Overview
Runaway is a live “portal” into any city: unit-aware weather with short history, a dozen fresh street photos, localized headlines, and your own search history. The goal is instant vibe—not staged travel content.
Problem
Most sites feel static or staged and require multiple tabs for weather, images, and news. People want an authentic pulse of a place—fast—without setup.
Solution
Start typing a city (min 3 chars) to see relevant suggestions. Pick one to load live weather (°C/°F toggle, next 24h + last 12h), 12 recent street photos, and localized news. A history stores your last 10 cities.
Features
Search & data
- Typeahead city search with disambiguation (e.g., Paris, Île-de-France vs. Paris, Texas)
- Locale-aware units by default with manual °C/°F toggle
- 24-hour forecast + 12-hour weather history for quick context
- 12 fresh street photos (avoid “stock” feel)
- Localized headlines based on user region/language
Personalization
- Search history (last 10) for quick revisits
- Planned: local radio streams, upcoming events, AI “you might like” city suggestions
Data & Models
Geocoding provider for autocomplete; weather API for current/forecast + short history; Unsplash for recent street-level photos; Google News for localized headlines; Mongoose for persisting search history.
Architecture
Edge-friendly API routes aggregate providers, normalize shapes, and return lean card data. UI renders lazily; photo lists are virtualized for perf. History stored per user/session for quick reopen.
HCI / UX Notes
Zero-config defaults and fast feedback. Cards use consistent layout and subtle motion; content focuses on authenticity rather than staged imagery.
Status & Next Steps
- Status: MVP with data integrations
- Add local radio and events
- AI city recommendations from history + vibe clustering
- Progressive caching and background refresh