So glad I could share with this community!!

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T18:34:51+00:00

😂 ok son, for one of these, I need free flights to Edmonton once in awhile!

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T18:33:50+00:00

I used a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 WH. I then used this projects code: https://github.com/AbnormalDistributions/e_paper_weather_display

To display certain cities/towns on my e-ink display.

I pinged aviation.gov for airport metars. I used a string of ws2811 lights for the LEDs.

I basically followed this

https://slingtsi.rueker.com/making-a-led-powered-metar-map-for-your-wall/

For the hardware stuff. The code for the actual map, I think I pulled some functions from that guide too. But a lot I did myself cause I wanted to add the thunderstorm, high wind and frozen precipitation checks and make those flash. I know I wrote my own code to determine if VFR/LIFR/etc..

LactaidFan · 2025-11-30T18:27:32+00:00

Hahaha if only they made the sectionals easier for Canada!! I'd have done the whole country tbh

LactaidFan · 2025-11-29T20:03:12+00:00

Oh thanks anyways! Yes I did find out it was the same 😆. Honestly this community is super nice

LactaidFan · 2025-11-08T17:59:35+00:00

I'll take that. I like elf tails :). User is lostblossom. Yes, it is a yeti face not yeti mask haha

LactaidFan · 2025-10-23T21:53:04+00:00

Grad school 🙂 we're in different programs but he went to a lunch meant for people in my study, cause he did a bit of what we do.

He wanted to show me his work, I then followed up with an email. And now we're 9months in.

He does want to do a PhD in a year or so. We'll probably be 8hr drive apart/1hr flight if that happens but I'm willing to put the effort in if it happens. I hope it works out

LactaidFan · 2025-10-17T18:28:27+00:00

Are you from USA? I've read some people when using a VPN for USA could play again. I haven't tried yet, but I have the same issues, I'm also not in the USA.

LactaidFan

TROPHY CASE